On June 24th we arrived at Tree of Life Permaculture Farm. Heather gave us a tour of the property and we met the rest of the family: James and the two children Esmeralda and Theodore. Their life is pretty simple here and is probably the closest to subsistence living that we have and possibly will ever experience. The farm provides close to 90% of the food they consume, the exception being salt and pepper and maybe some staples like flour or beans. This makes for great fresh food, but surprisingly simple meals because you only have what is in season and at that, what you have labored to grow and harvest. They also raise chickens, rabbits, ducks, geese, a pig, sheep, and cows, all for either meat or their contributing production of a staple item like eggs or milk. They sell the extra milk they have, providing their source of income.
For the first week of work we did many varying small tasks like moving gravel fr
om a newly placed well pump site, weeding, and mending the soil for planting. We transplanted cucumbers and okra from the greenhouse, where they started, into the garden. In between each newly planted cucumber seedling, they had us place a large river rock because the rocks absorb the heat during the day and radiate the energy back out to the plants throughout the night. This is especially great for those cold sensative plants like cucumber. Ryan got to try out the scythe, which he used to harvest the rye grain that was dense and dry. Once it was all chopped down we gathered it up in bundles, which we tied up and then set out to dry for at least a week. After it was given sufficient time to dry we laid it evenly, one bundle at a time, and threshed the stalks to release the grain. We did this with a garden hose and just lightly swung the hose so that it landed on the rye, knocking the grain from the seed head, where it landed on the sheet underneath. From there we removed the grain-less stalks, now straw, and then funneled the grain on the sheet into a bucket. It was a labor-some process, but for a plant that really requires no maintenance while growing, it wasn’t too bad of a pay-off.
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After that we spent several days working on deconstructing an old fence, then put a new one up with different parameters. We learned how to harvest fava beans, which grow in a pod, similar to other legumes, and are ready to harvest when they turn black, just before the seed pod splits open to release the seeds (fava beans) within. We were also able to help with the task of sheering the sheep, a process which involved, first “tackling” the sheep to the ground then proceeding to trim the dense, lanolin-thick wool with a pair of sheering scissors.
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Esmeralda, their ten year old daughter, has been teaching me about caring for bunnies, which they raise for meat. One rabbit was pregnant and gave birth to seven baby bunnies at the beginning of the week. The little bunnies are born blind and deaf and the mother pulls out her own fur to cover them inside of the kindling box provided by Esmeralda. Everyday when she feeds the rabbits, Esmeralda also checks on the babies to see if they are all still alive, apparently it is common for the mother to reject the whole brood if one or more of the babies die. Five dead bunnies have been found so far, usually indicated by the presence of flies in the cage, the other two are still surviving on.
(It is hard to make out, but here are the two baby bunnies, snuggled up next to each other)
In the afternoons play boardgames with Esmerelda or when it’s really hot (most days) we have been putting in our hours early in the morning and then after lunch we head over to the Rogue River to cool off. The water there is cold, but feels so refreshing in the heat. This is mostly to cool the dogs off, since there is no air conditioning here, they have a hard time keeping cool during this hottest part of the day. By the time we get back in the evening, the sun is hanging below the forest tree line, so it’s not so brutal.
On one of our days off, we traveled a few hours to Crater Lake National Park, home to the deepest lake in the nation. This lake is especially odd because it sits in a caldera, formed thousands of years ago when a volcano collapsed after an eruption. This formation process, plus the fact that it is fed solely by rain and snow, forms the lake into the cleanest water with the most intense blue color.
We have really enjoyed our stay here and have grown in some ways, especially in our new-found appreciation for this simpler way of life. We are so thankful to have had the opportunity to live with, learn from, and share so many joyful moments with this family (that includes you Debbie!). Somehow, when you’ve really enjoyed every moment of your work day, looking at every task and event with new, loving eyes, as if it was your first time experiencing it, you really can find the true meaning of happiness. Never have I felt such a pull to just be still, and present to the moment, instead of rushing to the next task.
“Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it”
~ Gautama Buddha
From the mystic path,
Tonya & Ryan
Just as Free 