This is me, a few months pre-long-term-travels, hiking at Indian Staircase in the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. Photo by Greg Rodgers.
I’d been talking about taking a trip around the world since I worked on a horse farm in England during college. After that, I said I wanted to actually work in England and see the world when I graduated. Everyone (I use the term “everyone” loosely) told me to get a real job and be a responsible human being. So I did.
Fast forward … a few years … and after I’d lived in six states, my desire to travel hadn’t be met. Life made some big changes for me in a six-month period, including the death of a horse I’d loved for 16 years, a divorce, giving up my dog and a change in job responsibilities, and I decided it was time to hit the road. With some (read: a lot) of help from friends, I packed a rucksack and a loose plan for seven months of farming, writing and hashing abroad. (Hashing, dear readers, refers to the Hash House Harriers, a drinking group with a running problem that began in Malaysia in 1938 and now has kennels all over the world.)
My first seven months of long-term, independent travel (2011) took me to 10 countries, six farms and 13 hashes. In 2012, I worked my way through the western U.S., Italy and Albania. I finished up that trip with Greece in the last days of 2012 and early 2013. Now that I’m back in the U.S., I’m taking on seven months of working/interning on a diversified, sustainable farm in the wilds of Kentucky. I’ll squeeze in a road trip here and there to fill my need for adventure, but for 2013, it’s going to be mostly farming, most of the time.
My travels aren’t only about gypsy fun and vagabond games, after all. I’m actually out here to learn about sustainable living, agriculture and food systems around the world, and I still work as a freelancer as I go. I’m a sustainability junkie and ag geek as well as a freelance writer and editor. Isn’t it nice when your life, your livelihood and your passion intersect? (If you don’t know the answer to that question, don’t wait another day to start seeking it.)
Say hello to me at lisa@lisa-writes.com.
All photos are (c) Lisa Munniksma, unless otherwise labeled.
June 28, 2011 at 6:20 pm
So glad you have gotten this rolling! Love hearing about your adventures as I am perfectly happy living vicariously through you on this one! But I do have a strange desire to go to the Doudou festival! Must be the name!
June 29, 2011 at 11:34 pm
Yay for Indian Staircase and water bladders!
You got something against gypsy fun and vagabond games?
July 1, 2011 at 3:43 am
I am so happy that you are having such a wonderful adventure! Thanks to your bragging Mom I was able to find your blog. Be safe and happy wondering Lisa!
July 6, 2011 at 1:38 am
Love all your stories and adventures, and living vicariously through you love you lots
July 21, 2011 at 4:40 pm
Great to follow your worldly travels! keep on having fun, we’ll keep on Enjoying the updates
July 23, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Hi Lisa, So proud of you for traveling and getting to write about all the fun places. I loved Paris and have been there 3 times. You never get tired of it. Turkey is a great country and I was there in 1965. Great memories of eating oatmeal with goat’s milk.
Sarah is also doing freelance writing for the local paper, The Warren Reporter, and is enjoying it also. She has done artcles on Merrill Creek and the Washington Pool. Her next one will be on the upcoming Warren County Farmer’s Fair. She is on facebook too. Maybe you can look her up. Take care and see you in November. Your neighbor, Susan
April 27, 2012 at 3:18 am
Lisa, I just finished reading your excellent article in the Dressage Connection.
After reading it, I wanted to jump up and cheer. As an old cowboy, horse-trainer and competitive dressage rider, -I would love to discuss some of the things you have written in that wonderful article. I believe with my back ground I may have something to offer. I grew up working cattle , I became a top Rodeo cowboy (RCA) trained reining horses in my youth and of all things went to Europe to learn dressage. My teachers were Leppy’s from the Spanish Riding School. I was later a rider in the US version, I have taught horsemanship at two different Universities, -and have judged a large number of horse shows as well as dressage shows. I will be judging the Dressage in a few weeks at the Utah Games.
I applaud many of the things you have written and would like to talk to you about your wonderful article. Unlike you I am not a good writer. for that reason I would love to discuss some points of your article over the phone. If you would be willing. I promise not to be a pest…
A phone number would be most helpful.
Thank you –Thann Hanchett
June 2, 2012 at 3:01 am
At the AHP meeting, missing you and talking about you. Glad to make contact even if it’s this way—and thanks to Jennifer. YOur travels look to be wonderful. Let me know if you need a “strong back/weak mind” type of guy to carry things for you.
Dean
PS Okay, I was bragging. I’m a weak back/weak mind type of guy
August 29, 2012 at 10:01 pm
I just read most of your artical lean on me in hobby farms. I was very disapointed that you never even mentioned one of the leanest meats there is and good for you to. That is the texas long horn. Please check us out there are many longhorn farmers around the country. I am from south central pa. There a a bunch of long horns in most states.
September 17, 2012 at 11:28 pm
Steve,
Thanks for your comment. That article was about nontraditional meat animals–that is, I intentionally did not include breeds of cattle. (Beefalo are a bovine/bison cross.) I shared your comment with the editors.