Growing Roots

Remember

2012-01-05T11:59:00.000-08:00

It's been two years since we made the fateful roll of the dice which took us WWOOF'ing to Wyoming in 2010. A lot has happened since that time, much of which would have never happened (or happened very differently) if we had not chosen that fork in the road. We met some very cool people and have been impacted by their time in our lives...unfortunately I found out that one of the people we WWOOFed with lost her life on New Year's Eve...so I dedicate this post to her, as well as the reason for me starting this blog in the first place...growing roots.

It is so easy to forget in day-to-day life how much of an impact the people who come into it can have. One thing that I loved so much about our time out of the rat race and truly living in each day was meeting new people who weren't just a quick acquaintance, they became a part of your life. You worked with them each day, all day doing hard manual labor and actually seeing the fruits of your labor together. You cooked with them (or took turns cooking for each other), played cards, saw the beauty in nature, and played when the work was done...you lived side-by-side learning how hard it really is working the land...you really lived. A few weeks with people in this situation almost seems like years in the city life. Even if you don't see things eye-to-eye, you share a bond that can only be made over hard work. So, for all of those who became a part of our lives during our WWOOF'ing days...thank-you...

You will be missed Jessica.

The very beginning of a high tunnel (hoophouse)

Taking a much needed break


Chillin' after a yummy dinner

Being fed good food = amazing

Eat...eat...eat...

Decontructing an old barn to make a chicken coop

How to move a chicken coop...or how not to

HOLIDAY TIME 2011

2011-12-16T12:41:00.000-08:00

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Yes, it is that time of the year again and I am a bit behind in ordering my Christmas cards...so if they never get sent, at least this is what they were supposed to look like :)

Thanksgiving Eve

2011-11-23T08:28:00.000-08:00

While I should be cooking and cleaning, preparing for TWO Thanksgiving meals over the next two days (one tomorrow at Jake's sister's house and one Friday at our house) I have decided to sit and blog while Owen naps.
After about 2 1/2 months of living in a constant state of sleep deprivation Jake and I finally decided to try the Ferber method for Owen's sleep schedule. After our trip to Oregon where we let him sleep with us in the bed and my bad habit of napping with him (in our bed) during the day he decided that he liked sleeping next to us better than alone in his crib...for some strange reason... but we tried keeping him in his crib and by the end of the night...every night...he ended up in our bed. None of us were sleeping well and all of us were cranky. So a little over a week ago we started the 'progressive-waiting approach' and although extremely hard for the first few days, I must say that we are all sleeping MUCH better for longer periods of time (instead of waking up 4-6 times a night he only wakes up once a night)...so yes, my sanity is still within reach, at least for now.

We don't have much time to do anything other than work and do the basic 'stuff' around the house because of our alternating schedules. We are in hopes that by next year, or so, we will have enough saved that we can start looking for land to purchase. We still don't know how we will support ourselves once said land is bought, but there's still plenty of time to figure that out, right??
Well, I should probably go do something while the little man is still sleeping...

Grandma visits every week!!!

Owen loves new kitty Samas

And then there were none

2011-11-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

After many, many months of going back and forth we finally found a new home for our dog Happy. Our greyhound, Eli, has been living with my sister and her family in Oregon for about 3 months because of his non-childfriendly characteristics...aka: I like to bite baby's faces... It has been a really hard decision since in essence, these two dogs were basically our kids for the last few years; we've picked up their poop, cleaned up their vomit, cuddled with them, played with them, arranged our schedules to make sure they get fed and let out on their schedule, arranged for dog sitters when we travel or take them with us...the list goes on and on...they have been our 4-legged kids...no question... but then comes our very own little man who is tiny and fragile and precious...and the decision had to be made to put him and his safety first. It took a couple of months to find a good fit for Happy, someone who could give her more attention and love than we have the ability to do now and when we saw how really happy Happy was with her and her family we knew we had made the right decision. In looking back (and hopefully not just trying to make myself feel better) I think it was almost selfish in keeping Happy because of the fact that we couldn't give her the love and attention that she was used to, she knew that she had been put on the back burner and that she wasn't our priority any more. That and the fact that she had also been known to try eating small children...
We love and miss our puppies, and will always treasure the time that they were in our lives and hopefully one day when our little man is older and bigger we can introduce him to the love that a dog can give (and the love you can give a dog), but for now we are just focusing on raising him, and giving him all of the love in our hearts.


Eli's 1st day home

Family pic

Puppy hug

Happy's homemade bed


Hiking dogs

6 Months Old!

2011-10-10T21:11:00.000-07:00

Holy Crap!! Our little man is 6 months old already!!! It's amazing how the measure of time changes once you have a new human life to gauge it with. At his 6 month visit Owen weighed 15 pounds 7 ounces and was ..... inches long! Whew, that's some pretty serious growing! He is rolling over, working on getting some teeth, and learning like crazy. We just moved from the 4-plex in the avenues to a house in Sugarhouse...well, we are still in the moving process as moving with a baby is much more difficult than just moving 2 adults.

5 Days Old

2 Months Old

4 Months Old

6 Months Old

We took Owen up to the family cabin in the Uinta mountains a few weeks ago. It was built the summer I was born and my parents started taking me up there when I was only 2 weeks old...so we are a bit behind in getting Owen up there but hopefully we'll get up there a few more times this year.

Decisions, decisions

2011-08-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a few months of back and forth, of 'what should we do' and 'where should we live' and 'why can't we make a decision'...but we finally made one...we are going to do nothing.

I've been trying to decide if I should go back to school and apply to nursing school in January. I only have 4 more classes I need to take in order to apply and even signed up for 3 online classes this fall, leaving only one left to take in the spring. But the online classes I'd be taking this fall are tough, and it's been quite awhile since I've been in school, and now I have a baby. Jake and I figured out different scenarios but it came down to me going to school full-time (if I got into nursing school) and working full-time to keep our benefits and get the half-tuition. Then Jake would quit his job and stay home with Owen since neither of us make enough to justify day-care (and I wouldn't want Owen in day care in the first place). So...in this scenario we are earning just enough to get by, I'm never home (and when I am I would have to be studying), and Jake is a full-time stay at home dad without an 'outlet' for 2+ years. As much as I'd like to further my education and move-up in my career I think I've come to the realization that what really matters at this point in time is our family. I don't want to miss the first two years of our little man's life. I want to be there to see his emerging personality, milestones, and little tantrums. We may or may not have any more kids and although we may be able to provide a little better financially if I go to school now, I just don't want to regret missing this part of Owen's life.

So, there it is...us doing nothing and keeping on like nothing will ever change...but knowing us we may decide something different at any time...but I'm pretty sure it will involve all of us being more together as a family, not less :)

4 Months Old!

2011-07-31T21:14:00.000-07:00

We've stopped describing Owen's age in weeks now and starting talking months...yes, months!! Owen just hit the 4 month old mark a few days ago and to celebrate we took him for his well-child check up and the first of his vaccines. Since he is not in day care and is being exclusively breastfed we decided to delay the start of and stretch out his vaccines. Although there is really no proof that giving so many vaccines at one time is harmful, I have a hard time believing that it isn't excessively stressful to the infant's immune system...especially since he is still getting all of the antibodies from mama's milk. Opening up the vaccine issue really is opening up a can of worms so I won't bore or upset anyone with details, but I will say that we have done a lot of research into both sides of the story.

Our little man is growing like crazy, he is now 25 1/2 inches long and 13 pounds 11 ounces. His little personality is coming out more everyday and we are both so happy that we can stay home with him as much as we do. He smiles so much now, and not just at mom and dad...he loves books and even enjoys turning the pages when he can. He is sleeping through the night almost every night and took his first ride in his new stroller today. We haven't taken him overnight anywhere yet but have plans for a weekend trip to Moab in a couple of weeks and a trip to Oregon over the Labor day holiday.

It's hard to remember what life was like without him!!

Raising an 'unplugged' child

2011-07-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

I just read an article this morning about a growing movement to keep children 'unplugged' and it got me thinking about how addicted we (Jake and I) are to everything plugged... I would really like to raise Owen to think for himself and to have a vivid imagination like kids should. It seems almost impossible to raise him completely unplugged from everything electronic considering how big a part technology is in our everyday lives. I suppose that technology, as with everything addictive, has it's extremes; you can be attached to your ipod/ipad/iphone/laptop 24/7 or be completely without internet/t.v./social networks and videos... but I suppose the best is being somewhere in-between. I definitely want to limit his 'plugged in' time when he gets older but I think for now until he is at least 2 or 3 years old I'd like to see if we can go without technology for him. It seems that the early years are an important time to learn how to be creative and use your imagination and if you never have to, if everything is given to you in games and movies, then that part of you may never grow.

I think the hardest part of this challenge will be limiting mommy and daddy's plugged in time, 'cause we have to teach by example and if we are always on facebook or watching movies that is what we'll be teaching Owen. Maybe in doing this we'll find our creative and imaginative sides again.

It Takes Two

2011-06-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

Wow, almost 3 months since our little man joined us on our crazy journey of life! This Sunday will be Jake's first father's day as a dad...so I feel like I should write this entry for him.

I don't know how I could ever do this without him- from the hormonal rollercoaster of pregnancy to childbirth classes and prepping for labor, the marathon of a natural labor support that turned into supporting me in the operating room, the sleepless nights in those first few weeks of Owen's life when he did everything from listening to my postpartum sobs, cooking and cleaning, and diaper changing...I appreciate you...

Owen's 2 week visit

From learning what a cervix is and what it has to do...and making me feel like I'm still a beautiful person, despite how I feel most days...and rearranging your work schedule so we can both be with Owen...Thank-you...

From staying up late with our little man and mastering the art of bottle feeding to making your programming documents into an exciting bedtime story...

...and not complaining about changing poopy diapers...

...and knowing when I need a break...

...and for being the one that makes two...

Thank-you for being an amazing husband and Dad!!

Sitting...waiting for diapers to dry

2011-05-31T21:09:00.000-07:00

2 months old!!!

Can't believe it! Our little man is 2 months old now; 11 pounds 12 ounces and a full 2 feet long! Our days are beginning to have more of a rhythm to them and we are getting more sleep at night. Owen is only waking up once during the night on most nights. I should be going to bed now to get some sleep but...we switched to cloth diapers a few days ago and since we are down to one clean one I am up, waiting for them to come out of the dryer.

Heading to the 2 month check-up!


Scrunchy face

Jake and I are really starting to realize how quickly Owen is growing up and want to be there for the first few years...to see all of his firsts and to just experience us as a family. We are starting to contemplate traveling again...but not until Owen is at least a year old. We haven't really traveled with him yet other than short trips to grandma's house so we aren't really sure how him traveling for long distances will go. And since we are thinking that we would visit farms and WWOOF along the way we need to do some research to see if there are enough farms out there that accept children to make it worthwhile. It sounds crazy, I know it does, but at the same time how crazy is it to work all of the time and miss the time in your child's life that you can never repeat? It is amazing how much we love this little guy and want to make sure he has the best life possible, and I guess our question is whether working full time and not being there for a lot of his growing up yet being able to 'provide' for him -or- letting him experience life and us, his parents, while learning how to get by creatively is the best thing for him? We still have awhile to decide, and quite a bit of research to do, but whatever happens we want to make sure that Owen knows that there is more to life than money, video games, and technology.

At the top of dry creek


Hanging out on a hike in Dry Creek

Sleeping Boy

2011-05-22T21:29:00.000-07:00

Owen Bryce Hickenlooper.

The polls were right, it's a boy! Our little man arrived on March 28th, a week past his due date. For fairly obvious reasons (lack of sleep, learning how to be a mom, going back to work, etc.) I'm a bit behind in updating the blog but since the little man is sleeping now...here it is :)

After about 12 hours of 'hard' labor and 2 hours of pushing, little Owen decided he wasn't coming out from below so a c-section was done and he was born at 3:43 PM. To say I was exhausted would be a major understatement...luckily I had some amazing people with me to help me hold and start breastfeeding Owen. Since both Owen and I had a fever we had to stay in the hospital for a total of 4 days to receive antibiotics. It wasn't until day 3 that we finally decided on a name for our little guy. We had gone through our list of names and couldn't find one that fit. We then started looking online for different names and Jake found the name Owen...although the official meaning of the name didn't mean much to us Jake's interpretation of the name did. Owen spelled backwards is New "O", or new circle, which is a good way to describe our lives over the past year. We left SLC, our jobs, and our families, experienced many new things, and then returned- thus completing the circle...but starting it in a new way...by bringing a new life into ours.

Owen's first appearance


First family photo

Tomorrow Owen will be 8 weeks old, it is amazing how quickly time goes by! Jake was able to stay home for the first 2 weeks after delivery. Then I went back to work at 6 weeks. Owen's 2 month visit is coming up in a few days so we'll see how much weight he's gained since his 2 week visit.


Ready to go get daddy from work

9 1/2 months

2011-03-24T19:07:00.000-07:00

My first lesson in patience as a parent has not been an easy one. My due date was Monday the 21st and it is now Thursday the 24th...and there is still a baby inside of me. I have tried essentially every 'natural' induction method; from raspberry leaf tea and evening primrose oil to sex (done by my husband) and 'sweeping' my membranes (done by the midwife). Then there's the walking, stairs, hands and knees position (to rotate baby) trips to physical therapy and a trip to a chiropractor today... and still this little peanut won't come out. So, I'm done. I've resigned myself to being pregnant for ever... well, okay, maybe not forever but at least until this baby of ours decides it is time, because I have come to the full realization and acceptance that this is one thing I cannot control. Without using medical induction (which I'd rather not do unless really necessary), this baby has his/her own timeline and will make their appearance when good and ready. So...I'm going to kick up my feet, take lots of naps (although I already have been), and just let things happen as they should.

Pictures will follow...just don't have the energy to download them from my camera at this point...

Here is your chance...

2011-02-27T20:48:00.000-08:00

Down to the final month and starting to wonder whether people think we have a little boy or girl waiting to come out...here is your chance to let us know. And as a special bonus, if you guess the day he or she is born we'll treat you with a very special diaper changing opportunity!!

36 weeks and counting

2011-02-23T20:58:00.001-08:00

It is almost surreal that in less than a month our house is going to be filled with the sights, sounds, and smells of a new baby. Just four weeks to go... I can remember when I found out I was pregnant, and at that time I was only a mere 4 weeks along. In that time I've changed states 3 times, learned how to roll over in bed using a 10-point turn, grown used to numb and tingly hands, mastered the art of eating for two, gotten used to being more crabby and teary, and most exciting- experienced the miracle of a little human being growing and moving around inside of me. My how things have changed!!

This little peanut inside of me isn't so little anymore, in fact he/she should be about 6 pounds right now (at 36 weeks). Depending on when I end up delivering this little one could be anywhere between 7 and 8 1/2 pounds or so.

We've taken childbirth and parenting classes, shopped for a car seat and swings, bought an antique dresser to fill with cute little clothes, blankets, and toys, and started stocking up on easy to make meals for when we're too exhausted to cook.

I think we're about ready.

Feeling blessed

2010-11-15T17:56:00.000-08:00

In the last few weeks I have gone from being unemployed to being back at an old job that was near and dear to me....from just 'knowing' that I was pregnant to feeling our baby move, seeing the little one on ultrasound (and find out that everything is as it should be), and starting a childbirth class... and from being uninsured and un-insurable to having full medical coverage (starting Dec. 1st!!) that will completely cover the pregnancy and delivery! Wow- much has changed that I am very thankful for...not to mention that coming up next week is Thanksgiving, which, by the way, is also my mom's birthday. How apropos is that to celebrate the birth of the woman who gave me life on the day of thanks...

I guess all I can say is that I feel blessed.

It's alive!!!

2010-10-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

Well, at first I thought it was gas...but no, those little flutters I've been feeling in my tummy are proof that this little peanut is real and that I have a living human being inside me! I really noticed the first movements on Monday, which was the day I turned 19 weeks and once I realized what I was feeling I was pretty sure that I had been feeling it for a few days before that. Next week I'll have the first ultrasound, so we'll get a chance to actually see this little guy or girl and make sure all of it's parts are as they should be...but we'll wait until he/she comes out to find out what the sex is...so....don't ask 'cause we won't know ;)

Fall in Utah

2010-10-24T20:17:00.000-07:00

We managed to have an actual fall (you know, the season between summer and winter) in Utah! It only lasted about 3 weeks but it was great to enjoy. I love fall; the changing colors of leaves, crunching through them on the sidewalk, the crispness in the air, and the energy of the upcoming holidays. The past couple of days have cooled off and become rainy and windy and snow is expected tomorrow, so we may be done with the warm fall and on to the cold. We managed to make it up to the cabin last weekend, and the weather was perfect! We'll try to make it up there this winter if I can waddle up that far...

Last night was the 2nd annual Hickenlooper Halloween Party at Jake's brother's house. We dressed up as zombies this year...and if I may say so myself...looked pretty convincing!

The dogs and Sandy have settled into our new place pretty well, enjoying every bit of sunshine they can- even if that means sharing the same area!

I'm still job hunting and have had 1 interview...still trying to figure out how everyone else makes ends meet while still having time for family... guess we'll see what happens. :)

Slipping through the cracks

2010-10-08T14:38:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of cracks in our 'system' and it seems that we are all averting cracks as we go through our lives...most of us stay out for most of the time, but being the imperfect 'system' that it is those of us who do fall through the cracks do so at the most inopportune time.
I spent the time that we were in Oregon working with the system; filling out paperwork, proving that we didn't work and didn't earn money, standing in lines and waiting on hold for calls I made and calls I received, watching an hour long video on nutrition to get a $10 fruit and vegetable voucher...and so on. Now that we are in Utah and contributing to society (well, at least Jake is at this point- hopefully I will be soon) we've been kicked out of the system. Not only are we not allowed to take back some of what we've put in from all of our years working but we're also denied to be let back into the working people's club (by not being able to get insurance since pregnancy is a pre-existing condition). So, to sum things up, we were rewarded...no, let me rephrase that...rewarded handsomely for being unemployed and living off the gainful employment of others, but the moment we were able to jump back into the 'gainfully employed' sector every one brushed their hands of us making it well known that we were no longer their responsibility. Now, I'm not saying that we should still remain covered under medicaid for all of our medical expenses or that some insurance company should welcome us with open arms...but it seems like there should be something out there that is available to those who fall in the cracks. As was stated repeatedly during the debate, healthcare is not a political issue, it is a moral one...

Settling in

2010-09-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

We've been back in Utah for little over a week now and have been lucky to have family to help us along the way. We found an apartment in the avenues while still in Oregon, were able to look at it the day after we got back, and moved in a couple days later! It is a nice feeling to get settled somewhere...as much as I'd like to think I'm an adventurous traveler, I really like having a home base and being able to know where 'home' is. Jake is back at his old job, getting into the old routine while I keep searching and applying for jobs near us. We're still trying to figure out the world of health insurance but are otherwise just being our boring old selves. :)

New look, new name, same blog

2010-09-14T19:17:00.000-07:00

Closing the circle

We started the new year living in downtown Salt Lake City, planning our adventurous year ahead. Little did we know that we would end up back in SLC; Jake back at his old job and me...well, pregnant. From SLC -> Leiter, WY -> Portland -> and back...it's been a year full of traveling and since we haven't made it back to SLC yet, there's still a long trip ahead. We gave it a try (albeit a short one) to make a go in Portland but after hearing time and time again of how bad the job market is here in PDX and not hearing back from any of the places we submitted applications/resumes I started getting antsy. I wanted some stability, a place that was ours, and a way of supporting ourselves... and it didn't look like that was going to happen any time soon so we decided to start looking into jobs in SLC as well as Portland. As soon as Jake's old work heard that he was looking into Salt Lake they had a job available for him. Although we were just starting to get used to Oregon and were enjoying being around my sister and her kids, finally hearing a job offer was something we couldn't turn down. So...here we are, moving back to Utah this weekend, and closing the circle of our journeys this year...as far as we know...

Sitting, waiting, watching

2010-08-29T20:13:00.000-07:00

After a summer full of working I sure have been doing a lot of sitting in the past few weeks...and doing a lot of waiting. Waiting to regain some energy and a somewhat normal appetite, waiting to hear back on job applications, waiting for approval on health insurance so I can wait to get an appointment with a midwife...waiting is so much fun!

We did get a little escape from our normal day to day waiting by going to the coast on Wednesday. It was a great day weather-wise, but a not so great day nausea-wise and I initiated our arrival on the coast with a trip to the porcelain throne (luckily I made it to the public restroom though). The rest of the time I hung out on the beach laying around on a blanket while Deborah, Jake, and the kids played around in the ocean.

For all of you women out there who worked a normal job during your first trimester, I salute you! I seriously don't know how I could/would have done it while feeling the way I have... I guess there is good reason why pregnancy is usually left to 'younger' women ;)

Fertile ground

2010-08-21T15:22:00.000-07:00

So... we've been in Oregon for a couple of weeks now and despite my desire to explore the area I've spent a majority of our time here either in bed or hanging out on my sister's couch.

I knew that getting back to the earth by working in the dirt would be good for my soul, but I'm not sure that we realized that working in fertile soil would make me more fertile :) Unfortunately the combination of pregnancy hormones, nausea, heat, an infestation of grasshoppers, and hard manual labor weren't working well for me so it was at that point that we decided it was time to leave the farm. As much as we were enjoying our experience there...I was done. I started getting antsy wondering where we were going to live, when I would be able to see a Dr., where we would get jobs, if we would have insurance, etc, etc...and when Jake started feeling that way as well we knew it was time to set some roots down somewhere. Although we love our friends and family in Utah we thought that if we were ever going to live somewhere else now was the time to do it- so after visiting our family for a few days after leaving the farm we packed the van and drove up to Oregon. We've both been job hunting, though my 'hunt' has been less than energetic since I have the motivation of a sloth and am nauseous 9/10th's of the day. And after having been insured for my entire life (until quitting our jobs in March) I am now in need of insurance more than ever...so, I've applied for Oregon's medicaid program (which, since we are both unemployed I should qualify for with no problem). Hopefully I will get approved within the next week so I can get an appointment to be seen to make sure everything is as it should be. And hopefully I'll start feeling more human again before too long, it'll sure be nice to be able to think of food without wanting to puke.

It's kinda funny that when we started out at the first of the year...when we rolled the dice to see where we'd end up...having a baby was one of the things we had as an option. Little did we know that we would end up doing both.

Hopefully the next picture I post will be of a perfect little embryo hanging out in my belly!

Quick Update

2010-08-16T20:25:00.000-07:00

We've been in Portland a week now and are in job hunting mode. My sister Deborah is putting us up at her house in Beaverton while we're ...unemployed... We really like the area so far but do miss our friends and family in Utah. I'll post more when we have pictures and more info.

The times, they are a changing

2010-07-31T12:17:00.000-07:00

This year has been full of many changes and July has been no exception. As the last day of July I figure it is pretty safe to say that this month has been pretty eventful. We started out the month with a rainy, cold 4th of July weekend and were greeted by our first set of WWOOF'er roommates. Adam and Jessica, a couple from Oregon, stayed on the farm for about two weeks (one of which was while we were visiting SLC). They did most of the work on the new, extra fancy chicken coop then when Jake and I got back from our vacation Jake did the finishing touches including the roof, roosts, nesting boxes, trim, and put the back wall up.

Working on the nesting boxes for the upcoming egg production...

Jake is so proud of his farmer's tan :)

Our second set of WWOOFer roomies came into town from Colorado on Wednesday. Chris and Allison are WWOOFing to find a place they want to buy land and experience organic farms along the way. I have been extremely lazy and drained from the heat since we got back last week so my contributions have been pretty minimal...which brings us to our next change...and the reason for us leaving the farm this week. Our plans were to stay until the end of August/first part of September, but as the title states, "times are changing". We will be driving back to SLC with the intention to stay there for a few days, determine what we want to keep or toss, then move up to Portland by next week or so.

We have defiantly learned and experienced a lot in our time here on the farm. It is been an opportunity that I wish more people could experience...

I will try to keep this blog updated with the continuation of our adventures, wherever they may be :)

Summer in the (Salt Lake) City

2010-07-25T17:40:00.000-07:00

Whew...we made it back from a week long 'vacation' to Utah to visit family and friends. All together it felt like a fast and furious trip but it was great to see everyone and eat lots of good food! My sister and her kids, who live in Portland, were visiting Utah at the same time so we were able to visit and have a picnic for my side of the family...then had a dinner with old work friends...then picked up Jake's sis, bro-n-law, and their baby from the airport and visit with them, and finally we ended the visit with a camp-out with Jake's side of the family.

We ended up leaving Eli with my sister and her kids (who took him back to Oregon with them) since he isn't enjoying the Wyoming heat too well and also since we will most likely be moving there after our time on the farm is done. It was a sad moment to see him go, but I know he's in great hands... Happy on the other hand wore herself out this week and took a nice 9 hour nap on the way home.

Rusty nails and cow bones

2010-07-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

This past week we have been working on the de-construction of an old barn which Mona was hoping to make into a chicken coop. After looking over the condition of the building/supports/rotting wood Adam, another WWOOFer/carpenter decided it would be better to tear it down and rebuild using the existing, salvageable wood. So...it was the boys job to take down the barn and the girls job (mine and Jessica) to take remove the old, deformed, rusty nails out of the wood so it could be re-used. Lemmie tell you, it was pretty exciting ;)

Oh, and there were all sorts of random animal bones under the barn...hmm...

Starting the new foundation.

Today the foundation was completed. That is after we mixed (by hand) 24 bags (80 lbs each) of concrete. Whew, that was fun...I'm pretty sure I did the least amount of work out of everyone though so....I can't complain too much.

The adventures just don't end

2010-07-08T04:53:00.000-07:00

It's almost 10 PM and I've been up since about 5:30...it's been a long day. So, here's how it went...well, in reverse.

Now- go to bed, I'm tired.

10 PM start talking to Jeannie online, start blogging

8:30 PM Go on bike ride with our new WWOOFer roomies Adam and Jessica.

7:30 PM Eat (cow from the farm) Steak, dill potatoes, and fresh garden salad made by the roomies (we alternate nights to cook :) )

6:30'ish Build a make-shift fenced area for the 4 turkeys (who are getting pretty plump) and 7 chickens. Herd chickens in, chase them around a bit, grab turkeys and get them tucked away for the night and hope that the raccoons can't get to them. Finally get home from working...talk to Wendy while our dinner is prepared.

1:30 to the end of the work day... The guys decide to tear down and rebuild rather than try to remodel old building for chicken coop. We begin taking boards down and getting the nails out of them when Mona comes over to tell us Steve is ready to take the coop across the creek....here it goes:

attaching chains and realizing that the coop is just too big to pick up and move.

Dragging it works..

and it floats pretty well too

Jake navigates us over on the boat

and we finally get it set up for the guinea hens. Yah!!!

Noon'ish- LUNCH...yum! Chat with Jen and find out they'll be in SLC for the annual campout- yea!!

10 AM- noon Babysit Guinea hens across the creek since they escaped last time we took them over...oh, and weed a bit. Try to wade across the creek since the boys took the boat and left us stranded...water is too high and swift for my liking so I try starting an old 4-wheeler that I have yet to get started...magically it starts and we drive over to a point where we can yell across the creek and get Jake's attention...

9-10 AM Clip Guinea hen wings... 3 simple words sound so easy -but- have you ever clipped a wild bird's wing?? Catching them was the first challenge, luckily they were still in the coop but they are still ridiculously difficult to catch, then when you do catch them the freak out and make so much noise that you'd think you were killing them...then after that comes the clipping part, then getting them into a box, then getting them across the creek in a boat...

7-9 AM pick, wash, and pack tomatoes, onions, lettuce for the Buffalo CSA.

5:30 AM I'm awake, and ready to get up...usually this is too early for me, way too early but I need to get some breakfast and coffee in me...it's going to be a long day.

2010-07-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

Well, we are just about 3 months into our Wyoming adventure, which puts us halfway through our season here on the farm. Jake and I were talking while weeding this morning about what we’ve learned and how we’ve changed in the short time that we have been here...well, here’s what we came up with:

Wherever we live has to have trees...as much fun as it is to scald in the sun all day I’d much prefer the availability of shade

Farming defiantly isn’t the simple life; although it’s true that things are simpler here (less materialistic, more concerned about things that actually matter, etc) this is not a lifestyle for someone looking for quick money or an easy job

Weather plays an immense roll in farming life...living in the city you take that for granted (yes, you do...until you’ve run out to cover crops in a freak blizzard or save a 100 ft. tunnel in near tornado winds you take it for granted).

Just because your working on a farm does not mean that you’ll lose weight...I did for the first month or so but have gained it all back...damn that licorice and ice cream

There is a natural order to things, a delicate balance in nature and everything we do to the land has immeasurable consequences, so the less impact we have on the land, the better

The difference between one’s ideals and reality often comes down to money, which, is a sad truth

Our dogs can be naughty puppies when left to their own device in the country

We actually like working together, despite the occasional day of annoying each other we get along pretty well

It is almost impossible to keep a trailer or house spotless (or even ‘clean’) when your working in dirt, mud, and plants all day.

Guess that's about it for now...

To weed or not to weed...

2010-06-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

...that is the question. Do we expend hours and hours of precious energy hand weeding each bed of a 700 X 300 foot garden to give the little plants every fighting chance---or---will it end up as a grasshopper wipeout like it did for Mona last year? She said the day after they weeded the carrots, they were gone. The grasshoppers needed food and since there were no weeds to munch on they moved on to the carrots. Not a good thing to see after spending money, time, and hard work on something. The weeds are getting absolutely out of control though...so do we 'selectively' weed?? Not weed at all?? Weed it all and hope that the grasshoppers leave our plants alone?

Hmmmm....the dilemmas of working in grasshopper country.

The little buggers are all over the place to the point that it sounds like a rainstorm when you walk through the field...they're jumping everywhere and just looking for crops to destroy...

The turkeys, guinea hens, and chickens are doing a pretty good job at controlling the areas where they are, but there are only a few of them and thousands upon thousands of the little hoppers...not a very fair fight. We still haven't been able to get them across the creek to the big garden because of the creek being so high still but we did get the poultry fencing up today so that once the creek does go down we'll be able to haul the coop and the guineas over.

Ok, that's all for my grasshopper rant for the moment...

Oh, and it's really hot...

Ahhh...the joy of food

2010-06-26T10:52:00.000-07:00

The joy of food, REAL food is one that can only be enhanced by company to share it with. It is extremely easy to forget; and for some unfortunate people to never have even experienced the pure pleasure of biting into your first taste of a meal prepared with much anticipated ingredients, ones whose arrival you have been awaiting for months. A ripe, juicy red tomato bursting with flavor- yes, actual flavor (not to be confused with those imitations you find at the grocery store) and a tangy pesto made with freshly picked arugula, organic garlic from the neighbor, and rich olive oil make for a dinner you have to just sit back and enjoy each flavorful bite.

We have all become so accustomed to being able to eat any kind of food at any time in the season that we have lost the patience for that first fresh red tomato of the season, instead we just buy flavorless, nutrition poor look-alikes year round because we are a society of immediacy- we want what we want now...we don’t want to wait for the real thing.
I am reading a book, A Thousand Days in Tuscany by Marlena de Blasi, which describes in great detail the amazing locally grown, seasonal foods they eat each day...freshly pressed olive oil, artesian bread still oven warmed, hand rolled ropes of pasta, wine from the vineyard...and best of all company to savor each bite with. How have we gotten so far away from the celebration that eating should be? A victory of yet another day with fresh food, good friends and family, and a way to reflect on the effort that went into making each flavor come together on your plate; the land who nurtured the seed, farmer who toiled away to grow the vegetable, and the cook who brought it all together with love and their own artistic flare. Instead it seems that most of us pop in a frozen dinner or open unidentifiable ingredients from a can just to fill our stomachs and empty hearts while eating alone.
I hope that if nothing else this summer I will learn again the joy of eating real food, to see the entire process that goes into it, from seed to table, and to enjoy the company of others while savoring each bite. (This is where my shameless plug comes in for you to visit- see, we’ll even cook for you!!!)

Oh yes, and we have lots of weeding to do...by hand...so come on up and join us!!! :)

All in a day's weather

2010-06-21T18:13:00.000-07:00

Seriously...I know weather can be strange and that this year has been a bit more unusual for everyone but... really...

The storm rolling in...

The hail and rainbow pictures were taken by Bob LeResche, after the sun decided to come out for a few minutes.

All of these were taken within a 6 hour period...

...gotta love Wyoming

Mini Coop

2010-06-16T05:44:00.000-07:00

Jake's latest creation, the mini coop, is a portable chicken coop for keeping the chickens safe at night while also allowing us to move them around for grasshopper control. He is getting pretty talented with the design and construction (but don't tell him or it might go to his head ;)

The wheels came off of some antique farm equipment.

I've also started a blog for the CSA which will give recipes, updates on the garden, and other info...so should you get really bored you can check it out: Clear Creek Valley Produce

Roots Run Deep

2010-06-13T13:46:00.000-07:00

Alfalfa, a crop which was the previous inhabitant of the field where the high tunnel was built, is still a part of our regular weeding. It is a deep rooted perennial which can reach depths of up to twenty feet, so to say to we are fully removing it when we weed would be silly and attempting to do so would be futile.

I suppose I'm a bit metaphorical. I use what I see in the outside world to understand and justify what is going on in my own life. Sometimes good, sometimes bad...and maybe it's because I have a little too much time to think while planting seed after seed or pulling weed after weed, but I am beginning to see a real parallel between our lives and the lives of plants...both actual and metaphorical. Of course there is birth and death, disease and the ability to thrive, but there is also an individuality that comes with each plant and a status that we ascribe to each kind depending on our use for them...are they beneficial or noxious? Beautiful, luscious plants or ugly obnoxious weeds? And is our judgment of them reality or just our interpretation of their worth? How deep do our roots run? How much do we judge of each other on the surface, not knowing (and not caring) how differently our roots are?

As I knelt on the dirt, pulling away at each weed in front of me I felt like there would be no end...that as soon as I dug one up, twenty more would take it's place... and in this instance I am right. This is why using herbicides and pesticides are sooooo much easier than farming organically (I haven't even started in on the grasshopper issue). It is so much easier to pour out chemicals that will kill these weeds (and pests) than it is to spend hours at a time picking each one by hand... but just because something is easy doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.

Jake has been looking into the practice of permaculture, which despite it's lack of solid definition, is a way of utilizing nature rather than fighting against it in farming/gardening. It is using beneficial plants and cover crops and mimics the relationships found in nature to decrease the amount of weeds, increase the nutrients in soil, and be an overall better solution to the destruction that we are currently causing on our lands.

We met two other WWOOF'ers this week who are staying at Carols; John, a North Dakota native who had been working on an 8,000 acre canola farm; and Sagel, a PhD student taking a week off of her final year of studies. We got a break from planting and did two days of fencing (which, by the way is not my favorite thing to do) which included digging new post holes, digging up old/broken posts, driving the tractor around in a field with 4 foot high weeds, and tightening barbed wire. When we got to the end of the fence line (where there is a cliff that looks onto a bend in the river) we saw 8-10 large turtles. I also saw a blue heron up close which flew away. Jake also started on a new mini coup for the chickens which I helped with a bit. We finished up on the trench for the main irrigation line from the creek which should make watering the tunnels much easier. Oh- and I planted some sunflowers and pumpkins!

We can finally cross the creek to get to the 'other' garden without making it an all day trip!!

Boys working on the coop

now, if they'll just turn red!!

Planting, planting, weeding, and planting

2010-06-04T18:01:00.000-07:00

I think that we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as far as planting goes. We've been planting and transplanting throughout the past few weeks inside the high tunnels but have just started planting outside this last week since this spring has been so cold and wet. The garden across the creek currently takes about 30 minutes to reach via the county road (driving) since the 'creek' is too high to cross...thankfully Steve and Mona are getting a boat tomorrow so we should be able to just jump in the boat and motor across to the other side in less than 5 minutes!! :)

Last Sunday and Monday we did some marathon planting days across the creek planting corn, potatoes, peppers, melons, herbs, cucumbers, brussel sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, lettuce, squash, and....other stuff I'm forgetting. It is AMAZING how exhausting planting can be...up, down, squat, up, dig, walk back to get more seed, break up clay...etc, etc...then you add in the sun and whew- what a tiring day!!

Well, apparently I didn't have enough planting because I decided to do a mini garden at the trailer we are staying in... it really is mini though- just 3 tomato plants, one pepper plant, some basil, cilantro, and parsley... I just hope that the grasshoppers don't eat them all!!!

While we were planting today there was a photographer from 'The Sheridan Press' who came out to the farm to take our pictures for an article they are running next week on the decrease of agricultural land in the county. Jake and I were interviewed last week as was Mona and Carol in regards to their CSA (community supported agriculture). It was a little strange being followed around, having photos taken at all angles while planting...I'm sure he ended up with a few cleavage or bum crack shots with all the bending over we were doing (but hopefully he'll leave those out)... geez, who thought I'd be wishing for knee pads in a job...

I'd have to say that I'm getting more and more used to being 'away from it all' out in the country...seeing deer, antelope, birds...breathing clean air...listening to the sounds of nature instead of the sounds of civilization...and seeing amazing rainbows- from end to end. It should be interesting to see where we end up come September.... (according to the poll Hawaii is in the lead)

Know thine enemy...

2010-05-29T16:38:00.000-07:00

Keep your friends close but your enemies closer...

Though I haven't been able to find a published source of this quote, I'm pretty sure who ever said it first was referring to the art of organic farming. Despite the desire to make organic farming this symbiotic act of love between each creature, plant, and environment it seems like growing food is a constant battle... a fight with the weather, a war with critters, and an all out battle with weeds. I think over half of our day is spent either figuring out how to keep pests out of the garden (grasshopper frenzy, hungry deer, and pesky raccoons), how to keep the veggie plants from dying (too much rain, not enough sun, not enough irrigation, too hot in the tunnel), or how to keep the weeds from taking over the garden. Jake keeps trying to figure out a way for the plants to weed themselves... or at least get to know what the weeds are and which ones are the most troublesome. The number of grasshoppers increased ten-fold from the year 2008-2009 which made for a serious hardship on many farmers. Mona and Carol lost a large amount of their gardens due to grasshopper infestations in July. The grasshopper outlook for this year is said to be as bad if not worse this year. Many areas spray for the grasshoppers, but, being an organic farm- spraying is not an option...hence the turkeys, guinea hens, and chickens.

Luckily, Jake and I aren't the only one's fighting this battle...we have the help of Steve and Mona (our WWOOF hosts), Bob and Carol (Mona's CSA partner), and fellow WWOOFers from time to time. We had what will most likely turn into a bi-monthly WWOOF dinner at Carol's place. Bob made yummy chicken enchiladas (from organic chicken), salad (lettuce from the greenhouse, radishes from Carols garden, and eggs from a neighbor), and dessert with berries and pineapple (well, this wasn't local but was really good). It was great to meet Katie, the WWOOFer staying with Carol- she'll be here till Tuesday then Carol will get 3 more WWOOFers in a couple of weeks.

Jake, me, Mona, and Steve after a great dinner at Bob and Carol's place.

Carol, Katie, and me (hmm...forgot the sunscreen)

Good thing for friends...(including you for reading this blog :)

City Pups to country dogs

2010-05-27T06:50:00.000-07:00

Happy and Eli have sure gotten used to spending the day at work with us, running around with Belle, jumping in the creek to cool off, and wandering around to follow all of the smells. The best thing is that they come home completely pooped, and lay nearly comatose by us for the rest of the night. This is especially good since Jake and I feel about the same after a long day working...despite intentions to do productive things like clean or learn to play the guitar, we sit or lay in a near dream-like state, trying to make it until at least 9 o'clock before we pass out for the night.

We knew that working on a farm would be difficult, and that it would take a lot out of us...but -wow- this is intense! Jake has more energy than I do, it seems like I can go pretty strong for a couple of weeks but then require a full day of nothing but laying around and napping all day. Despite the hard work (or, maybe because of it) we love it...playing in the dirt and mud, watching things grow, making things work and constructing things that we'd never done before...it's kind of like being a kid again. We've gotten into a bit of a routine here; sitting in front of our computers in the morning with our coffee or tea, then bike to the farm with the dogs running beside us, we water the greenhouse and tunnels and take care of the birds (the turkeys, guineas, and chickens have started coming out of their coop and exploring but not while the dogs are there), then we plant or weed or do what needs doing for the day...somewhere in there we eat some lunch... and when we're done we head back to the trailer to make some dinner. Oh, and then I must lather my hands with Hand salve to prevent them from feeling like old lady farmer hands...

Mona's CSA partner, Carol, has a WWOOFer working with her for two weeks, we were able to meet and hang out with her the other night. Then on Tuesday for my birthday Jake and I went into Sheridan for lunch and to go grocery shopping. We were going to stay to see a movie but there wasn't anything we really wanted to see and we would have had to wait a couple of hours for a movie to start, so we just drove back to the farm and watched a DVD and had some ice cream.

The first CSA delivery should be happening in a couple of weeks so we are anxiously awaiting our little veggies to keep growing. The past few weeks have been pretty cloudy and rainy so we're hoping that the warmer temperatures and increased sunshine in the forecast will help them grow. Until then we'll keep planting, keep weeding, and keep on truckin'... :)

Perspective

2010-05-21T21:02:00.000-07:00

It's all a matter of perspective...

I guess I'm somewhere in the middle;

always growing,

always reaching

It's kind of funny- we've been here for well over a month now and just today we ventured out to see the blue heron roosts. They are a mere half mile away from were we've been toiling away each day, but it's taken us this long to 'take the time' to visit it. In just this short distance it felt like we'd discovered an entirely different place. Instead of pasture, garden, and dirt I saw tall grass, enormous trees and beautiful birds. In the place of cattle and straight fences were downed trees and huge mushrooms... this little oasis had been there the whole time we had but we hadn't seen it. It wasn't hiding itself from us and we didn't need an invitation to go there, but we went along with our busy days, not even thinking twice that there was 'more' out there...

How often does this happen? How much do we take for granted and miss out on just because we are too busy with our day to day routine that we fail to explore and realize just how much 'more' really is out there. Then not only do we not ever experience that 'more', we just don't care about it...we could care less what happens to those places out there that we'll never see or feel. We become apathetic to the very existence of those creatures who depend on us to -without a better way to put this- not destroy their homes.

Going the distance

2010-05-18T19:49:00.000-07:00

Jake and I (and the dogs) made a trip back to Salt Lake over the weekend. We left Friday morning and made the 9 hour drive to Utah in the trusty mini-van... Geez, that's a long, boring drive...
Jake's sister Jen, her husband, and their daughter were having a going away party since they're moving up to Alaska as I type. It was nice to be back in civilization and to be able to visit with family, despite the shortness of the trip.

Jake and Xim playing in the dirt

Ian Slackroping... he was the best, the rest of us had to use something to hang onto.

Jake, his sister Jeannie and niece Caydantz, his sister Jen and niece Xim

Monday morning we drove back to the farm and by this morning we were back to work. In just a short 4 days the turkeys, guinea hens, and chickens grew like weeds (and the weeds grew like weeds as well). While we were gone the turkeys and guineas were moved from the greenhouse into their new, fancy coop, (which by the way they love!)

Happy and Eli came to work with us today as well... such hard little workers they are:

All 'cooped' up

2010-05-11T17:42:00.000-07:00

I'm sure I'll be cursing the never-ending sunshine and heat come late summer but at this point in time I could really use more than one nice, sunny day. Between rain, snow, and wind, the weather here has been anything but predictable...but I suppose that is the only thing that is constant- change.

Despite the crazy weather we have been able to get quite a bit accomplished; one of Jake's big projects being the chicken coop. He started it over a week ago and due to the --weather-- is just now getting close to finishing it. I think it is looking pretty cool, hopefully the turkeys and guinea hens love it too!!

The very beginning

Getting the frame up

The back and bottom sides up, and the door is built (I built the door :) )

Getting close to completion, chicken wire is on the door and upper sides to allow for vents...Jake just needs to finish the front and floor!

In addition to coop building we have been up to ...more planting, yeah!!! Cabbage, tomatoes, onions, and trees. When we planted trees on Sunday in the 'other' garden (the 14 acre fully fenced garden/orchard across the creek) we were able to bring Happy and Eli with us since they could run around and we didn't have to worry about them running off. It was cool to bring them with us and let them tire themselves out!! Too bad they don't listen very good or we could bring them with us everyday...just too many exciting sights and smells to worry about listening to us...

We also finished up the drip irrigation system for the new high tunnel over the weekend. Jake did lots of gluing of PVC pipe and I did lots of cutting of PVC pipe and drilling holes into it... there are a few leaks that need to be fixed but it's almost totally done now!! The water will be pumped in from the creek and we will be able to turn it on and off with a switch- so much better than spending over an hour each day hand watering the tunnel!!

Barn Kitty...

Ode to Mud

2010-05-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

Oh dearest Mud...

Without you
our shoes would be clean,
our floors would shine,
our knees would be dry, and
our pants would weigh less than 10 pounds...

we could walk (and drive) without slipping,
our bums would stay dry,
doggies wouldn't bring you in, and
our hands could get clean

But with you
we are not in drought
the alfalfa is green and flowers are purple
the plants and trees can drink up your excess
and all is well...

Well...ok. Between the snow we got last week and the rain we are getting today we have been engulfed in mud over the past week (not to mention most of the past month). We walk in it, plant in it, slip and slide around in it. The dogs run around in it and track it through the trailer, we tote the watering hose around in it, we drive the van around in it...sometimes it's wet and sticky while other times it's deceiving and looks dry until you step in it and go sliding around...

Time

2010-05-05T19:03:00.000-07:00

I think there is a bend in time that appears when you are in the country. There is this other dimension that you step into where time either goes by extremely fast... or it doesn't move.

That is what I've experienced so far in this month that we have been here. Yes- we have now been in Wyoming for a month... see, crazy, it's gone by so fast!!

So....in this last month what has changed?? My body has become accustomed to waking on it's own, not to the sound of a screeching alarm or the need to be somewhere at an exact time. Time itself has become more relative since coming up here. When living in the city I always needed to know what time it was...I had to catch the bus or trax at an exact time, be at work at a certain time, see a patient at a specific time, get home to feed and walk the dogs...and so on and so on... but here I wake when the light comes up, we head out to work after we've eaten and checked our email, come home for lunch when we're hungry, and leave work when we're done. All of this being done without any clocks or alarms...just doing what feels natural and right. The only 'clock' in our trailer is that on my computer (and one on the itouch), but other than that we just use the amount of light left in the day to judge things...

Time seems to go by pretty fast when we're working outside or in the greenhouse. It doesn't trudge along like it used to at 'work'...waiting for the hours and minutes to pass so that I could go home... time just flows; we work, we eat, we sleep, (and do other things in-between), but it doesn't feel choppy and disconnected like it was just a mere month ago.

We don't lock our doors. We don't use our turn signal or even wear seatbelts driving in town (cause we're on a dirt road- if we go onto a paved road the seat belts are clicked in place :) ). We cook more and make extremely good meals (when we have the energy). We're very thankful for the mud room. Almost all of our clothes head into the washer caked in dirt and our tan lines are starting to show. We piss each other off daily and have learned that we work and think very differently, (but can work together despite that). We still stare at our computer screens way too much.

We are heading back to SLC in less than 2 weeks for a visit...should be interesting to see how time changes when we leave our country vortex.

Signs of life

2010-05-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

Slowly but surely spring is making it's way known around here. The insane wind and spring showers have outnumbered the clear, calm days but that hasn't stopped nature from awakening.

We spent several days this week just securing things down from the often 60+ mile an hour gusts of wind. On Wednesday it attempted to uproot the 96 foot high tunnel, which was housing onions, broccoli, lettuce, spinach, kohlrabi, and peas. Luckily, with the help of a tractor and massive amounts of muscle power we were able to get it back into the ground and secured so that it didn't take off like a huge kite.

We have also been doing more planting and transplanting...and watching little sprouts emerge from the soil. It is a pretty cool feeling to see all of these little green plants come to life from where you buried their seeds just a short time ago. It's amazing how seeing these little blossoms and sprouts can awaken your own soul...

Unfortunately amid all of these new lives springing up we lost a little black hen. Yesterday we made a little pen in the greenhouse for the turkeys since they are getting to big for the tub (and the coop hasn't been finished yet)...plus they kept flying out of the tub and eating onions in the greenhouse- silly turkeys!

They look like little prisoners, but soon enough will have free range and all the grasshoppers they can eat!!

We've also been planting trees outside; apple, wild plum, cottonwood, aspen, and cherry. Soon we'll finish planting veggies in the tunnels and begin planting outside when the threat of frost ends. There will be strawberries, melons, rhubarb, corn, cucumber, more tomatoes, peppers, and much more!!

The irony of things

2010-04-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

***Quick disclaimer- this post may lean more towards a rant so should you decide to keep reading, you have been forewarned**

Well, it has been just about a month since we quit our jobs in SLC and having done that we lost our health insurance as well. There is COBRA, which would have allowed us to keep the same insurance we had, but the amount that we would have to pay per month for the two of us would be around $700... and to my knowledge that was only for medical, not dental. After much debate and checking into individual health insurance (which was not only expensive but had an outrageous deductible) we decided to not have health insurance. It's a scary thought, I've always had insurance...always...and our society scares you into thinking that you can't live without it (which, should anything major happen to one of us we might feel that way).

So, Saturday Jake's upper tooth that recently had a root canal and crown starts hurting. Then Sunday it starts hurting worse. Then his face starts swelling. By Monday morning I started calling dentists in Buffalo, which is the closest town, to see if anyone can get him in. Luckily the second place I called could see him that morning and the dentist there was great. He got an x-ray, did an exam, wrote for prescriptions, and made a referral for a dentist in Sheridan to get his root canal re-done...and he didn't charge us a thing!! There is something to be said for small town people... Too bad when he gets the root canal re-done next week they will be charging us... a lot...and, oh, you don't have insurance, then that will be cash upfront or don't even come to the appointment.

Poor Jake!!!

The whole reason I'm writing about this (despite the fact that Jake looks like this) is to bring up the principal of healthcare; or the lack thereof, for the people working in agriculture. I saw an article on civileats.com (a very cool website for anyone interested in anything to do with gardening/farming/good food), Your Farmer Body Needs Protection: Health Care
which basically goes over the real need for healthcare coverage for the new generation of young farmers. Farming is a tremendously physical job that requires the farmer to be in good physical shape...without good health the farmer cannot provide healthy food. So, it would be assumed that providing a basic level of insurance to farmers would be advantageous to everyone who eats food...

Why do we care so little about where our food comes from and who grows it that farmers can't even be farmers without some other 'job' to provide them health insurance and a means to pay the mortgage?

Hmmmm.....well, anyways, thought I'd provide a little 'food' for thought. I suppose I'll end my rant now so you'll come back and read my blog again some other time.

Here's a Happy picture to leave you with:

Planting time

2010-04-24T19:25:00.000-07:00

We've been doing a variety of things over the past few days; planting, shoveling, planting, shoveling, and even a bit more planting. Oh, and today we did some shoveling and drilling...no planting though.

All of the trays in the right center are corn!! Then we planted a huge variety of melons, broccoli, basil, and other yummy stuff. :)

The green plants sticking out of the red tarp are tomatoes- they are starting to blossom!

Mona also got some new additions (10 of 'em) to add to the turkeys and guinea hens... cute little chickens (who should grow up to be grasshopper eating, laying hens)!!

Yesterday started out misty with a drizzle of rain but within a few hours it turned into a crazy wind storm with just enough rain to make us call it quits for the day. But...not before we got to dig up some fence stakes and gather all of the fencing that was supposed to keep some little trees safe but ended up as what I like to refer to as cow art.I also got to drive around 'the mule', which is kindof a cross between a 4-wheeler and a jeep...overall pretty fun, especially in the mud!

The absolute best part of yesterday was receiving a 'care package' from some family back home...it contained some yummy coffee, DVD's, cake, and other random delights!! Thanks for making our rainy day fun!!!!

All about the weather...

2010-04-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

As a rule I usually cared about the weather while living in the city, but at the same time I never really cared about the weather. We had to walk the dogs, I'd walk to the bus stop or trax...or even worse get stuck out walking when the weather turned bad and I got caught in a downpour. Then there were the rare occasions that the snow was so bad that getting anywhere became a joke.

Silly city girl...

Here weather really matters. It doesn't just determine whether you're going to be uncomfortable while walking from your car to the store...your entire day's work depends on it, your livelihood is dictated by it. In just the short amount of time we've been here we have been postponed by wind, hampered by the rain, and scorched by the sun. We have yet to experience the fury that mother nature can throw out, but my eyes are opening to the real impact that weather plays on the day-to-day life of a farmer as well as the outcome of your seasons work.

Here the change in climate is more noticeable. A dry year or wet year becomes trends that have never been seen before in generations and certain species of birds stay year round now when they never had before. Areas that were once fed by year round creeks are now dry for most of the season. Winters that were once sub-freezing are now tolerable.

Funny how you start to care about things more when you can actually see them...when they become tangible and real, not just some word on a page that's up for debate.

Well...enough of that, now for why your really here, pictures!!!

This is pretty much how we've spent the last couple of days...no, not standing around in holes...digging them!! Well, the backhoe did most of the digging...we did the rest.

We've also been doing some planting, transplanting to the high tunnel, and hand feedin' cute little turkeys and guinea hens :)

Skunked

2010-04-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

I guess it was bound to happen...the temptation was just too great and I let the dogs out to run around 'unattended'...why we hadn't done anything with the poor thing previously I don't know...I guess maybe because we don't have a shovel here or didn't want to burn it with the rest of the 'trash'...so we left the poor dead skunk out in the pasture and just told the dogs 'no' when they went near it...but this time we couldn't stop her...Happy ran for it and started rolling around on it, obviously full of joy and glee...

Why do dogs love rolling around in dead things so much? What is it that is so enjoyable? Hmmm...well, anyways suffice it to say she stayed outside tied up to the porch until we could figure out our best plan of attack for getting rid of the stench.

Sometimes the internet is a very helpful tool, othertimes it just makes you more confused. One site said use tomato juice, another said no- tomato juice is just a myth- use baking soda and vinegar, while yet another said use dish soap and baking soda. Considering we are 40 miles from the closest store and we had just gone to the store earlier in the day and we had no tomato juice or vinegar...we just cut her stinky fur away as best we could then bathed her in baking soda and dog shampoo.

Its not perfect but she gets to sleep inside tonight :)

The little things

2010-04-17T19:55:00.000-07:00

The past couple of days have really made me think about the little things in life, because they really are what matters. Jake and I were talking and discussing what, besides friends and family, we really missed (granted it's been less than two weeks) and we really couldn't think of much. We really do love what we are doing, there is so much to learn and so many things to do that 'thing's really are just that, they are things that we can do without and still be happy.

That being said I should disclose that we do have our laptops with us, and a camera, and our mountain bikes...and I think I could live without them, but then I couldn't share all of our experiences with you. ;)

Here are a few of the little things that we've been able to see today:

Guinea hens

This little guy is only about 10 minutes old

Here's another little thing that was freaking sweet...

She must have been reading my mind because I was totally craving pizza...Mona got us a Papa Murphy's pizza in Gillette, a mere 60 miles away (but that is where she works as a teacher so she makes that drive Mon-Fri). It was delish!!

Oh, and we did work too...this is me trying to tell Jake to do something while I'm tilling up soil in one of the high tunnels...wow do I look great...

PS...there is a poll that you should take if you haven't already :)

Gettin' dirty

2010-04-15T18:22:00.000-07:00

Well, we finally did it...got dirty and did some back breaking work. Today is the first day so far that we've done actual gardening. We started out making raised beds for Mona's partner in crime, Carol. Mona just purchased a raised bed machine that forms the bed and puts down plastic over the bed...when I first saw it I thought it seemed kindof extreme- really, why would you spend thousands of dollars on a machine that makes raised garden beds???

....Now I know.

Whew... Digging garden beds is a ton of work.

They're fun to play in too...

After we finished the gettin' dirty in the beds we planted some, well not some- a lot- of broccoli and cauliflower in one of the smaller tunnels. After that it was back to construction/carpentry work at Mona's in the tunnels and stick throwing for Belle. Oh, and seeing a very nice sign of spring...wildflowers :)

Got sum Wild Turkey??

2010-04-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

The first time we saw them out our back window we thought it was pretty cool, grabbed our cameras, and watched them for what seemed like a really long time...now, less than a week later the sight of wild turkeys is just a normal part of the day. They're all over the place, sometimes it's just a couple of them and other times it's an entire gaggle (is that what they call a group of birds??).

Silly turkeys didn't want to get out of the road when we were driving...too bad I'm not a big fan of turkey or we could have thrown a few in the back of the van to fix up for dinner ;)

It's hard to believe that we've been here a week already. In ways it feels like we just got here, there is still soooo much to do and learn...so many muscles yet to use and veggies left to plant. But in other ways it feels like we've been here for quite awhile- it feels like so long ago that I was actually showering AND dressing nicely for work...now I'm lucky to make it home not caked with mud, sweat, and a sunburn. What a difference a few weeks can make!

We readied the newly finished high tunnel to be tilled today by spreading out straw and mixing in chicken manure and phosphate. Then we worked on transplanting brussel sprouts and cabbage in the greenhouse.

We also got a chance to talk with Steve, (one half of the Steve and Mona team, AKA our hosts) about his cattle ranching. He talked about how difficult it is to make a living on meat cows. There are a lot of strange laws in Wyoming when it comes to raising and selling beef, none of which help the rancher or the consumer. There is a definite need for change in the laws (in Wyoming as well as other states) to make buying locally raised meat more affordable for the consumer and more profitable for the producer. Consumers really need to start caring about where not only their meat, but all of their food comes from and who they are supporting when they buy it- 'cause you are what you eat...

Sunrise, sunset

2010-04-11T18:17:00.000-07:00

The sunrise and sunset in the country really is pretty. I'd forgotten how much of the sunrise is masked by the Wasatch mountains in Salt Lake, but out here you get the full horizon. I suppose you could tire of seeing them after awhile but for now I'll continue to enjoy each one.

We've been doing mostly what feels like construction work this week, finishing up the high tunnels for both Steve and Mona and Carol and Bob. Yesterday the plastic covering was put on the Mitzel's tunnel while we finished putting up rafters, connectors, and baseboards for Carol and Bob.

We worked all day yesterday (Saturday) and were going to work today as well but my body started telling me, 'um seriously...another day of work, it's Sunday- rest before I really start to revolt against you'. So I did. Jake worked away while I napped on a cloudy Sunday in the country. But it felt really nice to take a break and recover from all of the physical labor we've been doing. This week we should start doing more gardening stuff; transplanting, tilling the high tunnel to ready it for planting, more weeding, and other stuff.

But for now I'm gonna eat some nachos, relax with Jake and the dogs, and watch the cows.

And then the sun came out...

2010-04-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

Well, Monday was cold, wet, and windy but the past couple of days have been sunny and pretty nice. We have stayed really busy with work, but it's a good busy...and enjoyable feel-like-your getting stuff done busy. Yesterday we spent the whole day putting down weed matting on the tunnels. Since I would have never known what the hell that meant before a couple of days ago I thought I better show ya'll with pictures:

This is the new high tunnel that is currently being built.

It's 96 ft. long. And really, really tall.

And this is Orange Farm Kitty...
...he was helping hold the weed mat down in the wind.

So today we went over to Carol and Bob's place (Mona and Steve's 'neighbors' which are about 5 miles away) to help them put up their high tunnel. Jake and I spent the first 4-5 hours sledgehammering in ground posts- for a 96 ft. tunnel, then we started putting up the arch.

See, we really are working
:)

First day on the farm

2010-04-06T19:43:00.000-07:00

Wow- the past couple of days have been a roller coaster of emotions; loneliness, freedom, fear, awe, doubt, and many more. We have gone from living in the city where we can walk essentially anywhere we need to go (or catch a bus/trax/bum a ride from someone) to being 1/2 a mile from anyone and over 40 miles to an actual store. It has only been a day but the realization that this isn't just a short vacation where we'll be heading back to civilization in a few days or a week has made it sink in very quickly that this ain't nothing like home.

The drive here was kinda rough, not just because we were traveling with our 2 big dogs, cat, and essentially everything we own, but also because I kept doubting myself and wondering what the hell we were doing...we were leaving our families, friends, jobs, and pretty much everything we knew to work- in the middle of nowhere- on a farm. Well, nine hours after leaving Salt Lake we arrived in Leiter Wyoming greeted by it's only building and some ducks.

Once we found the Mitzel's house we were also greeted by Belle, a stick obsessed farm dog that is the sweetest thing you'll ever meet.

Once we met Mona and Steve Mitzel, our WWOOF hosts/owners of the ranch I was put at ease, they were both extremely nice and easygoing. Mona showed us around and in addition to seeing the greenhouse, tunnels, and pastures, we were able to see a cow give birth- which was pretty cool. Its crazy how different humans are when it comes to childbirth...the cow continued grazing even after the feet of the calf were hanging out of her, it wasn't until several minutes later that she layed down to push the calf out. Within less than 10 minutes after birth the calf was trying to stand up and begin nursing.

Today has been kinda difficult- it has been cold, wet, and windy almost the entire day. I've had a few meltdowns feeling homesick and lonely- still wondering what we are doing out here. We didn't have much work to do, just a bit of weeding and laying out plastic to prevent weeds so we had alot of downtime in the trailer which gave me too much time to think. Luckily the rain died down in the afternoon so Jake and I walked the 2 miles into 'town' to the post office...unfortunately it closes at noon so I wasn't able to get any stamps- but we did get to see some antelope, geese, horses, and a whole bunch of cows (including a bull who I'm pretty sure hates us)

It is calving season so there are tons of little calves all around which is cute, but you have to be really careful how close you walk by them- momma cows are really protective!! Mona even told us to be really careful walking around with Happy, our black lab, since the cows might think she is one of their calves and claim her as their own... ;)

Mona supplied us with some groceries, including natural chicken from her sister's farm and beef from their ranch so tonight Jake and I ate chicken fajita's- the first chicken either of us have eaten in years!! It was pretty good, but I'm really glad that Jake volunteered to fix the chicken...I still get a bit squeamish when it comes to cooking meat.

Well, the weather is supposed to be warmer and clear tomorrow (and hopefully less windy- seriously, I forgot how windy Wyoming is...) and we have some work planned for setting down weed tarps around all of the tunnels so I should 'turn in' soon...but know that I miss all of you and love you tons!!

...And it really is a pretty place

Wyoming via Portland

2010-04-02T17:40:00.000-07:00

Where is my belt...seriously, WTH is my belt?? We have moved and downsized and 'vacationed' so much in the past couple of months I feel like I am spending way to much time looking for stuff....did I give it away? Throw it out? Is it hiding in a dark corner or at my parent's house?? Hmmm...oh well, all a part of the journey I suppose.

We made it home from Portland yesterday, it was a really long drive but made it in one day, (thanks Jake for being such a great driver :) ). We flew up there on Monday and were able to visit with my sister and her kids for a few days, acquired a mini van for our adventure, drank some yummy Oregon beer, and nearly got lost numerous times in PDX. Why it is that we think we are city people because we live in Salt Lake I will never know because navigating a real city makes me realize how not-city-people we are.

It was really great to see my sister and nieces/nephews, its been since Thanksgiving since we were able to hang out and it's amazing how fast they grow up. Portland is an amazing city...oh Portland, how I love thee....how can you not love a city that has bike statues all over downtown~~~beer and bikes...should we ever move back to the city PDX is the place...

We will be in SLC for the weekend then on Monday morning it's off to Wyoming...to a population of 25....hot damn, not sure how well that is going to work for me...I truly never realized what a social person I am till I started thinking about only seeing a couple of people a week...less people than I usually see in a few minutes downtown or a few seconds on the bus...
but we'll be busy so maybe I won't even notice. ;)

I'll post pics and stuff once we get there on Monday, and I will really try to keep this updated often....and seriously, what else am I going to have to do in the evening???

Final weeks of the office life

2010-03-11T19:58:00.000-08:00

Both Jake and I are in the process of training our replacements for our office jobs. Two weeks from Friday will be our last days of work and our ties to Salt Lake City (at least in regards to employment) will be severed. We'll be free to pursue our adventure, do whatever we want and have no paychecks...
I can't speak for Jake but I have plenty of emotions running through me as the day-to-day office grind comes to a close. There is definite excitement for what lies ahead but there is also nervousness for the unknown (and lack of income), guilt for leaving family and friends at a time when our presence and finances could be useful, and some fear for what will become of us when all is said and done...will we like farming? Will we be good at it, are we 'cut out' for this physically demanding profession? Will we have the means to actually buy land and start farming if we want to? What will happen with our family and friends? The questions keep going but the answers continue coming back to a 'wait and see' solution. So, for now, all I can do is enjoy every minute of every day and know that whatever happens, whatever our destination may be will be because it is what we chose, not what was chosen for us.

Sand under our nails

2010-02-23T21:09:00.000-08:00

Baby steps, right? First comes sand under our nails, then dirt...
We did a quick getaway to the California coast last weekend; left Thursday night and ended up on the beach by mid-day on Friday...then it was back to Salt Lake Saturday night. It was a really quick trip with lots of driving but it was nice to see the ocean and feel some warmth of the sun, when the sun decided to hang out. Yeah, it was pretty cold.

Aspirations

2010-01-19T18:48:00.000-08:00

To learn how to live more simply...to soak up so much vitamin D this summer that I can bottle the shit...to learn my body again, the in's and out's, my strengths and weaknesses, and push myself both physically and mentally...to work alongside my husband in the outdoors and do work that is meaningful to me...to truly enjoy the weekends and explore places that we've never seen before...to feel the pang of homesickness that makes me realize how much I love my family and friends but also know that I carry them in my heart wherever I travel...to hear the whispers of nature and to learn the natural rhythm of life.

These are the things I aspire to this year in our new adventure.

Actions and words

2010-01-11T16:45:00.000-08:00

There are dreams and there are realities. Where the two intersect seem to be an infinite area of gray. The grass IS always greener on the other side, but is the other side's grass still greener than it is here when I get there?
Jake is starting to have second thoughts on leaving it all...SLC, our jobs, our family and friends...our stability and comfort zone, our contentment and indecisivness. If noone follows their dreams or leaves their comfort zone then nothing will ever change, right? But are we the ones to attempt to make change or are we the ones that stay the same but always to continue to talk about changing?
What will happen when our season is up and we have to decide what to do next? Will things 'just work out' for us or will we be screwed, regretting this decision and wondering what in the hell we were thinking by quitting our lives to chase rainbows. But then again, we've always talked about chasing rainbows, it's seemed like the thing to do...we are really good talkers but when it comes to taking action we seem to get quieter. Can our actions be as loud as our words? Will we do this??
It seems that each day I get less and less interested in evolving technology for the extent that it makes me feel less human. The more advanced our world gets the less it thinks it needs nature...the less we think nature is a part of us the more likely we are to destroy it to better advance our technology. And this cycle continues until we no longer recognize ourselves in the natural world and we eventually destroy ourselves in the process. Why do we feel like in order to become better, happier people we have to ruin everything around us? It just amazes me that there is such a disconnect between our values and actions...our everyday routines and the impact that they have on future generations, because really, who thinks about the difference it makes whether we buy a Big Mac for dinner or bake some locally grown squash?? Who thinks about the factory farmed cow that, rather than grazing in open pastures, was fed corn and other cow parts...and that the amount of waste produced by all these cows stuffed into a small space will pollute the water and air that surrounds them?? And that because so many people want so many Big Macs that more and more factory farms go up and less open grazing occurs and more hormones and antibiotics are used, cause cows aren't meant to live like this...so all the Big Mac eaters are also getting a bonus of hormones and antibiotics and are not only buying a Big Mac...they're also buying into stock of these factory farmers that keep the cycle going...
And it also kinda pisses me off that most of the food we eat comes from much more exotic places than I'll ever be able to visit...WTF?
So anyways...

Stay tuned for more exciting internal struggles and debates as to whether we are (more like 'I am') going crazy or if we are following our realistic dreams...

The explanation

2010-01-09T09:07:00.000-08:00

If you are reading this you probably know that Jake and I have decided to quit our jobs, move out of Salt Lake City, and learn how to farm. If you are wondering how we came to this decision check out Jake's blog (eachnewyear.wordpress.com), if you are wondering why we came to this decision keep reading, and if you don't care then you should probably check out a different blog...

After reading "The Omnivore's Dilemma" a few years back we came to the official decision to be vegetarians. It wasn't that we blindly accepted every word Michael Pollen wrote, but because his words reinforced the unease we felt for our current food system and it opened the door to researching more. Ever since then we have read books, watched documentaries, and discussed our reasons for not eating meat (specifically factory farmed, hormone and antibiotic infused meat). But it is time to do more. We have spend plenty of time talking about our values when it comes to sustainability and supporting local businesses. We buy local and organic when we can, but the time has come where that is not enough. It is time to really be a part of the solution, beyond supporting local farmers and abstaining from factory farm meat. It is time to be a local farmer.

What do we know about gardening and farming? Well, pretty much nothing. Other than a community garden plot that we had a few years ago and the very little that we helped out in Jake's mom's garden we are pretty clueless when it comes to getting our hands dirty. That is why we chose WWOOF'ing as one of our options for our new year dice roll. WWOOF'ing should be able to give us a great opportunity to get in with real farmers and gardeners who know what they're doing. We spent almost an entire afternoon looking over WWOOF farms that allow pets so that we can take our two dogs and possibly our cat with us. So far we have heard back from about half, most of which aren't ok with 2 big dogs but we have found one in Wyoming that are fine with both of our dogs and our cat. As of this point in time it sounds like we'll be heading up to Leiter, Wyoming in April to spend the season with the Mitzel's on their 400+ acre ranch to learn organic gardening and farming. We don't yet know what we are going to do when the season ends. Will we come back to Salt Lake and get office work again? Will we continue WWOOF'ing around the country (with or without our pets)? Will we end up homeless and destitute? Ummm...hopefully not. But we do know that it is time to get out there and live, to start living our lives aligned with our values...and to stop working away in an office every day while the sun and dirt and fresh air awaits.