A Conversation with Nigar

Molly: My first question is how did you find out about us and what motivated you to come work on the farm?

Nigar: The first time I found out about this farm was last year. I was searching to reconnect with nature and I googled “how I can become a farmer or go to the garden.” One of the choices was to go to WWOOF USA and search for farms, to volunteer. I found this farm, but it was too late in the season, it was cold, so I saved it for this year. This year I applied, and Holly and Sue said, “Oh, of course, come”. I'm here because I really, really wanted to try out being a farmer for a short time. So I can decide if I want it in my life in the future or not. 

Molly: What do you think now that you've tried it out? 

Nigar: Of course I want it in my future! And I think I will be a good farmer. 

Molly: What has surprised you most about your time at the farm? 

Nigar: I honestly think how cruel nature can be. It is beautiful but a lot of people do not know it can also be cruel. We lost a lot of chickens this spring. When people think about farming they often romanticize it. They think they are going to grow flowers and everything will be beautiful. But sometimes chickens kill each other or pigs eat their babies or plants get dehydrated. You have to take it personal when something dies but also not take it too personal. It is just a part of farming. 

Molly: Had you had any farming or  gardening experience before this? 

Nigar: When I was a little human, like, I think I was several years old, my parents had a small farm. We were growing a lot of greens and a lot of vegetables. I was always helping them, especially with the weeding and watering. So I had a little bit of experience but not to the same scale as this farm. 

Molly: Did that experience help shape your relationship with food and knowing where your food comes from?

Nigar: Yes, and also I think what also shaped it was that I am from a small country. All of our food comes from small farmers. We do not really have big commercial farms where animals are treated badly and food is treated with a lot of chemicals. We usually have really good organic seasonal food. It is really the only option. After I moved to New York I realized how lucky I was over there. I know that there is a way to find beautiful healthy food here but I have had to work harder to find it. I reached out to some Amish farms close to NYC. I was ordering some milk and heavy cream that I was using to make my own butter. I started buying my own grains to mill my own flour to make healthy bread. 

Molly: The other day you were telling me about the reasons you mill your own flour. Can you tell me more about that?

Nigar: Yes. The flour they have in the store, even good brands, they have a lot of bleach and they get rid of the nutrients. Flour is unique because of the important nutrients and minerals in it. When you freshly mill your own grain at home you get one hundred percent of all the good stuff and if you bake it the same day your bread is the same way. People often think bread is bad for you, but people all over the world make it and eat it and are healthy and strong. It is the bread that is in so many stores especially in america that is not great for you. 

Molly: What has been your favorite dish on the farm and what is your favorite dish from Azerbaijan? 

Nigar: My favorite food on the farm has been a dutch baby. Holly makes it in the cast iron and it was so good I fell in love with it and I will be making it for myself all the time. 

And back in Azerbaijan my favorite food is called vegetable Dolma. We stuff green peppers with small eggplant and tomatoes with meat and herbs, greens and spices. It is really good, it’s my favorite dish. 

Molly: Do you have a favorite memory from your time on the farm?

Nigar: Well as you know Sue plays the bagpipes and she was playing with us and it was so moving that everyone was crying and then everyone started singing and playing music and everybody was so musical. It was so fun. 

Molly: If there is one thing that you would want to see change in the US food system what would it be?
Nigar: I would like to see the government helping small farmers more. Everyone knows that large farms are bad for so many reasons so I would love to see the government step up and help change that. I also do not think that we need tomatoes all year long. You stop appreciating them. In Azerbaijan we have this work “Nubar” . It kind of translates to “first fruit”. It is a big deal there when you have your first apple of the season. But I don't have that feeling here because you can always get apples from the store. Everything is so seasonal where I am from it helps you appreciate the food so much more. And of course we do have some important vegetables but they are expensive and taste bad so nobody buys them.