So I was off for nearly two weeks and my muscles are are on fire after my third day back. I'm out of my routine I guess! I had to fly back to AZ for my Nana's funeral, which was a hard time, but spending time with family was very healing. After that I headed to Missoula, MT for my cousin's wedding. It was beautiful and fun. Tuesday this week it was back to farming for me. I am trying to work 8 hours as often as I can (the farm requires me to work 6hrs/day, but my degree requires more) but the work is really taking a toll on my body. I am noticing that the slight pregnancy weight gain is affecting my balance, and causing more aches and pains beyond the usual back pain I have. I am keeping up with stretching at the end of the day, but the burning in my shoulder blades persists. Ugh. It's discouraging to feel so run down but at least I am enjoying the actual work I'm doing...so that keeps me going :)
So I was asked, "What's a typical day like for you?" Hmmm, my days are different all the time, but typical daily duties are caring for the chickens, watering, weeding, seeding/planting/transplanting and collecting eggs. The watering and chicken duties are rotated every week between the three farmers. Harvesting is done every Wednesday and Friday, and we sell produce at the farmer's market on Saturdays. My day today began with caring for the chickens: food, fresh water, moving the chick coops to new patches of grass, and collecting eggs. I then repaired a hole in one of the chicken coops (I saw the chickens poking their head through it to get more grass - I was afraid they might get stuck!). After that I planted some dill seedlings in the ground, helped Anna rake in some grass seeds, weeded/hoed the asparagus field and amaranth (flower) rows, harvested salmon berries (on another part of the island) and captured two escapee chickens. As frustrating as it can be to catch a freaked-out fowl, I really enjoy holding them. There's something pretty charming about these chickens...sounds funny, but they really are cute & entertaining :)
More pics coming soon! :)
Boogie, nice to hear that you are back on the island and safe after all of you traveling. I was not as fortunate as you to have had somebody working my gardens while I was away. The hard part is that the forest will quickly take back the land I have borrowed from it if I don't constantly make my claim on it. So there is lots of weeding to get done. The good side is that being away for 3 and a half weeks makes it seem like magic that so much is in fruit and we are now actively eating off of the vine again. Today was my first morning to pick wineberries for breakfast. Last night fresh peppers in the salsa. My shoulders are tired from working the shears, cutting back the vines and weeds that want to take back our place. I worked my first few hours on Sunday selling vegetables. Back in summer mode!
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