Left Foot Farm

Start chapter 1 of our new life. Our, perhaps chapter something-or-other in our ever expanding novel of this wonderful life we live.

Either way, we are settled into our new home, that being be our home for now at least. Left Foot Farm has really surpassed any expectations we had and we feel very fortuitous to have found such a wonderful place to call home.

When we arrived at the farm it was a bit overwhelming, as there are ten other wwoofers living here, along with some 100 goats, six dogs, chickens, ducks and pigs. Needless to say there is always something going on and many names to learn and as such we have enjoyed every step thus far. The farm here specializes in selling raw goat’s milk, primarily from Nigerian Dwarf goats, which have the highest butterfat content of all goat’s milk.

We have our own little cabin to stay in, but we spend most of our time working our daily shifts, which can consist of anything from feeding, milking, hoof trimming, and gardening, to name a few. With so many chores to be done around this bustling farm you can always find something to keep you busy, which we have really enjoyed after our long trip out here, with virtually no responsibilities.

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  Since we are allotted two days off a week we have been spending our free time exploring the area. Our first stop was, of course, to see Mt. Rainier National Park. On clear day you can see the towering peak from the farm, its snow laden face beckoning us to come have a closer look. The hike we did was amazing, taking us through fields of blooming wildflowers up to various vantage points where we could stop and admire the icy volcano as well as many waterfalls and wildlife.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Another day off us took us to Olympia, the capital of Washington state. Though it is small, it is very quaint and has much to offer in terms of tourism. We spent the day touring the capital building and then meandering the streets, popping in and out of the small, local shops that populate the downtown district and finished up the day with a walk along the inlet.

  

Though I know it’s coming, it’s hard to imagine the rainy, dreary days to come because it has just been so beautiful here. Every morning starts out with a crisp chill, just enough to wake you up, which burns off with the rising sun and warmer temperatures we’ve been enjoying. Since fall has announced itself with the turning of the leaves, we try to spend every afternoon we have off by  swimming in the nearby lakes or using the farm kayaks to explore.

  

All the greatness and beauty here has moved me to start writing haikus. Certainly more will follow in future posts, but I leave you for now, with my first attempt.

 

One breath-

the words that flow,

aspire to inspire

 

 Tonya and Ryan

Croatoan

After hearing what the land has to say across this beautiful nation of ours, we have decided to set out once again on the road with all our possessions packed liked sardines under our truck topper. However, this time things will be a bit different, as we have decided on a final destination. A definitive place, a home, for the pups and us. Our little family will now be living in Washington.

Yes, we loved it so much there that we have decided to relocate just about as far away from Florida as you can get within these American borders. May sound crazy, but there is just something awe-inspiring about the pacific north-west and we just couldn’t shake it once we got back to the east coast. We are so excited to start this next chapter of our lives and hope that all our loved ones will come visit and share in this amazing place with us. It truly is too great not to.

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Now in order to make this move happen, we have lined up a farm-stay in Eatonville, WA for us to reside while we get our bearings straight and find a job and place to live. After stopping in Pennsylvania for some time to visit my dad and family we had to say our goodbyes and start our trek west.

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Our first stop was a short-lived visit to Ohio. Sorry to say, but there was not much there worth seeing so we packed up camp in the morning and continued west for a good part of the day. We decided to stop at Kickapoo State Park in Illinois, which proved to be a much more interesting stay than Wayne National Forest.

Kickapoo is a huge recreation area, so there were many trails, pavilions and picnic areas, alongside the many picturesque lakefront scenes. We hiked some trails to wear the dogs out and finished just in time for a major thunderstorm to roll in and force us to take shelter in a pavilion. Now, this storm is only worth mentioning because it was for certain the biggest storm I’ve ever been in, especially considering we endured it from under an open pavilion. With the wind spraying the heavy raindrops sideways to mist us while loud claps of thunder had Honey barking incessantly, we were certainly glad when we finally saw the redeeming rays of sun indicating the end of this massive thunderhead.

  That afternoon, we got to workout with our new contraption. Before we left my dad’s house, Ryan had the ingenious idea to craft our own version of a TRX. Using handles from some old resistance bands, he tied some climbing rope together, with adjustable knots and had us a body-weight, suspension training workout system for next to nothing. (Definitely didn’t want to buy a TRX, those suckers are expensive!). So now we can workout on the road, as long as we have a sturdy tree and of course the will to break a sweat.

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Steadfast to our western route we drove a whole day of intermittent storms throughout the states of Illinois and Iowa as we made our way north into Minnesota. There, we set up camp for one night, only to get totally drenched by a rainstorm we were not expecting. Somehow we still haven’t learned to just prep the tent for rain, but in the evenings when the stars are shining so bright, it’s just too tempting to leave that rain fly off.

Badlands

 Once we got into South Dakota, we stopped in Badlands National Park to eat lunch among the eroded buttes and spires of the harsh, rocky landscape. Then continuing west we finally found relief from the heat when we made camp at a relatively higher elevation. After spending the morning hiking nearby, we made our way to Mount Rushmore National Monument, a must-see when you’re in the area. Words cannot convey the actual size of the features carved into the side of Mount Rushmore, bringing you face to face with the heritage we all share. Standing there, nearly a mile from the mountain, it’s hard to contemplate how Gutzon Borglum achieved such a feat, but his words ring true:

“..let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until the wind and rain alone shall wear them away.”

Mount Rushmore

Continuing our historical journey, we headed into Wyoming, home of the first National Park, Yellowstone, and first National Monument, Devil’s Tower. After camping in the Big Horn Mountains, a personal favorite, we made a stop at the eroded magma structure that is Devil’s Tower, where we ate lunch in the foothills of the 865 foot high formation.

  Cooking dinner over the fire

Once we got to the Big Sky State of Montana we camped for a few nights under the countless stars and did some gorgeous hikes during the day. Getting to Idaho proved to be much hotter and we decided to stop driving early because we found a beautiful campground on a river we just couldn’t pass up. We quickly changed into our suits and swam for the hot part of that day. Lucky we did because a storm rolled in that evening, bringing with it cold, foggy air that lazily wafted through the forested mountainside the next day. Because it was now so much colder, we decided to soak in the nearby hot springs. After hiking about a mile into the woods we warmed our bones in a tepid pool alongside the icy river. It truly was one of the most magical places I’ve been.

I could not have asked for a more perfect way to end our voyage to new land. Saying farewell to the home we have always known and entering into this novel place is certainly just outside of comfortable, but it’s exactly what we want and need.  We are so excited to start the new chapter of our lives, together.

Tonya & Ryan

The Pacific Northwest

Leaving the farm in southern Oregon we headed north and towards the ocean to spend the next week camping at several great little spots along the coast. By far, the best beach we have seen was Oswald Beach State Park. We stayed in the northern coast of Oregon for some time, just to be at this breathtakingly beautiful beach. It also didn’t hurt that the surf was good, so Ryan spent some time in the water while I walked the dogs through many of the park’s trails, dense with trees and life.

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After that we got into Washington where we stayed with Jim and Fran for a few nights. They are a kind couple we met while camping in California and we were invited to stay with them. They built their own passive solar house, something we very much interested in, so we picked their brain about that and enjoyed talking with them about their adventures as well. During the day, they showed us around town, so Ryan got to surf a local spot and we sampled a few local seafood restaurants. Jim does bubbling and showed us, with his special, precise mixture, just how big a bubble can get. Using specially made wands that he fashioned himself, we dipped them into the homemade solution and generated bubbles so big, the pictures really do not do them justice. We were so grateful to have stayed with you Jim & Fran thank you so much for everything!

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Then it was off to the Sea-Tac airport to pick up my sister, Terri. She flew in to stay with us for a week and explore Washington. We headed into the Olympic peninsula to camp for a few nights. During the day we went on some beautiful hikes, picking berries along the way and stopping at a waterfall for much of one afternoon. In Port Townsend we took the ferry to Whidbey Island, where we stopped for lunch overlooking beautiful Deceptions Pass. Heading north, we met up with Ryan’s parents, who flew into Washington that day, and all settled in to the house they rented for the week. From the rental house, we departed every morning to explore the area. We went hiking, rode ferries, saw spectacular views, and of course stopped for some ice cream. In the evenings we all sat on the deck, with its magnificent, mountain top view of the surrounding water and town far below. Since Jim sent us off with some bubble solution and special wands, we introduced everyone to the art of making giant bubbles, so we spent several nights entertaining ourselves with that.

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It was so great to be surrounded by family, especially considering it has been some time since we have really seen anyone that we knew. While traveling is great, it really is comforting seeing your family and we have certainly realized the importance of friends and family on this trip. You really can live wherever you want in the world, but without friends and family there to share it with you, it might not be worth having at all.

We had so much fun, thank you so much Terri, Brant and Patty for coming out to visit us and so much more.

“Man is a knot into which relationships are tied.”

~ Antoine de Saint

Tonya & Ryan

Work without love is slavery

On June 24^th 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 from 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

Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you

Thankfully, after camping for eight nights we were able to stay with our friends Natalie and Eric who live in Los Gatos, just south of San Francisco. So after we dropped Jeehoon off at the airport, we headed to their house, which is a cute little bungalow situated on the top of a hill in the midst of a horse ranch. It was so great to be able to catch up with them, wash some clothes, and just spend some time not in a tent, haha. Natalie and Eric are planning on wwoofing in the future and so we were able to share some of our experiences and advice with them and they told us about the joys of living “out west” and all of the great places we should check out. During the day we were

able to go visit Santa Cruz, where Ryan got to surf the infamous break, Steamer Lane, while I took the dogs to the dog beach. Then at night we sat around talking, eating and sampling Eric’s home made hard cider. Thank you so much Natalie and Eric for having us, it was great to recuperate and catch up!

Once we left Los Gatos, we headed to coastal northern California, where we took the scenic highway 101 drive. This drive took us meanderingly along the rocky coast, sporadically coming back inland through the dense, untouched redwoods before coming back to the misty skies and pounding waves of the pacific coast. After reaching several campgrounds that were full, we started to worry that we might be sleeping in the truck, we opted to check out a gloomy, trailer park that advertised tent campsites. Apparently we were the only campers who decided to do this and were able to camp directly on the beach, in a small alcove between two rock bluffs, all by ourselves. After spending two nights there, making campfires in the sand and falling asleep to the persistent crashing of waves on the shore, we headed north again to the next campground.

Oh and the dogs did not want to leave our little beach

 

The next campground was McKerricher State Park, much more developed than our previous lodging, which we were really ok with since they had showers! They also had a seal watching station, where we saw the plump, spotted harbor seals sunning themselves on the rocks. We were able to let the dogs run free on the seemingly deserted beach and even got some fresh made ice cream in town.

Again, we headed north, this time to Redwood National Park, where we camped among the hundreds of years old redwood trees. We went on several hikes and scenic drives, all of which eerily remind you of some scene from Jurassic Park because the trees are just so prehistorically huge, the only thing that could really dwarf them would be T-Rex.

We also saw Big Tree, which someone told us is the third tallest tree in the world. I’m not sure, but it was certainly the tallest tree I’ve ever seen, then again so were all of the trees in that dense, old-growth forest.

 

 

For the end to our week of camping, we stayed at Harris Beach S.P. on the coast of Oregon. Since it was situated close to the beach we were able to spend a lot of time by the water, letting the dogs play in the ice cold waves while we walked along the shore. The last few days we were there a rain front came in so we had some early evenings hanging out in the tent and spent a day at a coffee shop to escape the ice pelt of rain determined to totally soak us.

We were so happy to spend so much time camping, just enjoying being outside and having lots of free time. However, this has very much made us excited to get to working at our next farm, Tree of Life Permaculture Farm, in Oregon.

“We often miss opportunity because it’s dressed in overalls and looks like work” ~ Thomas Edison

Tonya & Ryan

The clearest way into the universe is through a forest of wilderness.

Upon leaving Chino Valley our first stop was Las Vegas International Airport to pick up our friend Jeehoon. Then it was due west, to Death Valley, CA. As the name suggests it was brutal. Once you enter the park you begin to descend in elevation until you reach the welcome center, conveniently located at the lowest point in the United States, at 282 feet below sea level. Opening the car door, you are immediately flooded with what can only be described as sauna wind and I guess at 115°  you can’t really expect much less. So, we quickly made for our campsite, 6,000 feet up and every bit cooler. The next morning we quickly packed up before the heat set in and made it to our next destination Onion Valley.

Onion Valley was the perfect camping location, 9,000 feet up nestled between two mountain peaks. It is less of a destination than the national parks, but everybit as beautiful, with less people, and much to see and do. With access to John Muir Wilderness and Kings Canyon National Park we went on several hikes, including one which took us up over a peak, through rocks and snow, to a still, beautiful lake. We were the only ones around and we enjoyed the afternoon at our very own lake.

After Onion Valley, it was north to the Mammoth Lakes area. This popular recreation destination has several lakes, mountain trails, and a few nationally recognized monuments. We went on some awesome hikes that took us through dense woods up to rocky outcroppings with spectacular views. We also made a visit to Devils Postpile, a rare cliff of columnar basalt. Created by a lava flow some 100,000 years ago, the interior of it was later revealed as a giant glacier receded, scraping and polishing what is now exposed. Nearby, we hiked the 101-ft Rainbow Falls, where a rainbow literally forms at base of the waterfall. It was just beautiful.

After meandering through the aw-inspiring Sierra-Nevada mountain range, we decided to head into the San Francisco area, to be closer to the Airport and check out the city before we had to send Jeehoon off. Once we unpacked and set up a few things at China Camp State Park, we called it a night and started the next day early. We drove into San Francisco on the infamous Golden Gate bridge, but not before stopping and admiring it from afar, of course. Then after touring the town, we ate at the marina and walked the dogs on the beach. On the way back we stopped in the small town we were staying in to pick up a pizza and some rum to have our own little camping party for G’s last night with us.

 

We were so glad you got to come visit Jeehoon, we always have the best camping trips!

With that, here’s a quote from probably one of the best ever naturalist and preservationist, to whom we are grateful for many of our parks.

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.” ~ John Muir

Tonya and Ryan

Seeing red

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Last weekend we had the opportunity to go rock climbing, on real rocks! Both Ryan and I have never really been into rock climbing since we’ve really only ever done it indoors. The guy who is in charge of growing mushrooms here on the farm happens to know a lot about rock climbing so he took us wwoofers out to a local spot to show us the ropes. Hiking out with all of our gear, it seemed that there was nothing but flat desert, when all of a sudden a narrow canyon appeared below us. We repelled down the canyon side, one by one and then proceeded to climb the various routes that Peter directed us to, which were really nothing more than cracks running vertically up the entire face of the rock wall. This proved to be more challenging than indoor rock climbing, because the holds are not so obvious. We definitely like rock rock climbing.

Early in the week we got to learn a bit about mushroom cultivation. From mycelium generating on agar petri dishes all the way to harvesting the mushroom fruiting bodies, we followed Peter step by step to learn the somewhat complicated process involved in growing mushrooms. It was great because fungiculture has always been so mysterious, so this helped to shed some light and now we some-what know how to grow our own.

 

Wednesday Ryan and I took the day off to visit the Grand Canyon. Gazing out over the massive depths and rising peaks undulating across the canyon, it is easy to understand why it is considered one of the seven wonders of the world. With nearly 2 billion years of the earth’s geological history exposed by the carving of the Colorado River, every layer of rock reveals a new color and texture, giving the whole thing an unreal hue. The pictures truely do not do it justice.

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May 31st was my birthday so after a waffle breakfast Ryan and I headed to Sedona, apparently a must-see in Arizona. The drive there was on a small, beautiful road that winded through a mountain range. Sedona proved to be worth the visit, with its unmistakable red rock greeting you from the face of every mountain. We went for a hike at Devil’s Bridge, a rock formation that forms literally a bridge about 50 feet off the ground. On the way back to the farm we stopped in Jerome, another popular tourist destination. The town was nestled on the side of a mountain with houses and shops sprouting out of steep cliffs and we walked the main street, stopping at the awesome kaleidoscope store.

 

 

For the weekend we got to join Kate at the markets where we helped set up, explained our tomato knowledge to the customers and revisited simple arithmetic trying to count change.  The market was an awesome time.

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Spending three weeks at Chino Valley Farms was great for us; we got to learn so much from working and talking with Mike and Kate and of course made many friends along the way. Arizona is a beautiful state with lots of outdoor activities, great views and nice people so we are sad to leave, especially without being able to have done everything, but alas, we must continue on to our next adventure!

Thanks to Mike, Kate, and Elaine for all of your wisdom and wit.

Insistently itinerant,

Tonya & Ryan

 

A soilless culture

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On the 11th we arrived at Chino Valley Farms in Arizona. Before we retired to the trailer, which is to be our home for the next three weeks, we got a tour of the farm. This included several massive greenhouse which are home to over 8,000 strawberry plants, a few thousand tomato plants and various lettuces, all grown hydroponically. This farm is, by far, the largest farm we have had the opportunity to work on.

There are many large solar panels that are nestled between the buildings, allowing the property to produce enough energy to sustain the farm. There are also lots of dogs who patrol the farm and four other farm workers (wwoofers) staying here as well. Our hosts, Mike and Kate, are great conversationalists and have an awesome dynamic.

The next day we had a lazy day around the farm since it was Sunday, which was everyone’s day off. In the evening we had a BBQ dinner, which really felt like a party since there are so many people staying here.

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Monday we started work, our first project being to sort through some irrigation lines for the hydroponic system, then we assessed the strawberry plants and removed the ones that were dying or dead. Those were then replaced with new transplants, which were leftovers from last year. Apparently you can trim back a strawberry plant to just a small bud, uproot it, and freeze the whole plant. Since the strawberry is a perennial, the freezing causes the plant to go dormant, as if it were cold outside. Once it is exposed to warm weather, it ‘wakes up’ to start growing again.

The next day Ryan and I started a project that lasted us for the next few days. Mike wants to expand into more strawberry plants this season so the tables for the new plants needed to be constructed. We were set up with a laser level, which we learned to use, and began measuring, hammering, screwing and then remeasuring to get the table supports plum. This was important because the nature of hydroponics requires the tubes to have even flow of water, so everything has to be level.

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One afternoon we took the bikes they have here and went cruising down some slow roads with big hills. There we found a trail to explore as well.

Working at this farm has been great. Since everything is relatively organized we are able to work our five hours in the morning and are done by 11am. We have lunch and then the rest of the day is ours to explore. We went into the town of Prescott for an afternoon. Ryan was thinking about getting some legit hiking boots so we checked out some shops and then walked around the quaint downtown. They also have a descent sized telescope here, so we’ve spent a few evenings obsessing over the surface of the moon.  Now that we have the maneuvering figured out I want to look for some stars. Last weekend we went o hike Thumb Butte, a relatively famous hike for this area. This 2 mile hike brings you 2,000 feet up to a rocky outcropping with spectacular views.

For the past few days we have been doing a bit of spring cleaning. Since the summer is the busy season here in the valley, we are getting a lot of things ready, sorting, cleaning, etc. We had to use the bobcat to move the larger items, so we got to learn how to maneuver around while hauling pallets on the fork lift.

Easy and breezy,

Tonya & Ryan

New Mexico: Land of Enchantment

As the road stretched out before us, the day proved to be a long drive and western Texas proved to be everything we envisioned. That cactus that comes to mind when you think mid-west sparingly dots the roadside and the dried clay dirt swirls into small cyclones with each gust of wind. After long stretches of desert highway, I-10 brought us through El Paso, where we could literally see the slums of Mexico through a simple chain link fence. Turning north we made our way between the looming mountains which comprise the Organ mountain range. There we found our campground, Aguirre Springs, nestled on the east side of this extrusive rock. Since the long, winding drive took us rather high up, our campsite had spectacular views of the land below us.

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The next day we had to check out White Sands National Monument, one of the world’s great natural wonders. At the bottom of the Tularosa Basin lies 275 square miles of desert, consisting entirely of white gypsum sand. Gypsum is almost never found in the form of sand, however, the Basin has no water-run off, so these water-soluble crystals are trapped, forced to blow around haphazardly, constantly forming and reforming  dunes.

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Driving into the area you immediately feel as though you are approaching the seaside, with dunes of sand and sprigs of grass, the ocean must surely be over the next hill, right? Alas, over that hill of sand is… more sand, LOTS more sand. It’s a little bewildering and scary, until you remember you have a source of water and a vehicle. Driving further into the basin only proves to deliver larger dunes of sand. With the constant motion of the sand, the roads must be cleared daily with a plow and this somehow gives you the impression that the stark white sand is now snow, piled up high on either side of the road.

We found a spot at a picnic table where we ate lunch and then decided to try to surf these dunes of sand. After Ryan took the fins off his surf board, we hiked up the sinking sand of a dune nearby and tried to slide down the side. It was fun, but I guess we were expecting epic speeds and we were only sliding in sand after all.

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The next morning we packed up and started our drive to Chino Valley, Arizona. It was another long drive, but somehow this day was much easier. I think that it had something to do with the awesome views we saw. This was definitely one of the most beautiful drives we’ve been on, with so many hills, mountain top views, and  even drives through the hills with course rock exposed on either side. Before even making it to Chino Valley farms, we decided we love Arizona.

“Great things are done when men and mountains meet.” ~William Blake

Tonya & Ryan

Tenacious Texas

Driving through Texas is really the only way you can possibly comprehend the sheer size of the Lone star State. After passing through seemingly endless stretches of dry dirt dotted with mesquite trees and BBQ signs we finally made it to Nabuni Acres.

As you bump down the rocky driveway fifty some-odd orchard fruit trees stand on either side. A tour of the homestead included 17 acres of chickens, ducks, sheep, cows, a pig, and horse that pasture and roam around the yard at their leisure along with a small kitchen vegetable garden with the veggies of the season densely sprouted up in rows.

We spent the next few days doing odd chores around the house with our hosts Maury and Melissa. Since it was the weekend, the workload was considerably less and we spent our time watering the plants, chatting with neighbors, and chiseling away at the cellar hole Maury has started under the house.

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During the week Ryan and I installed an irrigation line in the orchard, which was a lot simpler than we expected it to be. Then we took a few days off to work on squaring away our next farms we are to travel to and visited Austin for the day.

Austin certainly proved to be a city worth visiting if you’re in Texas. We spent the day at a beautiful dog park where the dogs swam and tired themselves out before going to eat dinner an authentic tex-mex restaurant, along with some margaritas of course. Then we headed to the infamous Congress Blvd Bridge to see the thousands of bats descend on the river at sunset.

Once we were back to work at Nabuni we worked on stretching and securing a section of fence so the animals could pasture in a new area. One of the days, while moving a stack of pallets Ryan came upon a diamond back so Maury quickly killed it and we got to see how the rattler tasted all fried up for dinner. I must say, eating a snake sounds a lot worse than it actually is and, given the chance, I would probably eat it again. I think I would describe it as a rather bland taste, something like Tilapia, but with a chewy, stringy consistency, similar to string cheese. Not a bad combo. We also made buttermilk chess pie, a Texas original. In the evenings we spent our time relaxing on the porch, drinking beer and shooting various guns (including an AK-47!), after all we are in Texas.

Since Maury is an expert in  many Native American skills, Ryan decided to take advantage of this and learn to make his own bow while we were there. To make a bow, the traditional way, you start with Bodark, a specific type of tree. So Ryan spent 10 minutes here and there throughout the day and then a good amount of time in the evenings using a draw knife to shave away rings on the hunk of wood, year by year getting closer to the desired pith. Once the selected layer was revealed on both sides, he drew out his desired shape and began cutting away. Though the bow looks close to what he wants, it is far from being done…now comes the fine whittling,  shaving or sanding away fine layers to even the whole bow out.

  

Texas really is an unforgiving land, with its biting insects, venomous snakes, scorpions, and dry heat, all of which we experienced. For the experience, we are grateful, but are now positive we do not want to settle in this vast, dusty state.

All in all, we really did not work as much as we would have liked, but what we didn’t learn in practice, our hosts made up for in many conversations where Ryan and I carefully dissected their brains with our constant questions. Our hosts, Melissa and Maury made us feel very welcome and we are grateful to have been able to absorb some of their knowledge on everything from keyhole gardens and lasagna beds, to constructing a water bog filtration system and making home brewed beer. They really proved to be a wealth of information.

Thanks Maury and Melissa for putting up with our seemingly endless questions, may you always continue to be that wealth of knowledge for those around you!

“Live with what you have now
And make the best of what’s to come”

Tonya & Ryan

On the road again

The West Coast…our next frontier. After spending a few months in Florida, we packed up our things, along with the pups, and made for the west on Monday. Well, to be exact we headed north first, making a stop at our friend Megan’s, in Tallahassee, for two nights. When we pulled into the driveway we found her cute little duplex nestled in the dense trees of green and spring. That evening we sat around, sipping beer while fervently talking about our trip we have planned…Megan is a bit of an adventurista herself, so we poured over maps, and shared factoids on the different states we clump into the category of “out west.”

The next day Megan headed to work while Ryan and I explored a nearby park, with the dogs in-tow.  Upon entering Tom Brown park, the sign proclaimed “best park” and the winding road took us through tall trees, past a huge lake with a board walk, leading us to an enclosed dog park. We let the dogs tire themselves out and explored the park some more before heading back. When Megan got home from work we went back to the park to play some disc golf and eat our dinner, picnic-style, on one of the many rolling hills.

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Wednesday morning we packed up and truly started the trek west. To break up the drive a bit, we stopped for a night and camped at Tickfaw State Park in Louisiana. The park was probably nice, but we really only had time to set up camp and eat dinner before crawling into our sleeping bags after driving all day. The next morning was an equally long drive, but well worth it, considering we were arriving at our first farm, Nabuni Acres, in Lockhart, Texas!

Thanks Megan for an awesome time,

“Happy trails to you, until we meet again.”

Tonya & Ryan

“Never gonna grow up, never gonna slow down”

On Monday we arrived at Queensdale, our next farm, just down the road in Hillsborough. Our farm hosts are Barb and Marsha, two very sweet women trying to start up an “edible landscape,” as they call it, on their property. After unpacking our things into the lake house we were to stay in, we joined them for dinner and a few good laughs sharing stories of travels and farming. Over the next couple of days Ryan and I worked on dismantling and the reassembling the fence for their garden. Aptly named, the crazy lady fence was a conglomeration of various pieces of fencing Marsha and Barb had acquired over the years and has since gained several holes, allowing animals of all sorts into the garden to feast. It took us some time, but the end result was a much sturdier, hole-less fortress.

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Before:                                                                              After:

Just for good measure, the next day we sprayed deer repellant around the garden and other fruit and nut trees on the property. The high that day was 45 degrees so we didn’t do too much outside other than that.

The following day we spent some time moving around a few items in the garage. Took nails out of some spare boards, moved pallets, and stacked wood for the outhouse construction project. Our next undertaking was to fix the chicken coop, which we decided to completely disassemble as well. Once taken apart, we drew up a design using the pieces given and then executed our plan.. The new chicken coop we constructed was perfect and Marsha and Barb loved it.

On the evenings that didn’t bring in too much chilly wind, we really enjoyed sitting out on the deck of our lake house. The lake was well stocked so Ryan had fun wrestling the bass to the surface.

The weekend before leaving we decided to check out the Carrboro farmers market, which is supposedly one of the top in the country, since the area is so rich with progressive food movement. Once we got into town, we walked around a bit and found a nice little dinner where we had breakfast before investigating the market. The produce, breads, flowers, pottery, and many other things were all amazing and well worth the drive into town.

Our stay at Queensdale was great and Marsha and Barb were every bit hospitable and then some. We really enjoyed getting to know you two and are glad to have two new friends. Thank you for everything!

On our way south we stopped in Jax Beach to visit Ryan’s friend Oliver for a few nights. We also got to check out St. Augustine, tour the old town, and eat at The Floridian which was a great restaurant serving only local and sustainably raised ingredients.Then we headed west towards St. Pete, stopping in Spring Hill for a night to visit my friend Lauren (who is expecting a son any day now!).

Ryan and I both are so grateful to have had the adventure we did. We learned so much, met many amazing folks, and really just took our time exploring!

We are looking forward to spending some time at home, but already have the itch to head out west.

As Tolkien once put it:

“It’s a dangerous business going out of your door. You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

Until next time,

Tonya & Ryan

The next few days on the farm I spent making various food items: applesauce & apple juice, eggplant parmesan, pesto, etc, to put up for the rest of the year, while Ryan went  to help do some maintenance at another piece of property where Allan has a contract with the university to maintain the land and garden.

On Wednesday, while Ryan was out in the pasture mending a fence when all of a sudden he hears a plop next to him. Lo and behold, when he looked over, there was newborn calf laying there. When of the joys of working on a dairy farm is that you frequently get to see baby calves, but this was all new for us, so Ryan and I were very excited to see the newborn. After notifying all of us about the event, Ryan carried the little one to the barn where several people toweled her off. We were quick to get her colostrum and once she had her fill we spent the afternoon running around the barn, helping her to get her sea legs.

 

For the days following we harvested a lot of things from the garden because the potential of a frost was threatening with the encroaching cold front.  With much of the basil picked we made tons of pesto and the rest was spread out on cookie sheets to dry. During this time, Ryan also got to hone his architecture skills helping to build a pump house for an off-site garden.

I also spent some time reorganizing the green house, which was one big pile of pots and tools, but I’m pretty proud of what how it turned out.

While perusing through the wwoof website for our next farm to stay at, I stumbled across a newly added profile of a farm exactly 6.2 miles down the road from where we were at Woodcrest. Ryan and I both really have enjoyed this area so we decided to pop over to this farm and check it out. The woman there seemed very nice and they were just starting up their farm operation so we decided it would be the perfect opportunity to test out some of our newly aquired skills.

Why would we choose to stay in this area for yet another two weeks? Well, we are actually smack dab in the middle of what is know as “The Triangle.” It is so named because it encompasses the towns of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, which each house a university: North Carolina State University, Duke University,  and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, respectively. It is renowned as the highest amount of degree holding population in the United States and is a hotspot for local food and progressive people, all with a small town feel. Needless to say, we like it here and want to explore more of what the area has to offer.

We are so thankful to have had the opportunity to stay at Woodcrest. We were provided the opportunity to learn a lot, try raw milk for the first time, play with lots of barnyard animals, and spend some time with really great people. It was great to have met you Chris and Allan, thanks for all the awesome experiences and most all, for making us feel like family.

Now, for fear of boring you, I did not talk about every single farm animal… but I did take lots of pictures!

 

 

 

As Snowball once said,

“Four legs good, two legs bad.”

Tonya & Ryan

Dairyland Road

After a six hour drive we arrived at our next farm destination in Hillsborough, North Carolina on Monday evening. We got a tour of the facilities which proved to be a big farm. Then we unpacked and enjoyed dinner with the family.

 

Tuesday we started our first day of work on Woodcrest. First on the list for the morning, and every morning to come… milking! We learned the process for milking the cows and goats and helped other various animals chores, then we enjoyed breakfast over discussion of  chores for the day. I went with another farm volunteer to work in the garden constructing a fence for the peas to vine up and did some weeding.

The next morning Ryan final went to the dentist (to get a tooth checked out that has been bothering him for quite some time) so once the milking chores were done he was gone for a while. We needed to get a new load of hay for the animals, so I had the opportunity to drive and operate the tractor. I used the forklift part of it to pick up, move, and place these huge round bails of hay. Ryan came home in time to try it too. Afterwards, we decided we both agree we’ll definitely own a tractor one day, it was so awesome!

The ‘co-owner’ of the farm, Allan, hosts a pioneering class for kids who are home schooled in the area and so Thursday about twenty of them came out to learn skills in cooking over a campfire. Ryan and I helped with the prep work, cutting up vegetables, etc. and the kids helped prepare the lunch and dessert, cooked in the coals of a well built fire in front of the barn. Then I got a lesson in hay barrel hoping and hula hooping before we cleaned up. Once the group was gone we went to work. I went to do some maintenance in the garden while Ryan worked on tilling the future garden for the hoop house and then helping Allan to finish constructing rabbit cages.

Friday and Saturday were our days off so we decided to check out the North Carolina State Fair, which I was unaware is well renowned, according to the locals… We checked out all the vendors and exhibits, munched on some kettle corn and actually spent a lot time in “The Village of Yesteryear.” Which sounds  pretty lame, but there were tons of accomplished craftsman working away, showing off their trade skills of a seemingly dead or dying profession. We spent the next day hiking at a nearby park.

With that, I’ll leave you with some words from the great Jeff Foxworthy

“That’s the great thing about a tractor. You can’t really hear the phone ring”

Tonya & Ryan

So once we arrived at my dad’s house, we had to unpack all of our camping gear, clean it, and lay it out to dry… This didn’t happen until the following morning when the conditions were a bit drier. Then for the next few nights, my cousins came over for dinner and some card games. My cousin Sean came to stay with us for a few days. We found some areas to hike at and we even made the dogs tired enough that Honey fell asleep on the way home.

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We also were around for Bedford’s Fall Foliage Festival, where we walked around, munching on kettle corn, meandering through booth after booth of every possible art or craft made in the likeness of autumn.

The next weekend we went to Arlington, WV. to visit my brother and his wife, who are expecting a baby boy in December (which means I’m going to be an aunt!!). Since they have lived in the area for some years now, we were able to get a great tour around the city of Arlington and D.C. for a few days. Everywhere we went, we used the metro, which was a first for me, and I must say it is a very efficient way to travel. Once we road the train under, yes under, the Potomac River we arrived in D.C.

Once we crossed the Memorial Bridge, we were staring up at the Lincoln Memorial, with its ascending columns housing the epic statue of Lincoln, surrounded by walls engraved with various quotes.

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Then, across the way, we found the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, which I would say was probably my favorite “touristy” thing we visited in D.C.  The memorial was comprised of four rooms, all outdoors, which allow you to walk through time, with each area representing one of his terms in office. It was full of detailed sculptures and inspiring quotes, but the best part of it was the symbolism. Each area contained a waterfall, which changed with progression of the presidential terms, showing how FDR felt and handled his presidency.

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Then we saw the Washington Monument, which was closed for repairs due to an earthquake, but we could definitely observe from any vantage point around the capitol.

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The next day we went on our reserved tour of the Capitol building, complete with a tour guide and headsets! The tour was great, but much more about the statues than anything else, which wasn’t the most interesting… After that we went to the Native American Smithsonian for lunch. There, we got to choose from a buffet style of various regionally specific traditional early Indian cuisine. Afterwards we

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The following day we visited the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, my favorite by far, party because of the rather large ocean hall, among other various sciencey exhibits. Then we visited the Smithsonian Gardens, with its different geographical collections. We also got a chance to see the Old Post Office Pavilion where you can walk up the 315 foot Clock Tower for a 360 degree view of D.C. And on the way home we stopped by the White House!

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We had an awesome time visiting with my brother and his wife. Thank you so much David and Stephanie for the great tours, fantastic food, and a time well spent together!

After a few weeks of visiting, now we are ready to start our stay at our next farm in Hillsborough, North Carolina.

Always ready to work,

Tonya and Ryan

One week of camping, four states, long post

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Our first stop on our week long camping adventure was Bear Brook State Park in New Hampshire. Touted to be New Hampshire’s most developed state park, the campground loop we stayed in was tent only, located on a lake with plenty of hiking trails. We spent much of the day we had there exploring the various trails, with the dogs of course. Oddly enough, for such a big state park, it seemed as though there really wasn’t much effort or consideration put into planning it. The trails were poorly marked, the staff didn’t know too much, and there weren’t many facilities. Nonetheless, overall it was a nice stay and we spent much of our time hiking the many trails and taking in the different colors of fall.

Then it was off to Salty Acres campground in Maine. Oh, Maine. Let me begin by saying that this post will not do Maine justice, particularly Kennebunkport. Once we got our tent set up at the campground, where we were the only campers in the whole park, we headed over to the water. It just so happened that there was a pretty big swell so we quickly learned of the rather large surfer community in Maine, weird right? There were quite a few people out in the water, in wet suits obviously, paddling around and catching waves, some better than I’ve seen in Florida.

After assessing the situation, Ryan grabbed his surf board and headed into the waves while they were good. I stayed on the shore with the pups and we ran up down the beach playing in the sand. Eventually, once the sun was barely visible over the western horizon, Ryan came out of the water and we got to talking with a few of the locals. I was already convinced of the beauty of this place, but the town enthusiasts went on to tell us about how much the area had to offer. After talking for a while we headed back to our campsite where we went to bed excited to explore the town.

We spent the next morning walking the beach with the dogs. Though the air was crisp with the coming winter, the sun was warm and it felt fantastic to be back by the sea.

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We spent the next morning walking the next morning meandering the coastline while the dogs played in the water. Being the off-season, we didn’t see anyone else on the beach so we let Honey and Mocha run free. The shore was the epitome of a Maine postcard and it felt great to back on the beach. Then we had lunch at our campsite and headed to downtown Kennebunkport. On the way we passed the Bush residence, which looked more like a compound than a vacation home, but was neat to see nonetheless. We explored the downtown area and decided on a restaurant with an outside dock for dinner. We ordered a famous lobster dinner with New England clam chowder…When in Rome.

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Afterwards, we found a quaint, local ice cream shop to get dessert at, which might have been a bad choice considering the temperature was dropping rapidly. By the time we got back to our campsite the cold was easily cutting through our warm clothes, so we decided to crawl into our sleeping bags and call it an early night. It got down to 31 degrees that night, but luckily we have some pretty decent sleeping bags. Oh, and the dogs crawled in with us as well 😉

Then, it was off to Massachusetts. Our destination: Nickerson State Park on Cape Cod. We really couldn’t believe that each campsite would keep getting better, but it truly did. Nickerson State Park was just a fantastic park, with nearly 2,000 acres of trails and campsites. Our site was located right on a lake so we let the dogs swim for the afternoon and then sat around the campfire enjoying the comparably warmer weather.

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The next day we went to the ocean side of cape cod to visit the national seashore. It was pretty deserted, except for the few tour tour bus loads passing through periodically. Mostly full of elderly people, they shuffled to the look out decks and stayed for a bit. We had a few good conversations with some different folks as we made our way down to the shore, mostly becuase apparently older people are just fascinated with Honey’s stubby legs and fluffy hair. Once we got to down to the water, the dogs went right in and we walked the shore letting them run and swim…I’m starting to realize this is more so a vacation for the dogs!

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Though it’s against our conservative camping tradition, we went out to dinner again to get a feel for the Cape Cod fare. We ordered the Fisherman’s Platter, of course, which consisted of fish, shrimp, scallops, and clams, all fried and served atop a plate of fries. It was delicious at first, but we found it hard to finish since we haven’t eaten anything fried in quite some time.

 

 

 

The following morning we were off to Promised Land State Park in Pennsylvania. Again, this park was somehow even more beautiful than the previous. We spent the afternoon sitting at our campsite watching the sun set behind the trees that were perched across the lake. In the early hours of the morning we woke to the sound of rain falling on the tent. Though the rain wasn’t heavy, it lasted all night and into the late morning. With everything soaked, we decided to pack up and head to my dad’s house a day early. Luckily that was the only bad weather we encountered the whole week and there was no better day for it to happen but the day before we were to leave for my father’s.

There’s really nothing like spending a week in something so simple as camping. With plenty of time to sit and observe nature, as well as immerse yourself in some serious daydreaming, it really grounds you. That being said, I couldn’t help but think of Ziggy Marley’s song Dragonfly.

Everybody’s worried about time
But I just keep that shit off my mind
People living on twenty-four hour clocks
But we’re on a ride that never stops

Hey Mr. Tree, the world change, but you remain the same
And I wonder how you’ll survive with the environment going down the drain
Hey Miss Dragonfly, I see you look at me with your beautiful eyes
You must be wondering, what type of creature am I?

 

Tonya & Ryan

I have learned that in quiet places, reason abounds; that in quiet people there is vision and purpose

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So after all that rain the other day, the trees seemed to transform over night. Every tree now exclaims the arrival of fall with every shade of orange possible. Many leaves have fallen to the ground, but those that haven’t are quickly turning crisp yellows, oranges, and reds.

On Wednesday the weatherman said that the conditions would be just right for a frost that night. So we harvested all the squash and pumpkins to be sure that they would be safe from the cold. We laid out the pumpkins in the dining room, under the table and near the window in the sun that way they could harden off. This way, says Trish, keeps them good for a better part of the winter and can be used when wanted.

Ryan spent Wednesday and Thursday helping to harvest more firewood from the woods, cutting down carefully selected trees and hauling them to the wood splitter, to then be stacked in the woodshed at the sugarhouse for the winters to come. After spending two weeks working with and understanding the draft horse, Art even let Ryan take the reins. He also got to learn about the electric fences for the animal enclosures, helping Art to move them around, collecting chicken eggs, and feeding the horse. Sounds simple, but a lot was learned in these small tasks.

And for that Ryan and I are very grateful. We cannot begin to explain the volume of information and knowledge we have gained from working here with Art and Trish. We are very thankful to you both for allowing us the opportunity to work with you and pick your brains. Thank you for the many new skills, fantastic food, and political conversations.

Considering fall is making its grand arrival now, we are excited to start our camping tour of the New England states. Just in time to see all the beautiful colors and watch the leaves fall.

Enjoying “Autumn…the year’s last, loveliest smile.”
~William Cullen Bryant

Tonya & Ryan

Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn

Saturday after work I got a lesson in sewing from Trish, who is an excellent seamstress. And what better way to learn than by doing, so did. I spent a few hours cutting, pinning, ironing, and sewing, all under the supervision and guidance of Trish. The finished product was a very nice skirt. It’s nothing too extraordinary, but it’s nice. Ryan was fishing for most of the day with Art. They went down to a local stream and waded through the waters there. Ryan came home with the big catch of the day, a pretty good sized brown trout. Trish cooked up the trout, along with the other fish Art caught and we enjoyed them for dinner.

Sunday was a lazy morning for some reason. We had things we wanted to do, but spent much of the day sitting around, periodically feeding the wood stove. We did get a good amount of reading done, which was nice considering Ryan and I are both in the middle of good books that we haven’t quite found the time to read lately. Eventually we mustered up some energy and went on hike. We went back to the same Appalachian Trail head, however this time we took the trail north. This path takes you up the side of a mountain so it was a good deal more strenuous, but definitely worth it. As we made our ascent, with each step our feet found rocks bigger than the last, until we were nearly vertical. This proved easy for Mocha, but honey had to use some ingenuity in planning her route through these rocks nearly quadruple her size.  Our turn around point was a beautiful outlook close to the top of the mountain. We sat there and took in the scenery while we rested for a while before making our journey back down.

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On Monday I joined the guys in the woods to learn a little bit about this whole lumberjacking thing. There was a maple tree that Art said was dying and so it needed to be cut down. We got a demonstration in the proper technique for cutting down a rather large tree, which I must say is much more technical than I ever anticipated. Once the proper cuts are made, there is a distinct cracking of the few fibers left and then down the tree goes, landing with a residual thump that seems to silence the woods for a moment. Once well grounded, Ryan and Art went at the tree with their chainsaws, chopping the trunk into consecutive pieces, while I busied myself with feeding the horse clumps of grass I pulled from the surrounding field. The pieces were then assembled into the cart and we walked with the horse drawn cart back down to the sugar house where we split the pieces into appropriate sized firewood and stacked them in the woodshed.

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This morning the clouds were dark and moving quickly, a sure sign of rain. So we went down into the sugar house and helped with a few maintenance items while the wind blew the rain against the windows outside. Afterwards, I learned to sew a log cabin style quilt and though it did not turn out perfect, I am hooked. I turned the patch that I made into a pot holder and I think after a few more practice squares, I want to attempt an entire quilt. After all the things I’ve done in my life, it seems funny, but there is something so simply satisfying about planning and constructing a pattern in material.

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“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

~ Leonardo da Vinci

Tonya & Ryan

To live content, with small means

 Tuesday night was pretty cold so decided to light our wood-burning stove. There wasn’t much to getting the fire going because we had all the right tools: newspaper, kindling, and a lighter. Once lit, we added a few pieces of dry wood and within about twenty minutes the whole cabin was nice and toasty. We set a pot of water on top to put some moisture in the air, and for tea as well.

 On Wednesday Ryan had his intro to lumberjack class, where he learned about the various elements involved in cutting down a tree to use for firewood, beam construction, furniture, etc. Art explained how post and beam construction is used to build a house, just like the structures on his property. Ryan has also been learning a lot about how to use a draft/work horse when working with moving wood and other heavy things. It is really incredible the amount of work that can be done with just a horse and cart, no gasoline, no engines, just this beast.

Thursday morning I canned more tomatoes. A lot of them are coming in right now, so they are quartered, pureed, and cooked. Then into the glass containers the liquid goes, which is then topped with a lid and boiled for 35 minutes.

This preserves the tomato puree for up to a year and can be used for anything from soup to spaghetti sauce.

The mint that we picked a few days ago was finally dry on Thursday. After picking it, the clippings were laid out in the greenhouse and within two days they were ready to have the leaves stripped from the stems. This might well be the best peppermint tea ever taste, which is incredible considering it grows like a weed here. Now Ryan and I have a few large bags of this to take on the rest of our trip!

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This morning Ryan did more work with Art out in the woods to gather more firewood and I got to help Trish make grape jelly. Once we harvested all the grapes, we cleaned them, removed the stems, and then we got to squish them. After that the squished pulp is boiled, then put through a strainer to obtain only the liquid. This liquid is then boiled again and canned. Apparently there is enough natural pectin (mostly in the unripe grapes) and also a little added sugar to allow the liquid to become gelatinized.

After work, we took the dogs with us on a hike. Just down the road there is a trail crossing for the Appalachian Trail, where after crossing a bridge you can go down to the riverbed and go in the water or continue hiking on the trail. On our way to the trail head we stopped at a local staple store and picked up a six pack of pumpkin beer, since it is the season after all. Once we hiked a bit on the trail, we went down to the river, which had a very wide, rocky bed with a comparatively small amount of water flowing, some of it dead ending at various points to form small pools. We found a large rock in the middle of one of the pools, where we sat and enjoyed our time while throwing sticks in the water for the dogs.

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“To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.”
–Mahatma Ghandi

Tonya & Ryan

Is this love

 Simply put: We love it here

Sunday we took the dogs to the lake up the road. We could drive the road or walk through the woods, but not knowing the way we decided to drive the first time. I’m not sure the name of the lake, but it was a secluded one. There was a dock for swimming and lots of stick to throw for the dogs. We let them swim around for a long while and then walked the trail for a bit.

Monday morning we decided to have pancakes to compliment our large jar of real Vermont maple syrup. The pancakes were just right and the topping even better, then I was off to the workshop where she helped Trish process and can a ton of salsa while Ryan assisted Art in taking down some scaffolding from a previous project. Since we have the afternoons off, Ryan went trout fishing in a local gorge with Art while I read and took the dogs for a walk.

I’m not sure, but I don’t think concord grapes grow in Florida. Either way, we had our first taste of these beauties grown organically in their garden. They have a few varieties, all almost equal in sourness, but delicious.

Today we harvested tons of onions and then laid them out on a table to dry the stems. Once dried, several onions are braided together using the stems, done this way they can keep for months. Then after lunch, Ryan joined Art to learn about bee handling. Though he wasn’t properly equipped, wearing only jean pants and a long sleeve sweatshirt with an extra bee netted hat, Ryan managed to not get stung.  Trish was going into town to run a few errands, so I joined her to get a tour of the town. When I came back, Ryan was well into a lesson on post and beam construction, helping Art with the beginnings of the new woodshed to be constructed.

Humbly homesteading,

Ryan & Tonya

Rain is a good thing

Yesterday we got to drive through Vermont, with all its trees leave’s starting to turn a shade of burnt orange or yellow.  Off the main street, down a dirt road we found the Kreuger-Norton Sugar House, where our hosts Trish and Art reside. The showed us around the place: the chickens with plenty of room to roam, the horse in its stable, the two sheep in their fenced in area. They have a large fenced in garden that is kept up beautifully and feeds the two of them…and us for the time being. We get our own cottage near the house, fully stocked with everything we could ever need.

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The structures here, the house, the woodshed, the workshop, our guest house, are all beautifully simple, designed and built by Art and Trish themselves, using the very trees they cut down to clear the space to build.

Today we moved the sheep to a new grazing area, as they had successfully eaten just about all the greenery in their confined space. Ryan got to help Art hitch a plough to the horse and use it to till some space in the garden. We then planted spinach seeds in the freshly tilled dirt. Tonya helped Trish to harvest green beans, and then blanch them in order to put them away for the winter.

As the day went on, the sky grew darker with heavy clouds moving in quickly, bringing a soft, but consistent rainfall. We sat for a long time and just listened to the wind and the rain. It was so simple. It’s funny how we seem to spend so much time creating busy lives filled with the things that we tell ourselves are important. But life is more than just the sum of its parts. The simple moments are really what we should allow ourselves to become immersed in. The sound of rain falling in the maple forest of Vermont, or any woods for that matter, will definitely let you do that.

 

Ever mindful,

Tonya & Ryan

Hamburg

Since Ryan’s grandma lives right on Lake Erie we get to enjoy a view out over the water across to Canada, but the dogs are the ones who really make use of our location. Every time we open the porch door Honey is down the stone steps to the beach before the door even swings shut. They are relentless about throwing the stick in the water and pretty much refuse to leave the beach, even when their eyes grow small with tiredness. Since they love it, we took them down there nearly everyday to let them play in the water.

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While staying in Hamburg we also got a tour of a nearby farm, who’s owner is a friend of the family. It was nice to see how a full scale, industrial farm operates, but this was definitely quite the opposite of what we are interested in doing. His farm was huge, with acres and acres of all varying types of vegetables, with dozens of people trolling through the rows, picking anything ripe. It was really amazing the amount of food they harvest in day. We were really grateful to have the opportunity to see such a huge operation and it always appreciated to see things from a different point of view.

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Thanks to Uncle Bruce and Aunt Barb for a new item to add to our bucket list: the green flash. Yes, we learned the correct coconut point crouch in order to maximize our opportunity to observe this allusive green flash that apparently occurs on every not so often sunset. Hopefully they weren’t pulling our leg, because now I’m determined to see it.

Ryan, Barb, Nana, Bruce, Tonya

On Thursday we went into the town of Buffalo to see cousin Kelly. We walked the dogs across the street to the park and let them run around a bit before putting them in the house so we could ride our bikes around town. It was only a short ride to a few streets that created a central hub of shopping and restaurants. We stopped to eat at a corner restaurant, which was great.

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We are leaving New York this morning, headed for the township of Shrewsbury in Vermont. We’re excited to see what this maple syrup farm has to offer!

In words of Barb Bauer

“Peace and organic love,”

Tonya & Ryan

On the road again

We had a late start leaving the farm, but once we were on the road it was a nice drive. We stopped in Ashville, NC to see the city everyone talks so much about. We ate lunch at the Laughing Seed, which is a vegetarian restaurant on Wall Street. We ate at an outside table, with the dogs of course, where we could take in the brick buildings and beautiful trees of the town. The food was awesome and affordable and we would definitely recommend this stop to anyone visiting Ashville.

 

After that it was a quick stop at the grocery store for s’mores supplies, along with other less important food items, and we were on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Parkway was simply inspiring. Much of the trek consists of the road winding up and then down various mountains, but not before providing several outlook locations to stop the car and really take in the breathtaking views. We cruised the stretch for hours, excited to see what was around the next bend. We both loved the views, but I think Honey was the biggest fan of the Parkway, insisting on keeping her out the window for a majority of the drive.

 

 

 

We camped at Crabtree Falls for the night, a campground stationed along the Parkway. We set up our tent, started a fire, and enjoyed roasted marshmallows for a while. The next morning, we hiked a trail nearby to the Crabtree waterfall. It ended up being a decent hike, which was great for the dogs, and the waterfall was beautiful. We spent some time on the bridge, watching the water…fall. Then it was back to the campsite to bust out the maps and figure out exactly how to get to our next destination, Ryan’s grandmother’s house in Hamburg, New York.

 

Once a route was figured out we were on the road again. With the hurricane influencing the weather, the rain followed us for most of the drive through West Virginia, which was just fine by us because the views were beautiful. The rain clouds loomed low in the valleys between the mountains as we drove by. Originally we planned to camp another night, but we decided against it since the rain was so relentless. We stopped in Morgantown, WV to find a hotel and instead found out that all hotels in the area were sold out due to a WV vs. Marshall football game we were unaware of. So from that point, realizing Hamburg was only another five or six hours, we stopped for a few coffees and drove through the night. It was actually an enjoyable drive, probably due to the coffee and our deliriousness, but regardless we arrived in Hamburg around 3am on Sunday and were happy to crawl into bed.

Today we went to a park with cousin Jim and his son Jacob, where Tonya got her first lesson in Frisbee golf. We played about half of the 18 hole course before returning to the house where, since it was labor day, everyone was coming over for dinner.

Always enjoying our vacation,

Ryan & Tonya

We live in a beautiful world

This week we’ve been doing a bit more planting, but mostly maintaining things in the garden. Slowly it has become evident that all have our favorite places to be while staying here.

Honey, of course being the queen she is, loves sleeping on the couch.

Mocha can often be found sun bathing on the back porch.

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Ryan still likes the hill the most, which is understandable with all its beauty, what’s not to love?

And Tonya’s favorite place is at the dining room table. From this seat you can see out, through many windows, onto the yard full of trees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.

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Despite all of these great places, we have also spent a lot of time hanging out on the porch, another gem of Big Ridge.Lined with several rocking chairs, humming bird feeders and potted plants, the porch just invites you to sit and lose track of time gazing out over the porch ledge onto the treetops in the near distance.

Thursday night we joined one of the sweetest ladies we have ever met, neighbor Joan, on a trip into to Cashiers to eat at the soup kitchen. Donna prepared another fantastic meal and after done eating, we looked over maps, getting different bits of advice about the best routes and places to go while traveling north.

We will be leaving the Blue Ridge co-op tomorrow and though our stay was short it was filled with some really great moments and even greater people. We’ve learned a lot while staying here and are sad to go. But our departure is bitter sweet. While we have to end things here, we’ve made memories we will never forget and are excited to continue our journey.

Thank you so much for everything Donna. May the sun always shine for you.

Your professional vagabonds,

Ryan & Tonya

We are here and it is now. Further than that, all human knowledge is moonshine.

On Saturday we went to the farmers market in Cashiers. Though it is small, each vendor offers a few essential things, and we are positioned right in the middle with our vegetables and wildflower bouquets. While there, we got to try some really fantastic local goat cheese among other things. We bought some butter and milk, which we used later to make cheese. We also had the privilege of trying some (secret) homemade moonshine. At first we were little scared, after hearing all those rumors about how mountainfolk moonshine can kill you, but after a few sips we started to feel a lot better. And it actually didn’t taste too bad, I’d say it was a little better than a shot of straight vodka, but it burns all the way down.

 

Once market was over, and our bellies were warm with Bob’s moonshine, we headed to Gorges State Park for a hike. The trail was nice, and it led to very rocky river where we found a spot to sit for a while.

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Sunday was our day off, which we filled most of it with sleeping. We also took the dogs down to Lake Glenville, which they loved of course.

Then we went into town to get some firewood for Donna, to start her collection for the winter. Being from Florida it’s hard to understand how much wood you actually need for a winter, that is if you are using a wood-burning stove. This amount here will last her about 3 weeks, so there a few more trips to be made. That night we were taught our first lesson on starting and maintaining a wood stove and then slept like babies in the heat.

Monday’s weather proved to be dreary with a light rain for most of the day so we helped clean up around the house. We attempted to fix Donna’s two broken vcrs for her (the only source of television at the house). After about three hours and a few youtube videos later, and Ryan moving on to other more interesting things, we got a perfectly clear screen! Donna and I celebrated our victory by then curling up on the sofa and watching the entire of series of Return to Lonesome Dove. Why can’t they make TV like that anymore?

“Here’s to the sunny slopes of long ago,”

Tonya & Ryan

Born Country

This was our first real week of experiencing work on this farm and it’s been great! Monday and Tuesday we did a lot of planting. We transplanted cabbage and broccoli from their small starter pots into the ground, making sure to use the technique we learned of hilling up the dirt surrounding the stem. This, we are told, gives the plant much stability and therefore allows it to grow stronger and produce more. We also planted seeds of turnips and peas, which was Tonya’s favorite part. A lot of care and positive energy is needed to make sure the seeds have a good start.

Every morning started with a survey of the garden to see what squash, zucchini, and cucumbers needed to be harvested, since they seem to pop up overnight. We had a surplus of cucumbers, so we spent much of Wednesday sitting on the porch cutting cucumbers and then later soaking them to become pickles. We decided to put our amateur handyman skills to good use and fixed the latch on the chicken coop.  After Donna had not one, but two close encounters with a bear entering the barn while she was sleeping, we put a lock on that door as well.

The two mother ducks that wander around the yard have each hatched ducklings not too long before we got here and they seem to have grown so much in just a week. They often come up onto the porch looking for dog food left over in the several bowls on the floor, so Donna started feeding them, which probably has a bit to do with their rapid growth. The little ones are so cute, how they follow their mother around, laying down at every stop she makes in the yard, or munching on the kale that’s growing. When Mocha first saw the ducks, she quickly learned how protect the mother is. As she rushed over to investing these quacking creatures, the mother displayed her wingspan as she flew to meet Mocha. Seeing this, Mocha turned around, but not quick enough, as the mama bit her in the butt. Needless to say, Mocha skirts by the ducks as quietly and quickly as she can now.

Much of our free time has been filled with talking, eating, and more talking, but we have still made many trips up to the hill. Pictures can not begin to show the awesomeness of this place… but here are some anyways 🙂

 

Today I got to go into town and help Donna at the soup kitchen. I love to cook so this was pretty fun for me, but Ryan stayed home to finish up some work… From the veggies out of Donna’s garden we concocted a five-course meal that consisted of lentil-vegetable soup, pesto on fresh ground bread, tomato-sprout sandwich, beans, and quinoa. It was nice to make, but much nicer to eat!

 Always hungry,

Tonya & Ryan

Cold Beer on a Friday Night

Only one word can describe North Carolina: Beautiful!

As soon as we left Athens the roads started to wind more and each time we topped a hill our truck became an ascending roller coaster. Driving through Glenville it’s easy to see there’s not really a whole lot to the town, but we were headed much higher. Our final elevation is 4200 feet at a house nestled on top of the Big Ridge Mountain.

When we got to Glenville, we stopped by the soup kitchen in town, where Donna, our farm host, orchestrates a community dinner every Thursday night. She was in the middle of serving so we quickly introduced ourselves, grabbed our dinners to go, and headed to the house. At the house we met the other wwoofers who were staying there as well, and Donnas’ dogs Calvin and Sadie. After moving some things into our bedroom we got a quick tour of the garden. The farming area consists of about half an acre of various vegetables, spaced by dirt walking rows, with each plant hilled up around the base. From the latticed green beans growing in the back, to the many squashes and lanes of lettuce and kale, this garden really has everything.

 

Just past the garden the gravel road winds around the corner up to a small hill that is quite a steep climb, but so worth it. The hill seems to be nestled in the valley of several mountain ranges, creating a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains. We’ve decided we’re going to make it a point to try and visit this hill everyday.

Friday we spent much of the day harvesting for market. Pretty much anything that was ready to harvest was picked and separated into various sized bags and baskets. We cleaned coolers, clipped sunflower greens, and spent the evening in a circle of rocking chairs surrounding a huge bucket of onions to be cleaned and bundled, all while sipping some local beer. Nothing like good brew and good company to bring in the weekend.

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Saturday morning we were up early packing tables, signs, and of course vegetables into the car and we were off to Highlands for our first farmers market. Once set up, we got to answer questions about different funny shaped foods, give prices, and chat with the locals. Much to our expectations, we loved working at the market.

Now we welcomed Sunday, our first real day off. We have been wanting to explore, but we decided to head into town first to find some internet access. Buck’s Café, located at the only intersection of Cashiers, was the perfect place to cozy up in a corner to get a few things done in the internet world. Buck’s had great coffee and eclectic atmosphere, but before long we were ready to be back in the great outdoors. We went to Whiteside Mountain, which, we were told, was a nice hike with great overlooks. Straddling the continental divide, Whiteside has various lookout points positioned on the east and west side overlooking the two major watersheds of the eastern United States. Both sources of water start out as small streams, but eventually these waters flow into the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean.

 

 

Ready to start our farm week,

Ryan & Tonya

First Stop- Athens, GA!!

After a long weekend of organizing, packing, and repacking, we finally had our entire life packed up into the bed of Ryan’s Tacoma. We were about as organized as we could be, so we said sayonara to St. Pete and we were on our way.

Our first destination was Athens to stay with our friends Julie and Elliot.

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Julie & Elliot’s house- Athens, GA

Even though this town is home to the University of Georgia,

it was very quaint and our hosts had the perfect set up

not too far from the heart of  town.

Julie took us to some great little hiking areas down the road,

Baba Wing enjoying some watermelon!

and the local farmers market,

where we got some watermelon, yum!

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Julie also showed us the The State Botanical Garden of Georgia which has over 300 acres of natural land, with some of that cultivated into various plant communities. There were so many beautiful gardens of fruit and vegetable plants, herbs, and flowers.

Heritage Garden

We were very thankful that Julie showed us around , but Ryan and I had a few ideas of our own, some things you just have to do while in Georgia.

1. Visit the GA aquarium– home to the only whale sharks in the U.S. and of course cute penguins! It was nice to see, but definitely not what we quite anticipated. There weren’t very many educational blurbs for each exhibit and the facility was pretty small. I guess I had imagined something much greater, but it was certainly worth making a trip to see.

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2. Drink a 40. Hey, they’re illegal in Florida, and they save on packaging 😉

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3. Eat some good ‘ol Georgia peaches…which oddly enough we found no source of peaches other than the grocery store. So we didn’t get to check that one off the list.

Now we are off to our first farm stay, which will be at the Blue Ridge Co-op in Glenville, NC. As we leave Julie’s we are excited and a bit nervous, wondering what our first farm stay will be like…

Chapter 3

This story will begin on chapter 3. So named because we are starting a new chapter of our lives.

Chapter 1, childhood & carelessness.

Chapter 2, College  & trying to ‘find yourself.’

Chapter 3, enjoying ourselves & exploring this beautiful world together.

 

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Upon receiving our degrees we decided we still did not know too much about the world outside of Florida, and for the most part, we are definitely  not in any hurry to start a 9-5.

 

 

 

So what better way to learn than to set off on a road trip! For the first leg of our trip, we will be traveling the east coast of the United States in a loop that puts us back in Florida around Christmas time. Then we hope to head out west in the springtime. 

 

 

 

 

 

Our main intentions & goals of traveling are:

~ Exploring, camping, and all things alike ~
~ Visiting friends and family ~
~ WWOOFing- Working on organic micro-farms in exchange for food and a place to stay, and hopefully lots of knowledge as well! ~

Check it out @ http://www.wwoofusa.org/About_WWOOFUSA

Our first attempt at a garden fared well this past year!

                                                      

 Oh, and of course we are bringing the pups!

 Hopefully we will meet a few great people, learn a few new things, and have the time   of our lives.

 Until next time,

 Tonya & Ryan