Jorge's Blog

            Today was sort of a long day. My morning today was filled with log moving, the beginning was a bit of a drag considering it was a Monday morning. I am enjoying the farmstay because it is a great time to pull out books that I would not read otherwise. This evening was so amazing, because Franklin’s dad visited us, while he was flying a plane over the Homestead. Unfortunately he could not land to greet us, but still, it was pretty cool for him to visit.

- JORGE

John's Blog

On the 29^th we had our Planting Fest. I was in charge of Landscaping; I weeded and planted around the Homestead. Soon our families came.  I thought it was a great idea to have them come and help work on the land. For my micro economy project I made Gourd Bird houses and walking sticks.  The Planting Fest was a chance for us to sell them to the visitors. What I really enjoyed the most was seeing my family and helping around the Land School. I can’t wait to do it next year.

-John

More Planting Festival Photos

Larry and Waffle

Onion planting

Yay Land School potlucks!

Some of the crew (and company)

Planting Festival Photos

Pre-Planting Festival pep talk.

Set-up

Beautiful products.

Landscaping.

Planting in the prairie!

Shyamoli's Blog

            Saturday was a busy day for us all because it was the day before the Planting Festival. We all had to finish our micro -economy projects in time, so we used most of our free time doing that. In the morning, we got up, did farm chores and ate breakfast. Then we split up into our three teams; Farmstead, Prairie and Homestead. Andy gave each group an hour of his time in order to help us set up and orient us about the next day. The rest of the two hours were micro economy or free time. After lunch, which was do-it-yourself, most people continued to work on their projects. Others continued with their projects. It was hard, focused work, and you could see people really concentrating and working hard. In the end, everything was finished in time, looked good, and we were proud of our accomplishments. Over all it was a good, productive day, at the end of which we were all tired, but in a good way. We all really enjoyed working on our projects, and are looking forward to the Planting Festival!

Shyamoli

Ewan's Blog

It’s day 12 of Farmstay 4. We’ve gone a full day without contact with civilization and two left till the Planting Festival. Anticipation is in the air as everyone is excited to see family and friends. Everything seems so rushed as people try to finish their Micro-Economy projects before Sunday.

            Today was like an average day on the Farmstay, we spent the morning working in our occupation groups. My occupation group (Andy’s) has been working furiously all week potting and labeling plants for the plant sale.

            We spent this afternoon working on our Micro-Economy projects. The products that everyone is making are finally looking almost finished. The products range from baked goods to candles to birdhouses.

            Today we also had Gallery Night, which is like a random talent show that has skits and stories mixed in. There also is Andy’s hat that is filled with a random thing you can do such as acting out something or telling a story. Gallery Night is just overall really fun.

--Ewan

Half Way There

            We are getting close to the day we have all been looking forward to, the Planting Festival!  Everyone is working as hard as they possibly can to finish their projects for the sale during the Festival.  Each person is working to make something, some are making shirts, bleached and tie-dyed, some are making walking sticks, others yummy baked goods such as brownies, cookies and cake.  People are also making birdhouses and bracelets.  Everyone is letting their creative side out and trying their best.  On Sunday, three days from now, we will be running activities that involve planting.

            Yesterday we went to the French competition, and we were awarded with a blue ribbon, the highest award!  We all came together on the farm stay and put our minds to it.  I do think, that if Jen hadn’t helped us, we would have never have been as good as we were.

            Now that it is the middle of the farm stay, we have all been getting more comfortable and we are getting to know each other a lot better.  We have all become very close friends, when we all began this farm stay, we barley knew each other, now we are like one big “family”. 

            Today we went and flew kites and found a huge box of kites and probably flew every one of them.  Some of us had never flown kites before, and it was fun even if it was difficult to keep it in the air.  We even had a kite flying on “auto pilot” according to Nat. 

            Each night, to end our day, we get to watch the beautiful sunset that is followed by a sky of clouds, a sight you just can’t get in the city.  It truly is a different experience here, another way of living.  We are all becoming closer to nature and learning that you can’t just get something at the store; you have to work for it.  This is a once in a lifetime experience, and none of us are going to waste it.   

-Lauren