Video: 'Patch Takes It Off,' Urban Farming Adventures

There's just something about working with the earth that's good for the spirit, the soul ... the beer belly.

Just ask Shaun Ananko, the farm manager for . Before this gig, he had built himself a little healthy Buddha belly, from a life of excess. Since starting this full-time job earlier this year, that belly is a thing of the past.

Sounds like a good plan.

Of course, I didn't spend a full eight hours with him and Michaela Caroll Caton, the Urban Farm intern. But, even after a couple hours, I was a puddle of sweat, dirt under my fingernails, with a hunger so strong I had to resist picking all of what I was tending and eat it raw.

Best of all, what I was doing was free. It was in the upper 70s to low 80s that day. The humidity was manageable. The company (including farm chickens Lala and Barbie) was excellent. Even better, I wasn't counting repetitions or calories as I was doing it.

Sounds like a good plan.

Anyone can volunteer with The Urban Farm at Lafayette. For more information, visit www.growitgreenmorristown.com.