Molly Belk

📍Charlottesville, VA | Teacher (Spanish / Yoga), Farmer, Sourdough Entrepreneur

📝 Editor’s Note

I want to bring something back. It is not a book club, but a book exchange.

I’ve shared that I love books that are “non-fiction that read like fiction.” Since then, several people have sent me book recommendations.

Two years ago I played matchmaker using book genre interest. A small group opted in and seemed to enjoy it. The process enabled me to read several fiction books I wouldn’t have normally pick like Origin and Anxious People. Both are Editor’s Top Picks on Amazon.

If you love reading and have books you want to share with others, please fill out this short form. I’ll match you together via email based on interests and location. My ask is that you be ready to send at least 3 books to the person you match with. [Link Here]

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Without further ado….

Why Molly?

We are keeping it in the family! Molly is my first cousin and a badass.

This past week she did the “12-hour challenge” up Mt Meru in Tanzania (normally people do it in 3-4 days). She finished in 11 hours and submitted her time to FKT (Fastest Known Time) as she thinks she might be the only known/recorded woman to do so in 11 hrs!

Molly and her husband James are 6 years younger and 6x cooler than I am. They met in college at Williams but “re-met” while living and working in Jackson Hole. They are always outside hiking, rafting, and backcountry skiing and would smoke you in an ultra marathon race.

Connect with her on Instagram.

Self-Description

Type Z, full of curve balls and the unexpected moves. Also my brother calls me "granola" because I am an earth loving being.

Molly’s 6 Recommendations

Written in her own words…

1. Ripton Jeans: Jantalones

I love my Ripton jeans. They are a mountain biking brand based out of Colorado. They make awesome, comfortable and stylish pants and jorts. My favorites are the jantalones.

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2. Tara Treks Youtube Channel

I love to watch documentaries and youtube videos of badass women doing hard things. Yesterday I discovered one of my current icons youtube channel, Tara Treks. Tara Dower, the fastest known person to set the record on through hiking the Appalachian Trail. I think my favorite movie of all time is Harold and Maude because of the sound track and the weird humor.

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3. Belle | Charlottesville, VA

I love bread and donuts. If you are in Charlottesville, I recommend stopping by Belle--their sourdough blueberry or cardamom donut is to die for. Also my friends' work at Birdhouse, which is a new and casual/intimate feeling space in Cville. My go-to beer is Modelo but I took a period off drinking for a couple of months for an ultrarunning race and I felt great. Thus, I am a big fan of kombucha--suprise surpise. It makes me feel good. It's a probiotic, which means it helps to build up gut health and ultimately your immune system. I am a big believer that food is medicine and what you put in your body makes a big difference. So go support local farmers hehe! If you find yourself thinking about how expensive quality local food is at the farmers market (I have myself), think to yourself how much you spend on specialty products like jam, a latte, or a beer vs how much you spend on that bunch of kale.

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4. Bucko

I love to go to local shows. Recently we went and saw a Richmond band called Bucko. In March we are going to see Palmyra. Ive been listening to a lot of the Local Honeys (I love folk/bluegrass). Lastly, we listen to records a lot at home and just got the Easy All-Stars Dub Side of the Moon album. And of course I love belting Maggie Rogers even if I can't hit the high notes. Oh and Jamie XX's new album is fire.

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5. Bikepacking.com

I am a big fan of adventure travel. Recently, James and I discovered Bikepacking.com which is a great resource for finding routes to bike all over the world. Also its way easier than people think to travel with your bike. All you need is a bike and a bike bag. Then you have to disassemble it a little (feel free to call James or I hah) and then vualah you have a way to transport. This is all new to us but I love it. I think biking is a great way to explore a country or place. James and I are a big fan of the "credit card tour" where you dont have to travel with your camping gear, just book Air b and bs, hostels, hotels, whatever floats your boat. This is more of a leave the baby behind kind of adventure although I have seen people transporting babies in a pull behind trailer. One of my favorite parts of this kind of travel is that you end up meeting people you would have never met along the way!

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6. Spontaneous Creativity by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

Most recently the book James gave me that his therapist told him about, "Spontaneous Creativity" by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. Oh and the gift my friend, Megan and Grace, gave me of art supplies for making candles and flower pounding (Tataki Zome). While I am in between jobs I have been trying to make the most of the time by tapping into my creative side. It has been bringing me joy.

Want to get in touch with Molly? Reach out via email: mollybelk94@gmail.com

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Plug | Foundation For Tomorrow

I am doing a fundraiser for the Foundation For Tomorrow. Support my run up Mt. Meru in Tanzania in one day while also supporting a global grassroots efforts to provide quality education for the youth!

From Molly’s fundraiser page, “Running roughly 40km (25 mi) from the base of the mountain to the summit with an elevation gain of around 3,062 meters (10,046 feet), I'll be covering the entire trail from the Momella Gate to the summit and back down ideally within 12 hrs. TFFT is a non-profit based in Arusha, Tanzania that seeks to secure quality education and emotional support for orphan and vulnerable children”

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P.S. from Rambull — My wife and I re-watched This Is 40 on Netflix for the first time since the movie debuted in 2012. Now in our mid-thirties we have a much greater appreciation for the humor. As someone who mainly watches suspenseful thrillers, it was nice to mix in a comedy.

Lastly, a big thank you to everyone who bought a Family Planner. We hope that it helps you as much as it helps us!