It's been a chilly November up here, with temperatures nesting in the -20's and my front door freezing shut with condensation. The holiday lights are out. The stores are in full swing. In just three short months I'll be flying from Fairbanks into Boston to meet new people who will be driving me out to Overlook Farm in Rutland Massachusetts. Overlook Farm is one of Heifer International's three U.S. based "Learning Centers"--protoype farms designed to reconnect local people with the joys (and WORK) of farm life, to get them excited about opportunities in community development and compassionate animal husbandry, and to let them know what "Heifer" is all about.There are three U.S Learning Centers. The largest is 1200 acres and is part of Heifer's HQ in Arkansas. There's another in middle California that is only about 6 acres, but with plans to grow. Overlook Farm is almost 300 acres. I hadn't planned on going to the East Coast for this adventure -- but that's where they needed me. And, instead of volunteering for one month, I found myself eagerly agreeing to THREE months. March 1- June 1.
And what will I be doing? You'll have to stay tuned for the next post!Thanks for stopping by!--la chat lunatique
New Zealand travels: 8/23/08 to 2/9/09
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Friday, December 01, 2006
December 3
As I sit here in the coffee shop attempting to update this blog a young man behind me is playing on the public piano. He just got back from Iraq three days ago. The locally based troops of the 172nd Stryker Brigade, whose deployment was suddenly extended indefinitely this past August, are now coming home in waves.
I have renewed correspondence with Peace and Abraham Kakande (brother and sister) of eastern Uganda and am thrilled to hear that they are both busy with small agricultural start-ups. Abraham is a father to a new daughter and is starting a goat farm. Peace was "the housegirl" who was a loving friend to me while I lived in her compound in Ndejje Village in April 2005. I'm longing to see them again-- to dig in the red dirt and sweat and haul water and then let the sun go down at 7pm (every day, in every season) and sit at a table to eat by gas lantern. Don't get me wrong-- it is wonderful here, too. The winter light is pink and violet. The condensation settles on the branches of trees and shrubs (and cars and buildings and dog muzzles) until everything takes on a pastel glow during the midday hours of full light. The night is deep. It's good for baking and reading and getting into bed early with your pets :)
So --> to Heifer!
Here is a short list of what I will be doing . . .changeable and "evolvable" as interests and time allow:
March: maple sugaring, public pancake breakfasts, pigs born, goats born, milking begins, garden seeds started indoors, college alternative spring break groups, spring volunteer training
April: Global Village cleaning and set-up, open Global Village kitchens/village meaks begin, education volunteers greet large groups daily, platform tents set up, equipment serviced, sheep sheared, fencing repaired and installed, garden prep and planting
May: lambs born, women's lambing programs, educational volunteers with large groups daily, plowing and planting gardens, seedlings transplanted to gardens, pigs weaned and sows bred, chiocks arrive, overnight Global Village programs begin, summer volunteer training
I have renewed correspondence with Peace and Abraham Kakande (brother and sister) of eastern Uganda and am thrilled to hear that they are both busy with small agricultural start-ups. Abraham is a father to a new daughter and is starting a goat farm. Peace was "the housegirl" who was a loving friend to me while I lived in her compound in Ndejje Village in April 2005. I'm longing to see them again-- to dig in the red dirt and sweat and haul water and then let the sun go down at 7pm (every day, in every season) and sit at a table to eat by gas lantern. Don't get me wrong-- it is wonderful here, too. The winter light is pink and violet. The condensation settles on the branches of trees and shrubs (and cars and buildings and dog muzzles) until everything takes on a pastel glow during the midday hours of full light. The night is deep. It's good for baking and reading and getting into bed early with your pets :)
So --> to Heifer!
Here is a short list of what I will be doing . . .changeable and "evolvable" as interests and time allow:
March: maple sugaring, public pancake breakfasts, pigs born, goats born, milking begins, garden seeds started indoors, college alternative spring break groups, spring volunteer training
April: Global Village cleaning and set-up, open Global Village kitchens/village meaks begin, education volunteers greet large groups daily, platform tents set up, equipment serviced, sheep sheared, fencing repaired and installed, garden prep and planting
May: lambs born, women's lambing programs, educational volunteers with large groups daily, plowing and planting gardens, seedlings transplanted to gardens, pigs weaned and sows bred, chiocks arrive, overnight Global Village programs begin, summer volunteer training
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