1 month later...

So today marks my first full month in Oregon.  June has honestly flown by so fast, I'm still spinning.  There has been a lot of rain here the past 4 or 5 days, but yesterday was the first day with lots of sun.  Then I woke up to light showers :/  At first, the rain was great for the plants, but now it needs to go away.  The garlic does not need anymore water, and really needs to dry out, and get pulled out soon.  The onions and corn are loving the rain, but the newly planted beans would like the weather to be a bit warmer.  The temperatures are supposed to be high for the weekend and beginning of the week, but still storms and possible showers.  Not ideal weather for a family reunion either, but it will all work out lovely somehow.

Today we had a very lazy start.  Up at 7 like usual; can't stay in bed when I hear coffee beans being roasted and the gurgling of the coffee machine mixed with a fragrant aroma.  We sat around, I read a bit, and just slowly began our Friday.  Around 10, Sara and I finally headed out to the garden to get some work done.  Before other work could be down, we did a bit of harvesting for today's deliveries.  Then we dug up the bed where the peas were, and raked it out.  I planted two types of pickling cucumbers and 2 leftover cantelope seeds.  Next, Sara set up a rainbow sprinkler in the greenhouse to spray cold water for the bugs.  Ant will probably drown, :( sorry but that's how you see it as a gardener, and other bugs don't like the cold water so they will go hide.  We hope this helps on top of the neem that we sprayed (african oil).  I ripped out more peas (you should see the bag we have to eat! sooo much) and dug up the row as well.  I then mixed in the cow compost and raked it out level.  Then I planted the pole beans!  After all that, I took some time to pick lots of flowers.  Sara has an amazing array of flowers and I asked if I could make a bouquet for my room.  She said of course, I can pick whenever I'd like because it's good for them -they will grow back more, plus we could also use them around the house...

The romane lettuce, leaf lettuce, and bok choy that were harvested for delivery today.

The tomatoes that are coming along!  The big one near the bottom is the lightest one so far..probably the first to turn red.

The bed that Sara and I turned for the pickling cucumbers and cantelopes.

All the flowers that I picked for vases.

Vase 1...

Vase 2...

And 3..my favorite.  This was my first bouquet that I made specifically.  I used the flowers I loved the best and with with a purple theme, with hints of yellow and white.  Next step is to identify all the flowers and have Sara check me!

I've been reading The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, and his words about all sorts of things are magically beautiful.  I actually have the same book at home that my dad gave to me (thanks Dad!)  It really is a lovely book.  I knew it would be, because my Dad has great taste and gives me wonderful books (he gave me Harry Potter when I was little too).  Here are some of his graceful words on Love:

Then said Almitra, Speak to us of Love.
And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them.  And with a great      voice he said:
     When love beckons you, follow him,
     Though his ways are hard and steep.
     And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
     Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
     And when he speaks to you believe in him,
     Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north winds lays waste the garden.


     For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.  Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
     Even has he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
     So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
     Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
     He threshes you to make you naked.
     He sifts you to free you from your husks.
     He grinds you to whiteness.
     He kneads you until you are pliant;
     And then he assigns you to his scared fire, that you may becomes sacred bread for God's sacred feast.


     All these things shall love do unto you that you make know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.


     But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,
     Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,
     Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

So my mom wants me to update my blog more so here ya go mama :) This week was wonderful.  Wednesday we harvested bags for the last time for a few weeks.  She's taking a break because of her family reunion.  We've also been gradually cleaning up/decorating for that.  Friday, I got to go to three parties!  The first one was a ladies party that Sara and her friends have every month.  This time it was a lunch/bbq.  We went to a house and the woman had such a good garden.  The fence was decorated with rad signs and old farm tools.  The second party was a surprise birthday party at a horse arena.  That was pretty cool; the one horse wouldn't let me pet him because he kept trying to nibble my hand ha but he was beautiful.  I met one of their relatives who was just so lovely and I had a nice talk with her.  After that, we went to a wedding that Sara and supplied the flowers for.  This wedding was magical...lights hanging on trees and across the area, with flowers in bottles, candles floating in water in mason jars, and everybody dressed like free spirits.  I continue to meet people who tell me how lucky I am to get to spend my summer with the Hammonds.  I'm really happy because I feel blessed to get to work it.  It's been magical since the first day.

Funny story...so I have a huge bright pink suitcase.  I originally got it for 2 reasons.  One..I was more girly then, and two...I knew I wouldn't have a problem finding it when flying haha.  So, Steve and I are chatting about me showing up with this pink suit case and naturally thinking, what is this girl gonna be like?  And then for some reason I was emailing Sara before about books being sent to her before I got there, which now I see is funny but anyway so there's two initial thoughts they kind of had about me.  We laughed about how I wasn't quite what he thought.  Right when we got here, I helped unload her car and carried a sac of chicken feed and he was like...alright, cool.  I guess most people don't do that right away but I'm glad I was helpful right away.  I'm also glad I changed their initial idea of me with this suitcase haha. 
Anyway, their old friend came yesterday and they went on a mini drive today to do stuff, so I worked in the garden myself.  I picked the last of the snow peas and then took them out for new plants, hoed between some rows with the weeds were about to call it home, and weeded in one of the greenhouses.  It's been a peaceful day.  I got to spend the day with Hobbes...

Oh, the places I have been...

Hey guys!  It's been a bit, so I thought I'd show you a bunch of photos of the places I got to go in the past week or so.  Many drives up the mountain to cool views, morel hunting (on accident and purpose), family coming, and relaxing.  It's been real chill here so far and I love it.  Most days consist of getting up around 7, having a relaxed breakfast till 8-8:30 and then starting the day.  At the garden, we open up the greenhouses and do whatever the day asks of us - watering, weeding, planting, harvesting.  Or because of the reunion, painting chairs bright yellow!  Angela and Michael (the other wwoofers) left a few days ago, so it's just Sara, Sherman and I...very quiet and relaxing.  I'm getting a lot of reading down, and have been helping out with the cooking.  Made focaccia bread for the first time yesterday..Only had to rise for 4 hours total!  

Also, you might want to try this at home!  Katie, the wwoofer that was here when I arrived made yogurt cheese and it was soo good!  It's like cream cheese, but better.  You take the yogurt you have, we did a mix of plain and vanilla, and then the second time with a bit of greek yogurt too, and put it in a dish towel in a bowl.  Then rubber band the towel closed, and hang it over the bowl.  The bowl will catch the water that drains off of it and what's left is the cheese!  It hangs for 12 hours, so great to do overnight and have on toast/bagel for breakfast with some jam (my favorite).  It's super easy..give it a try!

Anyway, I'm overwhelmed with happiness, can't believe being this happy was possible, but this is just what I needed.  I really recommend following your heart and intuition and following the path you want to.  It's been amazing and breathtaking for my life.  I am so much more connected to this Earth and it's made me realize much...

Enjoy the photos!

Lookout from one of our drives up the mountain

Eating some yummy carrots out of the garden

The Rogue River from the creek...this is right before our hike up the moutain

Wild squash or cucumber

First high point on the hike up the mountain

Top of the mountain!  If you can see the little red spot, that's the house.

I made it!

Snake skinnn

First time shooting a .22 pistol...pretttyy cool; little intense

Meadow on another drive...

Sara and I with this gorgeous view behind us.

All the morels we found...on accident when we were returning from our mountain drive

Crater Lake...apparently can look a lot bluer when the sun shines on it

The Rogue River yet again, this time at a different spot where we stopped to do a 5 mile hike.  beautiful

I made it to the Gorge and got to sit on this little rock that jutted out a bit, while Angela and Michael went to walk/see a bit further.

Guess what river this is?!  ha, our rafting trip where Sherman "accidentally" ;) got me wet at most rapids.  Good thing the water was so cold!  But it was a lot of fun, and we got to have a nice lunch on the river.

This is the creek on part of their property.  We came down here to let Caleb play and cleaned up a bit for the reunion.

Steve took me on the 4-wheeler to this amazing view.  Its about 20 minute hike from their house.  He said it was a nice uphill run...a new goal of mine: run the entire hill without walking by the end of the summer!

Week 1

Hey there again,

This week has been relaxing and hardworking.  We did some more gardening...transplanting, direct seeding, weeding, and harvesting for the CSA.  I went with Sara on Wednesday for the deliveries.  It was really nice.  Since people were probably at work, we left the bags (reusable bags) at their house, sometimes inside and play time with a dog, and maybe took last week's bag and money back with us.  One stop was at a convenience store behind the counter, where the person picks it up.  We got to chat with one of the members, and their neighbors, who all were lovely and friendly people.  

Last night I made homemade pizza dough and we all had a yummy dinner...whole food diet haha.  I say that because we watched Forks Over Knives the other night and it promoted a more plant-based diet.  Afterwards, we roasted this dough that Angela made over a fire outside.  It was pretty yummy.  

I've had a lot of time to read, on my second book already.  I am also learning a lot of little things here and there.  Overall, my experience is great, with much time for work, but also relaxing and socializing with everyone.  Anyway..here are some pictures to enjoy!

 Steve took Katie, Autumn, and I for a drive up the divide.  Although we didn't go all the way up, this is a view through the trees where we had lunch.

 the cute little Autumn

 here is the pond outside of their house

 this is the side of their house, which they made with some help from friends

 the walk out to the garden

 part of the garden, where squash and corn are growing right now

 one of the greenhouses

 my first elk siting!

...and finally, my room for the summer.  quite homey

Beginning of a new adventure

It's the second day of my farming internship and it's been amazing.  I got into Portland a few days ago and got to explore the city.  Then I took a 7 hour bus drive down to Medford, and then I had another hour drive to Trail.  It was a long day for sure, but it was welcomed by lovely people and a beautiful home, and area (the area here is breathtaking and I can't believe I get to wake up to it everyday for a while).
**pictures to come when I upload them

Yesterday, I got a tour of the garden and then we had a Chili Verde for dinner, with a salad that was fresh lettuce, asparagus, and snap peas.  I told Sara I loved cooking and she let me organize the salad.  The chili had pork in it, and for those of you who know me, this was a bit of a situation.  I have not eaten meat in a year, and while I am not against it, I didn't realize how hard it would be do it again, even under terms that I agreed on.  Sara was telling me that it is from a local farmer and ethically raised.  I told people that if I would ever eat meat again, I would talk to the farmer and see how the animals were raised and fed.  So, while I told Sara I was a vegetarian on the ride home, I felt rude not trying it.  I knew that I should trust her, but it was a lot bigger challenge than I thought...I had one very small bite.  It was all I could muster, hah.  I am trying elk tonight.  Her son hunted it in the wild, so I feel very comfortable trying it, although small portions since my body isn't used to it.

Okay, enough about my meat problems.  Today, I woke up and got to have my usual breakfast!  New peanut butter but soo yummy!  Also, homemade jam, which was delicious.  Then the other wwoofer, Steve and his daughter Autumn took a drive to the top (or close to) the ridge.  We saw a cougar, bull snake, and learned a lot of cool nature things.  We took home a plant that when mixed with water is like soap.  It was a relaxing day so far, since Sara and her husband went to a party, and it's the weekend.  Tomorrow we'll do some things around the farm.  Monday should be a more intensive farming day.  Hopefully I'll have pictures up soon.

Love from your new farmer,
Meg