Colin Archipley, a former marine who served in Iraq, is the co-founder and CEO of the farm Archi’s Acres and the Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training program. Before participating in a panel on creating jobs for veterans, he talked about kale, He-Man, and the pleasures of flying by the seat of your pants in the Zócalo green room.
What vegetable best describes you?
Kale. We grow kale.
Where would we find you at 9:00 on a typical Friday night?
Probably at home, getting ready for bed, because my day starts pretty early.
What surprises you most about your life right now?
What doesn’t? Where we’re at right now was not necessarily planned at all, so we’re flying by the seat of our pants, which is fun.
What relaxes you?
IPA, and just being in a rural environment—being outdoors in privacy.
Who was your childhood hero?
I guess I’m not sure—He-Man? And G.I. Joe? I remember liking them when I was a kid.
What do you wish more people knew about life as a soldier in Iraq?
I wish they knew the full responsibility soldiers carry out. I think they think the job’s a lot simpler than it is.
What’s your most inexcusable habit?
I could probably be better at not cursing so much.
What would you do if you had one more hour in the day?
Probably be a better friend.
What’s the strangest item in your medicine cabinet?
Oh man, you should see our medicine cabinet, it’s a nightmare. I’d say ashitaba is probably the strangest item. It’s a medicinal herb or plant that my wife is a strong believer in.
Who is the one person, living or dead, you’d most like to have a beer with?
That’s a really good question. I would say maybe General [James] Mattis? Or General [James] Conway.