As we fumbled our way around the gardens, I noticed perfect rows of cabbage, carrots, strawberries, kale, and arugula. My first thought was that this is so beautiful and ornate but came to find out that this perfect row and spacing was actually quite practical and needed for the type of farming the Argentines practiced. Among the turning heads and awkward stares, we found Javier. He had a slight bewildered look on his face when he met us as if he was not aware that guests were to arrive this day, but at the same time not too surprised by this either. He was very polite and spoke English very well. We found that most of the community spoke fluent English. We were instructed to find a spot to pitch our tents and then meet up for dinner. We found some tents and noticed that they were all tucked away behind bushes and trees that I had guessed offered protection from the wind, so Kelsey and I followed suit. As we approached the.. I'm not sure what to call it but dinner tunnel/outdoor kitchen the smells overwhelmed my senses, and I quickly became excited to eat and make new friends. The smiles and Spanish chatter ensued around a large table of workers and friends. I found myself trying so hard to keep up with what little Spanish I knew, but it didn’t matter because I found myself joining in the laughter at stories I didn’t even understand. There was just a joy and magic in the air and a lifestyle that was enticing. Large bowls of fresh produce were set out on the table, hands diving in from every direction taking massive amounts of greens and stuffing them directly in their mouths. No utensils needed for this dish! Almost everything we dined on during our two weeks came straight from the farm to our table each night and it was all fantastic. We explained that Kelsey was writing a book, and I was taking pictures this week, but that we wanted to help with some of the farm chores as well. The next morning we suited up for a day of labor and getting to know the community. I will say that this was not easy work and it is not for everyone. There is a reason many farmers over time succumb to pesticides and large farming equipment. It’s because it is back-breaking labor. Although personally I think it's worth it. The dirt was rich and dark and it felt so good to plant seedlings into a home that I knew would be well suited for growth. I was helping plant rows of carrots that afternoon and I saw Javier looking down at my rows. He said in a funny voice that it looked like a snake. I laughed and said you get what you pay for! But it's important to keep them spaced properly because the next day would be weeding in which we used loop hoes and blades to work between each plant to keep them clean. After 8 hours of back pain and dirty hands we made our way down near the beach for a cookout. An outdoor fire was made for cooking vegetables and beautiful steaks. Cold beer and stories were shared that night until the stars appeared over the glacial lakes and snow peaked mountains that surrounded our paradise.