"Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each." --Henry David Thoreau
As evidenced by the title I chose for this blog, this is my favorite quote. Since coming across it in high school I have returned to these words repeatedly as a reminder, a hope, a directive, and simply a beautiful sentiment. I think I appreciate this call to active, open, and experiential living most when I fall into the trap of worrying. And if you didn't know this by now...I tend to worry.
This year however I have embarked on an adventure in which I am going to strive to challenge and confront my anxieties. I have joined a community--The Learn to Farm community. EVERYONE visiting/reading this should go right now to the website and explore it a little bit.
Most of the students live in the main farm house. The farm house is our home base: it has our communal kitchen, pantry, dining area, laundry, and lounge area. I live a 10 minute walk away in one of my instructor's homes. Many staff members live on or around land owned by the Farm School. It is a community of dedicated people interested in passing on their skills to us as students.
It has now been a week since the first day of move in and so much has happened.
Friday was orientation. Everyday throughout the year we will begin each day (after breakfast and later morning chore rotation) with a group circle up. This is where various group announcements and a rough overview of the harvest schedule or animal welfare will be given. On this, the very first day, we all introduced ourselves and briefly explained what brought us to the farm. After circle up we had a tour of the farm. The main farmhouse is situated in the middle of the campus. The sheepfold is behind along with a large barn space for storage, vegetable washing, etc. There is also a shop and classroom, cob pizza oven, kitchen garden and one room schoolhouse on the main campus.
To the South about 5 minutes away is the Program for Visiting Schools at Sentinel Elm farm. Middle School students come throughout the week for overnight field trips to learn how to farm. Much more about this later. In addition to numerous fields and pastures, many staff homes line both sides of the road between Sentinel Elm and the farmhouse. North of the farmhouse are additional vegetable fields we will work in North Orange.
Lunch was served up at Noon by the middle school students who attend the one room school attached to the farm. We played a guessing game where we tried to match people with one of a number of interesting facts compiled at the welcome dinner. No one guessed that I had helped raise 3 baby raccoons (kits) and two baby squirrels. After lunch our tours continued. The weather was perfect!
In the evening a small group of us drove up to Braddleboro, VT for an gallary walk that featured the work of one of the dairy staff.
Saturday we had morning Cooking Class from 9 to 2:30. We toured the kitchen and pantry and made lunch together. Beans, Greens, and Rice is apparently a staple here on the ridge top. At 4:30 we went for a more in depth tour of the dairy barn, pastures, and bunkhouse where the kids stay and eat at Sentinel Elm down the road. We concluded the program day with dinner provided by the staff at Sentinel Elm.
Sunday was our introduction to Farm house chores, i.e. how we are expected to clean the house whenever we are assigned to that chore. Aunt Courtney and Heather Aulick were able to stop by for a very brief tour of the farmhouse, barn, and garden before continuing on their way to Braddleboro for dog transport. Note to all readers: visitors are always welcome! The afternoon was very relaxing.
In the evening a group of my fellow students and I got together to make black bean tostadas, with pico de gallo, and sauteed vegetables. (While lunch is provided for we have unstructured dinnertime with full access to an incredibly well-stocked pantry.)
Monday was "Livestock & Truck Orientation." We went over all the animal care chores we will be responsible for this Fall. This meant meeting the sheep, chickens, beef cows, and pigs! (See pictures)
Lunch was all squash coconut soup, salad, and sauteed delicatta squash and veg. Orientation continued after lunch...I find backing the trucks up to trailers quite tricky, practice is in my future.
Tuesday we began the day re-stacking firewood under a shelter closer to the wood furnace for the winter. Then we split up into to groups to visit and passively observed all of the animals. The sheep paid little attention to us at first and then decided we may be a sign of Alfalfa pellets. The chickens were definitely the most demanding of all especially because no one had brought them their scrap bucket. The pigs were definitely the most social. When my group went into their yard several came for a scratch behind the ear. One used my classmates' leg as a scratching post.
After lunch we began our field mapping class. We broadcast rye cover crop together. Everyone's method was slightly different but the collective action was so primeval and rather magical. We were then lucky enough to go on a forest walk through some of the surrounding woods with forest ecologist John O'Keefe. I found that although at first glance the woods appear similar to those at home, some of my favorite trees are absent (the sycamore and sassafras). There are a lot of beech, maples, pines, and oaks around the farm. All instructors I have met are so incredibly enthusiastic and so willing and eager to pass on their knowledge.
Wednesday was a long day of harvesting orientation. We harvested salad greens, radishes, turnips, peppers, eggplant, and over 500 lbs. of potatoes.
Thursday: was the first day that we Stufas (Student Farmers) took on actual chores. We are expected to begin our chores before breakfast at 7 am. For me, that means waking up at around 5:10 in the morning and walking to the farmhouse around 10 til. This week and the next I am in a team of three responsible for Food Processing. This chore group is responsible for filling the pantry with staple foods such as granola, humus, and black beans and make sure all other items are in stock...The granola is delicious! I can post the recipe if there is any interest.
It was also a full day of Tractor class. I can't really summarize the immense amount of information we were given--yet. At 6 I went to the main office at Sentinel Elm for Work Study training. I am responsible for plugging parent/student information into the database and registering each student for the program(s) they attend. I was absolutely exhausted after the day was over.
Friday: I was in a group that learned about lacto-fermentation. We were provided with recipes for kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickles. Then we made several batches. After lunch we went on a harvest walk to evaluate which crops were finished for the season and which would be ready to include in next weeks.
Several Stufas left for the weekend. Those of us who were left enjoyed mushroom tacos with roasted butternut squash. Then we stayed up entirely too late around a backyard fire cube. (a welded box for campfires). The stars were beautiful, there was hot chocolate and marshmallows.
I can't believe that a full week and more has passed since I arrived. I have met sooo many wonderful, interesting people and been given an overwhelming amount of fascinating information. I'm settling into my place here and am ready to resign myself to the influences of the Nature!
Emily
This year however I have embarked on an adventure in which I am going to strive to challenge and confront my anxieties. I have joined a community--The Learn to Farm community. EVERYONE visiting/reading this should go right now to the website and explore it a little bit.
I arrived in Athol/Orange, MA on Thursday, October 4. Mom, Dad, Ethan and Mimi helped moved me in and were welcomed with me at a delicious dinner the staff had prepared for the community that evening.
Here there are 14 other students from all over the country and world with many different career and family experiences. The staff and their families are all very dedicated to this space and are hear to guide us and impart as much of their knowledge to us. Kindness is the guiding principle, followed closely by empathy, respect, and enthusiasm.
Most of the students live in the main farm house. The farm house is our home base: it has our communal kitchen, pantry, dining area, laundry, and lounge area. I live a 10 minute walk away in one of my instructor's homes. Many staff members live on or around land owned by the Farm School. It is a community of dedicated people interested in passing on their skills to us as students.
It has now been a week since the first day of move in and so much has happened.
Friday was orientation. Everyday throughout the year we will begin each day (after breakfast and later morning chore rotation) with a group circle up. This is where various group announcements and a rough overview of the harvest schedule or animal welfare will be given. On this, the very first day, we all introduced ourselves and briefly explained what brought us to the farm. After circle up we had a tour of the farm. The main farmhouse is situated in the middle of the campus. The sheepfold is behind along with a large barn space for storage, vegetable washing, etc. There is also a shop and classroom, cob pizza oven, kitchen garden and one room schoolhouse on the main campus.
To the South about 5 minutes away is the Program for Visiting Schools at Sentinel Elm farm. Middle School students come throughout the week for overnight field trips to learn how to farm. Much more about this later. In addition to numerous fields and pastures, many staff homes line both sides of the road between Sentinel Elm and the farmhouse. North of the farmhouse are additional vegetable fields we will work in North Orange.
Lunch was served up at Noon by the middle school students who attend the one room school attached to the farm. We played a guessing game where we tried to match people with one of a number of interesting facts compiled at the welcome dinner. No one guessed that I had helped raise 3 baby raccoons (kits) and two baby squirrels. After lunch our tours continued. The weather was perfect!
In the evening a small group of us drove up to Braddleboro, VT for an gallary walk that featured the work of one of the dairy staff.
 |
| Friday morning sunrise out my window. |
Sunday was our introduction to Farm house chores, i.e. how we are expected to clean the house whenever we are assigned to that chore. Aunt Courtney and Heather Aulick were able to stop by for a very brief tour of the farmhouse, barn, and garden before continuing on their way to Braddleboro for dog transport. Note to all readers: visitors are always welcome! The afternoon was very relaxing.
In the evening a group of my fellow students and I got together to make black bean tostadas, with pico de gallo, and sauteed vegetables. (While lunch is provided for we have unstructured dinnertime with full access to an incredibly well-stocked pantry.)
Monday was "Livestock & Truck Orientation." We went over all the animal care chores we will be responsible for this Fall. This meant meeting the sheep, chickens, beef cows, and pigs! (See pictures)
Lunch was all squash coconut soup, salad, and sauteed delicatta squash and veg. Orientation continued after lunch...I find backing the trucks up to trailers quite tricky, practice is in my future.
The farm has both New Hampshire Red (as pictured) and Barred Rock Chickens.
Tuesday we began the day re-stacking firewood under a shelter closer to the wood furnace for the winter. Then we split up into to groups to visit and passively observed all of the animals. The sheep paid little attention to us at first and then decided we may be a sign of Alfalfa pellets. The chickens were definitely the most demanding of all especially because no one had brought them their scrap bucket. The pigs were definitely the most social. When my group went into their yard several came for a scratch behind the ear. One used my classmates' leg as a scratching post.
After lunch we began our field mapping class. We broadcast rye cover crop together. Everyone's method was slightly different but the collective action was so primeval and rather magical. We were then lucky enough to go on a forest walk through some of the surrounding woods with forest ecologist John O'Keefe. I found that although at first glance the woods appear similar to those at home, some of my favorite trees are absent (the sycamore and sassafras). There are a lot of beech, maples, pines, and oaks around the farm. All instructors I have met are so incredibly enthusiastic and so willing and eager to pass on their knowledge.
Wednesday was a long day of harvesting orientation. We harvested salad greens, radishes, turnips, peppers, eggplant, and over 500 lbs. of potatoes.
Thursday: was the first day that we Stufas (Student Farmers) took on actual chores. We are expected to begin our chores before breakfast at 7 am. For me, that means waking up at around 5:10 in the morning and walking to the farmhouse around 10 til. This week and the next I am in a team of three responsible for Food Processing. This chore group is responsible for filling the pantry with staple foods such as granola, humus, and black beans and make sure all other items are in stock...The granola is delicious! I can post the recipe if there is any interest.
It was also a full day of Tractor class. I can't really summarize the immense amount of information we were given--yet. At 6 I went to the main office at Sentinel Elm for Work Study training. I am responsible for plugging parent/student information into the database and registering each student for the program(s) they attend. I was absolutely exhausted after the day was over.
Friday: I was in a group that learned about lacto-fermentation. We were provided with recipes for kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickles. Then we made several batches. After lunch we went on a harvest walk to evaluate which crops were finished for the season and which would be ready to include in next weeks.
Several Stufas left for the weekend. Those of us who were left enjoyed mushroom tacos with roasted butternut squash. Then we stayed up entirely too late around a backyard fire cube. (a welded box for campfires). The stars were beautiful, there was hot chocolate and marshmallows.
I can't believe that a full week and more has passed since I arrived. I have met sooo many wonderful, interesting people and been given an overwhelming amount of fascinating information. I'm settling into my place here and am ready to resign myself to the influences of the Nature!
Emily
I love all of this!!! And you know I want the granola recipe!!! And a pig- I really want a pig! ❤️🐷
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