I am in a special place, boys and girls,...

and I'm going to have a hard time talking about it, without sounding like a giddy school girl. I'm into my second week of work and learning at Solstice farms, and each and every day I take a moment in the morning to appreciate just how lucky I am to be here. The entire valley is beautiful, and neighbors another pair just as pretty(almost). I haven't been here for long enough to really get a feel for the community at large, but I'm getting to know the farm folk already, and I think I'm going to fit in just fine. I've met my fellow FIELD interns, who, at least for the spring session, all work down the road at Spring Rain Farm and Orchard with John Bellow and his partner Roxanne, who are great people. I'm sure you'll be hearing all about these folks in the coming months, but now for strictly introductory purposes; there's Kay and Tassie and Olivia, not to mention a stream of WWWOOFers to get to know.

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.

A New Year, a New Plan, a New Journey...of sorts...

A new propensity for using too many ellipses...well I suppose that's not something new, actually. I know it's been too long in between updates, but I've been waiting until I had some news about my plans, and I've gotten the response I've been waiting for, and know what I'll be doing this coming season. You want to know what that will be? We'll get to that, in good time. First, however, an update on what I've been doing, the holidays, and general goings on.

As most of you know I spent Christmas in California, seeing the whole family, and enjoying the bright sunshine, and blue skies, and...wait, it wasn't like that at all. In fact, it was like David and I brought the PacNorWe with us; so that we could share with our families what we've been experiencing. Despite the rain and the gray skies, La Jolla was as wonderful as it always is, and I got the chance to do many of the things I had hoped to do, and some others that I hadn't anticipated being able to.

California in the rain...:




and the sunshine:

Spent several days checking out the museums, as I always love to do when visiting Saba and Grandma Pooh. There were countless wonderful meals. Both at our grandparent's home, and out at restaurants. There wasn't nearly enough time for walking on the beach, but I did have the chance to do a little knitting while sitting atop the bluffs in downtown La Jolla.

Mostly the time I spent in California was nice for the simple reason of being able to see and spend time with so many of my loved ones who I don't get to see nearly enough of. If you were there, rest assured that we did not get to spend as much time together as I'd have liked. Even something as simple as an afternoon walk, whether full of conversation or mostly silent can be an outing to remember if you're with someone special, and all of my time during this too short vacation was spent with people who are special to me. My favorite place in La Jolla(maybe on the planet)?:

The journey back from California was an interesting one. I rode the smallest plane I've ever been on to Los Angeles, where I had a substantial layover, and where I met a pair of farm folk who were also on their way back from San Diego to the peninsula where they live and work at Nash's. I spent another night at the Green Tortoise in Seattle, and began an epic public transportation journey early the next morning. A view from the ferry:

Four buses and a ferry ride later and I made it back to Port Angeles in more or less one piece. It took a while, but cost almost nothing, and it gave me the chance to do some knitting. Being away from internet left me to my own devices as far as knitting projects went, so I devised a pattern, which actually resulted in a hat(which while too small for most heads) I think is really cool.

The Walzes returned safely from their trip to Minnesota, and I've been staying with Maggie and the Athairs since. I'm finding it challenging to find a place to live, since I'm only going to be here for a month or so before I take a trip eastward to do some visiting and learning before I start in on my new experience.

I spent New Year's Eve in Port Townsend, contra dancing. It was a relaxing low-key way to spend the holiday, and got to spend some time with some other really special people, who have become an important part of my life.

I have spent most of my time in the last weeks researching opportunities for the coming season, and found a few that suited my needs and desires for a position. It wasn't until the new year, however, that I found the perfect posting. It fit every one of the points for a place to spend the coming season living and learning. To ignore my impulse to make it seem like a mystery, I've been accepted by Jim Rueff and Linda Davis, who run Solstice Farm and Bed and Breakfast. You might have heard me mention them in connection with the FIELD internship program. This is an innovative learning program for aspiring young farm folk, and is an especially perfect opportunity for me given my desire to learn about agri-tourism. I went on a visit to the farm last week, and spent an afternoon with Linda and their interns flipping sheep, trimming hooves, and assisting in any way I could. It was great to spend an afternoon with them, and I'll freely admit that I spent the rest of the week, grinning like an idiot with excitement at the prospect of being able to learn from them, and the other farmers and teachers involved with the FIELD program.

I've been waiting to write a blog all this time, but find it hard to convey how excited I was when I opened my e-mail this morning from Jim informing me that he and Linda were willing to take me on for the season. This internship program is very different from how I spent the last season, it's more formal, and although much of the learning is experiential, it is doubtlessly going to be incredibly educational for me. I'll have the opportunity to learn from a number of different farmers, and I'll have the chance to learn about many of the business aspects of the small scale agriculture industry that I didn't have the opportunity to learn last year. Not to mention the fact that in addition to being a master gardener Linda is a passionate teacher of building, and will give me the chance to do some of the sorts of construction that I'm very interested in learning.

At Solstice they have sheep and chickens. They raised pigs for the first time last year, and will be doing so again this year. They have a beehive, but are planning on installing another(I'm excited at the prospect of this, and not just for honey related reasons; bees are incredible and fascinating creatures, and I'm looking forward to learning more about them). The farm is thirty three acres, and they grow as much of the feed for their flock as is possible to do. This focus on the stewardship of their land, and the care and thought they put into their operation are apparent even from the short time I was able to spend with them. As far as the bed and breakfast, located in the home they built for themselves after years on planning, the only thing I can really say about it, is that it's stunning. It's simply a beautiful home, and I feel truly lucky to be a part of their lives for the coming season.

What else has been going on in my life? Cooking Ethiopian food, for feasting purposes.:

Making summer and nori rolls:



So. After a long time contemplating, living my life here on the west coast for the better part of year, and spending all of my time, working on the farm, with farm folk, and parkies, and fantastic former hippies, artists, makers of all stripes, and other left coast types, can I say I've changed much? That's a hard question to answer. I don't think that I have, not really. What has happened is that this place has focused many of the aspects of my personality that were already present, and revealed some that were concealed from view, but had been there all along. We all know I'm a food person, I think it's a massively important part of life. It connects us all as human beings, we cannot do without it. It bridges cultures and unites us, it nourishes us body and soul, and it as important a thing to dedicate one's self to as exists. not to mention it simply being a way to appreciate and enjoy being alive.

I'm fully well aware of the fact that some of you don't understand my passion for this, and that's ok. I'll not try and convince you otherwise, but I will say this much: I'm excited about my life, and my prospects for the future, and while I have no doubt that to be a success will involve a lifetime of hard work...in what field would it not? I don't know exactly where this is leading. Someplace like Rockhouse? Where we spent so many enjoyable hours as children, where some of my happiest memories can be found. I'm not sure. I do know that I have no desire to be a market farmer, to grow vegetables and fruits solely for the purpose of selling them is not enough for me, but perhaps to be able to share my passion for food, and for the way that it unites us and sustains us will play a part of whatever I choose to do after I've learned what I came all this way for. To teach others, especially young people, the next generation, the importance of supporting those who support us on such a basic level is of utmost importance.

Is Aaron a farmer?

Not yet.

Well look at what we have here:

How are you all doing, today? I'm well, thanks for asking. The farm season is over, only it isn't, not really, but it seems it is for me. Conclusions? Big paradigm-shifting existential thoughts? Sure, of course, but they're my conclusions, and my big paradigm-shifting existential thoughts; I earned them the hard way, and I haven't managed to completely work through how I feel about them(that blog will come in time, but that time isn't now). What I am willing to say? Support your local farmers, even if it's harder or more expensive to do so. Take care of them, and they'll take care of you. It's worth it.

Thanks to Christie and Kelly for giving me the opportunity, and for teaching me, and allowing me the opportunity to come to this place and have the experience I've had. I'll be forever grateful for that.

Enough soap boxery, this blog isn't about my preaching(or not only about that) it's about keeping you updated with my doings, and I've been remiss in doing that. So what has happened in the last few weeks? As I mentioned I went to Oregon with a whole crew of friends and acquaintances for Thanksgiving. It was a fantastic weekend. There was much cooking and eating, walking on the beach and in the woods, relaxing in the hot tub, and many, many games. It was a much needed rest, and the drive was as beautiful as the destination. I have no pictures from the trip, but Maggie loaned me a pair, and I loan them to you, now:

Let's see, what else have I been doing? Knitting(that's my new camera case, and a hat which I've only just begun):

Now that my season on the farm is done, I'm looking for something to occupy my time, but in the meantime I'm house-sitting, and dog-watching, in a lovely home, in town, which is certainly a pleasant change of pace. There's a kitchen:

My haven't I been busy?

And a wood-stove to keep me warm and toasty:

Not to mention Sitka and Skana to keep me well excercised:

And a whole massive stack of library books to read:


Killed some ducks and a chicken...for your edification, and future knowledge, in case it comes up. Cut the bird's throat, don't chop it's head off with a hatchet, trust me on this. Having done that, I've got legs curing for confit, and racks and feet and heads for making stock, and given what we all know about Aaron and esoteric preservation techniques, we can safely say that this pleases me, to no end. Also if you need a bird slaughtered and cleaned, I'm your man. Still slower than a professional, but I'm working on it. Another important part of this sort of farm work...it works best as a group effort; thanks to Shaelee for the opportunity, and to Maggie for arranging it, and doing her share of the work.

Went snow-shoeing up on the ridge, the other day, with Maggie. It was a gorgeous day, and as it often does in this place, everything was crisp and well-defined. It's hard to describe, and I'm unsure if it's a quality of the air, or the play of light and shadow, but it really is unlike anywhere I've ever been before, the mountains arrayed before you, the ever shifting light, the breeze, and in this case, the sound of the snow melting off the trees, each one a miniature rainstorm. It was both beautiful and humbling. I loved every minute of it. These pictures are also courtesy of Maggie, except for the one of me; I took that one:



So what's next for Aaron? That is the million dollar question, isn't it. I'm not sure, to give you a straight and simple answer, but my lack of clearly defined path, doesn't worry me in the least. I have a place here, for now at least, and friends and companions who are willing to do what they can to enable my journey. Just as many of you enabled me to reach this place(Mindy, Mike). That's how I'm spending my time these days, figuring out the next step; reading and writing, cooking and baking, and pausing, now and again, to look out the window at the mountains, and to smile, and to appreciate where I am, and what I'm doing.

Happy Thanksgiving(and the snowstorm of twenty-ten)

It's the day before Thanksgiving, I'm baking one loaf of bread, a long pie pumpkin and three heads of garlic, which will also be transformed into bread before the day is through. I'm off on a road trip, or will be in a few hours, and I'm jittery with excitement, and coffee, but mostly excitement.

It snowed here in Port Angeles on Sunday, an unseasonably early storm of impressive ferocity. We got somewhere between eight inches and a foot, on the farm there were drifts as high as three feet in some places, but I'm getting ahead of myself. On Sunday we went and saw the new Harry Potter movie. It was, as we all had to assume, quite dark. I love the animated tale of the three brother right in the middle of it; thought the animation was fantastic. I enjoyed it, but I have to say that it in no way compared with going sledding at the highschool with Maggie, and Jen and Nathan afterward. That was easily the highlight of my week, if not the month.

The day afterward, however, was back to farm life, and let me just tell you, farming in the snow? Even inside of the greenhouse...not ideal. We got it cleaned out, however, harvesting the last of the peppers and eggplants, and some green tomatoes that may or may not ripen off the vine. Yesterday we finished pulling up all the fencing, and cleaning it up as best we could, and then cleaned out the chicken coop. Ah, the glamorous and idyllic life of farm folk.

I've been getting some quality writing done, I think, and I've been enjoying my time immensely. Although living in a trailer during the snowstorm has taken some of the romance out of it, it was undeniably beautiful. Some pics from around the farm(it should be interesting to see what survives this, but I've learned not to underestimate the resilience of plants).


Chickens do not like the snow:
The display garden, lettuce?:

Leeks:

Parsnips:

Brassicas:

Asparagus:
Flax:

Raspberries and Blueberries:
Leaving the Athair's the morning of the storm:



Sometimes you find beauty in the most unexpected of places, like the skin of the greenhouse the morning after:

As for my Thanksgiving plans? A rented house on the Oregon coast, with some friends and some strangers. There will be much cooking, and celebrating, and, on my part at least, being thankful for what I have, for the opportunities I find myself with, for my friends and loved ones, and for all of you who care about me and my journey.

Thanks.