Now I'm sitting in the Tufts library, eeking out a few hours on the computer to respond to emails and watch an episode of Glee. Last time I was in a college library was at Macalester, and it makes me chuckle at how similar smaller college libraries can be (every two minutes doing a scan of whether you know anyone, someone across the room saying "bless you" when I sneeze, and a few people loudly talking about their wild weekends). Makes me miss Macalester a little, but not enough to want to do another academic year there...you can do it, Seniors!
This weekend I spent in Boston visiting Jen (my roommate and friend from Mac) and walking around downtown with 3 of the Plowshare volunteers. I had mentioned to them how I always have this secret desire/expectation to run into someone I know in a US city, though I know they're huge and it's unrealistic. 10 minutes later I run into another Mac grad! And on our way back to the Commons park, we pass a Quidditch game! As if that weren't epic enough, a huge orchestra was having a concert at the park playing that composition that sounds like conquering the American frontier (it's really peppy but I unfortunately can not type out my singing syllables), so as the Quidditch game was ending and everyone cheered, the piece was climaxing and oh how you had to be there :) I'd only been to Boston once before, so it was really interesting to have new imagery for it. I still sat on one of the duck statues and had a picture made of me, hoping to put it side-by-side with the one of me when I was 8.
I needed to get away from the farm this weekend more than the other weekends. The week started off fine and beautiful, but come Thursday things started to get tough. I caught a cold and had my first few mornings at a newly settled house with a resident as recent to the farm as I am. "Claire" is about 20, super hyper and switches moods and actions very quickly. She usually does and says the opposite of what you say, and you have to have immense patience and space with her. However, there isn't the whole day to wait for someone to come around, so when it comes down to actually leaving the house (having not accomplished tooth brushing or bed making) she can get panicky...and slaps people. So I had my first series of smacking Thursday, then the subsequent days. Not the best way to start a day. She does this with many people and it is something we're trying to deal with, but I don't know...she stresses me out way more than any of the other residents. I'm not sure that it's the best for me or the farm to assign a new volunteer like me to her at all at this point. We'll see how that goes.
In other news, I really wanted to go to the Common Ground Festival (a local, huge and exciting agriculture fest) in Maine this weekend, but I was so exhausted come Friday/Saturday (my days off are Sun/Mon) that I didn't have the energy to drive 5 hrs to a camp site and perk on up Sunday morning for a full day's worth of activities. It is something I'm determined to attend, so maybe next time. Instead I went to Boston and saw a wonderful happy friend of mine :) Next weekend, though, I'm going to the White Mtns to camp with a volunteer or two - should be one of the most beautiful weekends in the mountains with the freshly colored leaves and before the first frost. Definitely looking forward to that.
On the farm, turns out I won't get to learn milking until the Spring when more cows will hopefully be giving milk and they can train me on one or two who will get used to me. So far I've massaged a cow's utter - a funny experience with a few tail whackings (I'm just getting beaten up, aren't I?). Those veins are huge and I feel like I'm kneading dough. I have helped heard cows which definitely takes practice (in my own body language and what spots on the cow give them what signals) and when I give the pigs water, their enormous bodies finally rouse to sniff me out. Little joys of life :)
We've also started something called Eurythmy once a week (they do this in Waldorf schools) where we do fluid motions with or without these metal poles to vowel sounds. haha, a little weird to explain and I'm not the best person to ask, but imagine a yoga teacher asking you to do some basic dance moves and catch poles you throw. The instructor used to live in Asheville and is Russian with his long white hair in pony tail. One of the residents is obsessed with him and says "THANK YOU VADEEM!" whenever he sees him for no reason at all. (This guy is also great at bird impressions and likes to beat box quietly in the background a lot). So now, we've all started saying "thank you" in that way whenever we're done with Eurythmy :)
If you made it through this entry, congratulations, you three people following this blog!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
This might be a distracted blog because the people around me are talking about the recent egg crisis - we need 10 to bake cookies tomorrow to sell and there are only 5. Someone already cried about it today, and our hens must not be in the mood because they sure aren't producing enough. Since coming to Plowshare, it is topics like these that dominate many conversations :)
This week our schedule was beginning to fall into place, though several days started off with me running around trying to find out exactly which house I could have breakfast in or what chores I was supposed to be doing. I'm in a weird position where I don't live in a house with residents so my responsibilities are more scattered and focused on the farm/animals, though I still have a good amount of interaction with the residents. My off days are Sunday/Monday and other free times are Tuesday morning and Saturday evening. Since there are more volunteers than in the past, there are more free times.
This past Thurs-Friday I went to the world fair in Vermont with the Red House residents (the house I'm "attached" to). One of the residents grew up on a dairy farm near the fair and wanted us to meet his family and see his background a bit. And, I'm not going to lie, a big added bonus was eating delicious home-made ice cream and drinking some of the best hot chocolate milk I've ever had :) But seriously, I've been so spoiled on the food front. I had some fries there and for the rest of the car ride I was aching - your body really responds to what you put in it. After not having unhealthy snack food for a while, it took a toll on my body. Now I don't really desire eating that kind of food for a while.
The weather this weekend was so beautiful that I went with some of the volunteers hiking around the farm, laying by a lake, and doing our frequent nighttime pond hang outs. Coming recently from MN, I know I have to take advantage of every outdoor moment before frostbite starts to ATTACK!
I also feel like I'm starting to be friends with some of the residents. Not only is it fun, but it's important to develop connections so that you develop mutual respect and have an easier time understanding each other, particularly when someone clearly isn't in the mood to work or doesn't want to listen to you. I figure that will become easier as time goes on, but here, as much as you can predict (what phrases the residents will say 100x a day, for example), there might be just as many things that you can't. Changing seasons, new environments, a personal crisis, all of that can flick a switch for someone that you just have to ride out with them. Makes me think more about just how many waves of emotions and experiences we all have as individuals, and how beautiful it is that we can still live together on this planet. Everything's harmoniously crazy in a way.
I'll leave you with one of the prayers we sing before eating a meal. Til next time!
"For Sun and Rain,
for Earth and Grain,
for all who toil
on seed and soil
so we may eat
this daily food
We give our love
and thanks, dear God....May the meal be blessed!"
*Devour food*
Love, Lisa
This week our schedule was beginning to fall into place, though several days started off with me running around trying to find out exactly which house I could have breakfast in or what chores I was supposed to be doing. I'm in a weird position where I don't live in a house with residents so my responsibilities are more scattered and focused on the farm/animals, though I still have a good amount of interaction with the residents. My off days are Sunday/Monday and other free times are Tuesday morning and Saturday evening. Since there are more volunteers than in the past, there are more free times.
This past Thurs-Friday I went to the world fair in Vermont with the Red House residents (the house I'm "attached" to). One of the residents grew up on a dairy farm near the fair and wanted us to meet his family and see his background a bit. And, I'm not going to lie, a big added bonus was eating delicious home-made ice cream and drinking some of the best hot chocolate milk I've ever had :) But seriously, I've been so spoiled on the food front. I had some fries there and for the rest of the car ride I was aching - your body really responds to what you put in it. After not having unhealthy snack food for a while, it took a toll on my body. Now I don't really desire eating that kind of food for a while.
The weather this weekend was so beautiful that I went with some of the volunteers hiking around the farm, laying by a lake, and doing our frequent nighttime pond hang outs. Coming recently from MN, I know I have to take advantage of every outdoor moment before frostbite starts to ATTACK!
I also feel like I'm starting to be friends with some of the residents. Not only is it fun, but it's important to develop connections so that you develop mutual respect and have an easier time understanding each other, particularly when someone clearly isn't in the mood to work or doesn't want to listen to you. I figure that will become easier as time goes on, but here, as much as you can predict (what phrases the residents will say 100x a day, for example), there might be just as many things that you can't. Changing seasons, new environments, a personal crisis, all of that can flick a switch for someone that you just have to ride out with them. Makes me think more about just how many waves of emotions and experiences we all have as individuals, and how beautiful it is that we can still live together on this planet. Everything's harmoniously crazy in a way.
I'll leave you with one of the prayers we sing before eating a meal. Til next time!
"For Sun and Rain,
for Earth and Grain,
for all who toil
on seed and soil
so we may eat
this daily food
We give our love
and thanks, dear God....May the meal be blessed!"
*Devour food*
Love, Lisa
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Day off
Thank you, library, for your bounty of internet signals. Amen.
Ok, so that's not how all our prayers before and after every meal go, but I find myself saying "thank you" more nowadays than maybe I have ever in my life...perhaps minus Thailand. Also, the weather is friggin delicious and I'm going for a long hike on my second day off tomorrow.
As I went to work hauling logs around this morning, the other informed volunteers went to an orientation in which they were told their lodging and probable tasks for the year. Well, I eventually found out and...I'm going to be living in what is known as the "Garden House." It's actually not a house with a house parent, co-workers or residents - it's pretty much a basement where they store some garden supplies. haha, ok it's not as bad as it may sound. In fact, I can imagine having my own space will be my saving grace down the road, and I still am "attached" to two houses during which I'll have to do morning rituals with the residents. I'm also facing the garden/farm, which will be my main set of tasks this year (caring for animals and plants). I was then told I'll probably be the person they train in making PIZZA! every Thursday and delivering baked goodies twice a week with the residents, meaning I get to do more variable tasks and get off the farm more often than other volunteers. I'd say I got a deal :)
Ok, so that's not how all our prayers before and after every meal go, but I find myself saying "thank you" more nowadays than maybe I have ever in my life...perhaps minus Thailand. Also, the weather is friggin delicious and I'm going for a long hike on my second day off tomorrow.
As I went to work hauling logs around this morning, the other informed volunteers went to an orientation in which they were told their lodging and probable tasks for the year. Well, I eventually found out and...I'm going to be living in what is known as the "Garden House." It's actually not a house with a house parent, co-workers or residents - it's pretty much a basement where they store some garden supplies. haha, ok it's not as bad as it may sound. In fact, I can imagine having my own space will be my saving grace down the road, and I still am "attached" to two houses during which I'll have to do morning rituals with the residents. I'm also facing the garden/farm, which will be my main set of tasks this year (caring for animals and plants). I was then told I'll probably be the person they train in making PIZZA! every Thursday and delivering baked goodies twice a week with the residents, meaning I get to do more variable tasks and get off the farm more often than other volunteers. I'd say I got a deal :)
Thursday, September 9, 2010
I'm connected!!
The internet can work, the internet can work! After having tried a total of 1 1/2 hours over the course of the week to get online, this slow dial-up process on the one communal computer on the farm has proven me...OK. But it's working now so I'll update you on my first week here...
Wow, what a whirlwind. I thought I would be coming to this quiet, peaceful, "try to keep busy" farm and here I am in what is apparently a very rich, "full" place: rich with unique people and experiences, full with laughter as well as chores. To laugh at simple things, develop patience and meaning in simple tasks (cleaning is a biggie), and enjoy life's simple pleasures is good. To summarize, the volunteers, co-workers and residents (those living with "special needs") are wonderful.
To give you an idea of the days I've had this week (remember it's more of an orientation week and we're not yet in our groove):
Wake up 6:30
Morning chores/breakfast 7am-9am
Workshop (on farm, kitchen, bakery, woodwork, or crafts) 9-12
Lunch 12-12:45 (and if you're on cleaning duty, until 1:20)
Rest time until 2pm, then some snack (cookies!)
Workshop 2 2:15-5pm
Dinner prep/some rest 5-6pm
Dinner 6-7
Clean-up and bedtime ritual for residents 7-8
In other words...I am TIRED by the end of the day and usually just want to take it easy and go to bed by 9:30. Oops, past my bedtime already.
The area is beautiful (mountains in the background, but not the White Mountains), the weather is getting crisp, and the food is always wholesome and delicious. Who knows, I'll either get strong candy cravings in a month or I'll get over my cravings through this experience.
I'm thinking of you all and want to say that I will probably not be great about communicating, particularly via internet, unless I find out a way to speed up the system. Please write me letters anytime, though, and I hope you all are taking each day at a time as well.
Love,
Lisa
Quote of the week from one of the residents: "It's good we don't know everything. Life would be boring if we did."
Wow, what a whirlwind. I thought I would be coming to this quiet, peaceful, "try to keep busy" farm and here I am in what is apparently a very rich, "full" place: rich with unique people and experiences, full with laughter as well as chores. To laugh at simple things, develop patience and meaning in simple tasks (cleaning is a biggie), and enjoy life's simple pleasures is good. To summarize, the volunteers, co-workers and residents (those living with "special needs") are wonderful.
To give you an idea of the days I've had this week (remember it's more of an orientation week and we're not yet in our groove):
Wake up 6:30
Morning chores/breakfast 7am-9am
Workshop (on farm, kitchen, bakery, woodwork, or crafts) 9-12
Lunch 12-12:45 (and if you're on cleaning duty, until 1:20)
Rest time until 2pm, then some snack (cookies!)
Workshop 2 2:15-5pm
Dinner prep/some rest 5-6pm
Dinner 6-7
Clean-up and bedtime ritual for residents 7-8
In other words...I am TIRED by the end of the day and usually just want to take it easy and go to bed by 9:30. Oops, past my bedtime already.
The area is beautiful (mountains in the background, but not the White Mountains), the weather is getting crisp, and the food is always wholesome and delicious. Who knows, I'll either get strong candy cravings in a month or I'll get over my cravings through this experience.
I'm thinking of you all and want to say that I will probably not be great about communicating, particularly via internet, unless I find out a way to speed up the system. Please write me letters anytime, though, and I hope you all are taking each day at a time as well.
Love,
Lisa
Quote of the week from one of the residents: "It's good we don't know everything. Life would be boring if we did."
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
My attempt at blogging
For those of you who know my humor, Plisashares makes sense. Please Lisa, share about Plowshare --> Plisashares. ha...ha...
So I'm not even at Plowshare right now, but I look forward to attempting to keep this up. Pressure me if need be!
My mailing address will be:
Plowshare Farm c/o Lisa Bruckner
32 Whitney Road
Greenfield New Hampshire 03047
Their website is: http://www.plowsharefarm.org
My mailing address will be:
Plowshare Farm c/o Lisa Bruckner
32 Whitney Road
Greenfield New Hampshire 03047
Their website is: http://www.plowsharefarm.org
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