So you know those movies that feature suburbs, rows of perfect houses with perfect lawns, and perfect trees, flowers, paint jobs, lawn ornaments, etc.? Well, I think they filmed those movies here. Just driving around it feels like we have jumped back in time and are living in this forgotten time of porch swings and lawn windmills. In a way, I can see why people strive for "the American Dream", it is pretty good looking after all. I don't see inside these "perfect" places though, so I am missing the fights, over consumption, and whatever else might be going on inside.
I like being here on the farm though, as its a little less "picture perfect" and a bit more "content" perfect. We keep meeting so many new and cool people from around the neighborhood. There has been a lot of action around as well, such as the new cow that's here. When the cow arrived she was first put in the barn for a night to chill out and such. The next drama filled day, when the cow was introduced to the other cows she flipped out and started running away from them all, mooing constantly. We watched as a small herd of cows RAN all around the field trying to get a sniff of their new compadre. But no, she mooed, you will not sniff me. This cow was like a very angry teenager. She just complained and complained until it got to the point that we all were going to herd her into the neighbors pasture (which is like cow paradise, p.s.). Well, the new cow did not like us being around her, so instead of just walking into cow wonderland, she jumped the fence into a neighbors yard (not the ones with the land). The day involved a lot of chasing, and the cow did a lot of fence jumping. Once she was somewhere that was away from the other cows, she would jump over to go see them. When she was with them, she would jump to get away from them. She's in the barn now, in a extra high stall (as she ESCAPED from a lower one... !). Crazy cow.
Other excitement includes:
- Meeting new friends! Yay!
- Getting tickets to see Iron and Wine THIS Wedensday! Yay!
- Putting the baby chickens that have been growing up with the bigger chickens
- Going to a southern Church for Easter
- Giving the little baby calf antibiotic needles... and being DONE with it.
- Bon fire! ... and what a bon fire it was. It may have been a 6 person party, but it was enough fun for 20.
Anyways, lots has been happening, lots has been good. We are here for one more week and then off to North Carolina!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Farmer days...
Meow meow goes the cat.
Cluck cluck goes the chicken.
Moo moo goes the cow.
Neigh neigh goes the horse.
Ow ow goes the Laura when the rooster flaps at her.
This farm is pretty sweet, just to start off. I love accomplishing farm tasks, like planting, feeding animals, building things, carrying water, etc. I love eating amazing food cooked by one of our marvelous hosts, Caitlyn. And I love seeing community in action, in a way that I think I can really take home with me.
When Micheal, the guy who runs this farm, told me in emails that this is a "community farm" it didn't quite click with me that he actually meant the whole community is involved. Take today for example, we took the used coffee grounds from a local coffee shop, and in exchange for us cleaning out the buckets (which we use for compost) we got some free drinks. Helps them, helps us. Or when we took some little pots with seeds in them to a ladies greenhouse to help them germanate, in exchange Mike helps her out with things like weeding and lawn mowing. Helps her, helps us. I really like the concept of neighbors helping neighbors, everyone putting in an effort so everyone benefits.
So I've seen community in action, I've learnt about growing organic goodness, but I have also met a few, shall we say, stereotypical people. There is quite a "southern" tone to a couple of people who believe that "normal" means "keeping your mouth shut, following the government, getting a job, earning money, and eating food that's cheap and tastes good". Meaning, some people I disagree with. Lucky for us, our hosts are NOT like that, which saves a lot of tension! There is definitely a wide cast of characters here, and I like the variety of people I have met who are all coexisting in a relatively smooth way. Granted, no one else LIVES here at the farm, we've just met them the odd day or seen them in town.
So far the only TERRIFYING thing that I can think of (or negative at all thing) is that I just found out they have black widow spiders here! What!
Due to this I will not be doing the following:
- Reaching my hand under old wood piles
- Reaching my hand into dark crevasses that I can't see into
- Wearing bare feet in places that either of the above may happen
Michael says he only knows one person that has ever been bit... so I'll just be careful.
Cluck cluck goes the chicken.
Moo moo goes the cow.
Neigh neigh goes the horse.
Ow ow goes the Laura when the rooster flaps at her.
This farm is pretty sweet, just to start off. I love accomplishing farm tasks, like planting, feeding animals, building things, carrying water, etc. I love eating amazing food cooked by one of our marvelous hosts, Caitlyn. And I love seeing community in action, in a way that I think I can really take home with me.
When Micheal, the guy who runs this farm, told me in emails that this is a "community farm" it didn't quite click with me that he actually meant the whole community is involved. Take today for example, we took the used coffee grounds from a local coffee shop, and in exchange for us cleaning out the buckets (which we use for compost) we got some free drinks. Helps them, helps us. Or when we took some little pots with seeds in them to a ladies greenhouse to help them germanate, in exchange Mike helps her out with things like weeding and lawn mowing. Helps her, helps us. I really like the concept of neighbors helping neighbors, everyone putting in an effort so everyone benefits.
So I've seen community in action, I've learnt about growing organic goodness, but I have also met a few, shall we say, stereotypical people. There is quite a "southern" tone to a couple of people who believe that "normal" means "keeping your mouth shut, following the government, getting a job, earning money, and eating food that's cheap and tastes good". Meaning, some people I disagree with. Lucky for us, our hosts are NOT like that, which saves a lot of tension! There is definitely a wide cast of characters here, and I like the variety of people I have met who are all coexisting in a relatively smooth way. Granted, no one else LIVES here at the farm, we've just met them the odd day or seen them in town.
So far the only TERRIFYING thing that I can think of (or negative at all thing) is that I just found out they have black widow spiders here! What!
Due to this I will not be doing the following:
- Reaching my hand under old wood piles
- Reaching my hand into dark crevasses that I can't see into
- Wearing bare feet in places that either of the above may happen
Michael says he only knows one person that has ever been bit... so I'll just be careful.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Training for adventures...
The train - the lost art of travel. I must say, I love the VIA rail train. We took it from Edmonton to Toronto, and it was sheer bliss. We sprung for a "shared, upper berth" which costs more than seats, BUT includes your meals.
Meals. So good. There was a veggie option at each meal, it was sit-down-fancy style, and SO delicious. Could not have asked for more delicious main courses, richer desserts, or a wider selection of local + organic teas. Even though the train takes longer and costs more, its the way to go as far as comfort and eco-goodness.
Our first adventure was Toronto where we stayed with some of Beth's Katima-friends. A free place to stay, and awesome people to spend the days with. Never having been to Toronto, I now know what I've been missing out on. The stretches of hippy goodness, the brick houses, the ravines - awesome. A beautiful city with a incredibly diverse crowd. Going elsewhere makes me see what my city is lacking, and is frustrating because all that Toronto is lacking is an abundance of all my friends. Next time I hit the big city though, I plan to bring an empty suitcase and a bit of cash.
At this moment I am in New York, but only for a few hours. Beth finally got to see Times Square in all its touristy glory, and that's about it. Neat to be passing through though, as the energy here is always incredible. Our next train arrives at 3am where we head to our first farm. From the business of Toronto and New York, I welcome you country life.
Meals. So good. There was a veggie option at each meal, it was sit-down-fancy style, and SO delicious. Could not have asked for more delicious main courses, richer desserts, or a wider selection of local + organic teas. Even though the train takes longer and costs more, its the way to go as far as comfort and eco-goodness.
Our first adventure was Toronto where we stayed with some of Beth's Katima-friends. A free place to stay, and awesome people to spend the days with. Never having been to Toronto, I now know what I've been missing out on. The stretches of hippy goodness, the brick houses, the ravines - awesome. A beautiful city with a incredibly diverse crowd. Going elsewhere makes me see what my city is lacking, and is frustrating because all that Toronto is lacking is an abundance of all my friends. Next time I hit the big city though, I plan to bring an empty suitcase and a bit of cash.
At this moment I am in New York, but only for a few hours. Beth finally got to see Times Square in all its touristy glory, and that's about it. Neat to be passing through though, as the energy here is always incredible. Our next train arrives at 3am where we head to our first farm. From the business of Toronto and New York, I welcome you country life.
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