On my farm are Jim and Linda, of course, two of the finest people I've met in a very long time, I am certain to learn so much from them, and not just about farming(and business, Jim). Also on the farm are Kate and Jen, who've been on the farm since last year, and have been quite generous with their knowledge, and their space. I'm sure we're all in for a great year.
I've tried to sit down and write this blog entry a couple of times ove rthe past week, but have been foiled by losing my camera, and other things taking up more of my time than I'd anticipated.
In addition to doing farm work, and reading, and knitting, I took the time, this past Saturday to bake four hundred rolls for Sarah Johnston's wedding. It was great to see Kelly and Christie, Nick and Sarah again, and it was really cool to have the chance to bake on such a massive scale, which I've never done before. Eight bags of flour, and sixty pounds of dough, and eleven hours of shaping and baking later, and the evening was a great success. I wish Sarah and Jordan the best of luck, and I can't wait to have the chance to go by the farm and see all of Kelly and Christie's hard work.
I've only had a little time to spend back in Port Angeles, but I'm sure I'll be returning to spend time with all of my friends, and especially to see Maggie as much as possible, before she leaves at the end of April for her big journey around the world. I think if I weren't in place that's so perfect for me, I might be jealous, but I really can't imagine being anywhere else at this point in my life.
Some pictures of the farm, to help you all imagine where I'll be, and what I'll be seeing. Don't be fooled by the gray misty nature of these photos, It was sunny for the entire first week I was on the farm, and while I'm sure the spring will be plenty wet, I know the summer will come, and with it blue skies and sunshine.
Views of the farm and the pasture:
Our neighbors the bison(buffalo? I really have no idea, I should ask):
This is Megan the Wonder Dog. She really is a wonder. What a pleasure she is to work with(I'll try and get some pics where she isn't quite so rained upon for my next entry):
Llama and chickens:
And I can't forget the sheep. This is mama Mocha:
And some young guys:
I'm really enjoying getting to know the sheep, and learning to understand the vagaries of working with an animal that needs more attention than the pigs I worked with last year did. It's lambing season, and none of our pregnant mothers have dropped yet, but we have a couple who could deliver any day now, and we've begun 3am rounds, on rotation taking turns to see if the lambs have come yet.
It may sound perverse, but after I spent my time checking up on our ladies at three o clock this morning, I couldn't get back to bed, because I was so excited about all of the prospects for the coming season. I have yet to decide with Jim and Linda what my independent learning project will be, but I have a couple of ideas that I'm really excited about.
So far on the farm I've had the chance to do a lot of pruning, of the trees around the pond. I helped install a couple of massive boards which will become the basis of a bridge across the pond. Jen and I uncovered eight rows of asparagus, and we've done a little bit of weeding(believe it or not). On my first work day, last week, I washed forty dozen(five hundred, if you don't want to do the math) eggs.
Last week for our day of FIELD education, Linda taught us our first day of Ag building. We framed out the floor and walls, and built a couple of trusses to do the roof, for a tool shed we're going to install at the elementary school in Quilcene. They have a really incredible school garden program, which we're all too happy to help. It was really a great chance to see how much we're capable of doing, and it was really empowering to learn how much you can do with some basic skills.
I'm getting settled in quite happily, and I'm learning a lot, and I'm really quite happy. I know that I'm in for quite an exciting couple of months, with baby lambs, and piglets, and new chicks coming soon. A beehive to install, and once it's time, Jen, Kate and I will have a bed in the garden to do with as we please. There's a regular knitting circle on the farm, not to mention, plenty of singing and music making. I'll be getting to know the other interns better, not to mention getting to spend plenty of quality time with the farm folk, I already think of as my own. I have a cinnamon roll recipe to develop, and there will time for cooking and eating together, for high tea in the afternoons(doesn't that sound like a remarkably sensible and civilized thing to do? It does to me, too). Wendell Berry is coming to Seattle in May, and Mother Earth News is having a big festival in Puyallap in June. This is going to be an exciting time for me, and although I'm going to be plenty busy, I'lll do my best to keep y'all updated about life on the farm.
Remember, feel free to leave questions in the comments, or to e-mail or text me. I love you all, family and friends. Some of you have knitted goods coming your way in the near future, and I expect to get some pictures of people sporting their hats and shawls when you get them. I'll update again as soon as I've got some new pictures, and some more exciting news of my day-to-day adventures on Solstice Farm.
