Category Archives: Uncategorized

Jun23

Sam and Sally

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The kids and I went to California for two weeks, from June 1st-June 15th.  Sam and Sally came to WWOOF from June 1st-June15th.  I didn’t get to meet you Sam and Sally, but from the pictures you looked like fun folks, you had nice smiles and turned my man onto gin and tonics as an after work cool down.

The feast their first night on the farm.

Keyohei and Shiori.

These were all really cute so I added them.  Let me also note this was Nora and Will’s last day on the farm.

A pea-pickin’ event.

Sam and Sally.

They’re so cute, I’m sorry I missed you!

Nice carrots Keyohei.

Hayley is either in love with the day, the carrots or Keyohei.

May18

More WWOOF action

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A few new developments, yesterday was our first CSA delivery and we received three new WWOOF’ers!  Amy, is a friend of Shiori’s from Japan.  She attends the University of Arkansas and decided to come and stay for a few days.  I don’t think she understood what she was signing up for, I don’t think she knew she would be working so hard.  We also received via Brooklyn New York, Will and Nora.  They knew that work was involved and work they did.  I had to have Will run an errand for me, and when he came to see what I needed of him, he mentioned that he heard or read that I was from Manteca.  Now, if you’re from a small town and people ask where your from, you usually say a bigger town near it, because NO ONE has ever heard of it before…Manteca is one of those towns, needless to say I was shocked to hear him speak of it.  “My family used to go to the water slides!”  Manteca’s claim to fame were the Manteca water slides at Oakwood lake resort.  I had to inform Will that they had to take the water slides out to build “Luxury Homes” around the lake in 2004 or 2005.  Karma is a (bleep) they say because the developers went bankrupt, there are probably six homes around the lake and maybe two are lived in.  Tangent, but random that Will knew Manteca.

May14

Shiori and Keyohei

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Keyohei

Shiori

Shiori and Keyohei arrived last monday and have been really hard workers.  That is all for now, gots to get back to work!

May7

Car Accident

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Today we were supposed to welcome two WWOOF’ers coming from Little Rock area, originally from Japan, Shiori and her friend Kyohei.  Unfortunately someone hit her car as they were preparing to leave town.  So, we will welcome them on monday instead.  In other news, Farmer’s Market take two tomorrow.  Paul, the kids and I will b e standing out in GORGEOUS weather hustling.  I’m so glad the weather will be nice.  Last week, if you read, rained and only a few people showed up.  Hopefully the crowds manifest themselves tomorrow.  Also, to all of the Mother’s out there, Happy Mother’s Day!  I can’t forget to call mine tomorrow, I’ve been so busy, I didn’t even mail a card…I feel bad Mom.  I LOVE YOU.  It’s because of her that I have a green thumb.  What a true inspiration she has been in my life.  Shiori, Kyohei, we will see you Monday afternoon.  To all of my other WWOOF’ers past, I hope your journeys are going well.  Thanks for the post cards ; )

Apr30

The Farmer’s Market Through Isaac’s Eyes

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Isaac decided to take pictures of the Farmer’s Market this morning.  Here are a few:

They’re fun.

Again, : )

Apr30

Just Country Boys and Girls Getting Down on the Farm…on a Friday!

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I absolutely LOVE this picture!

Here is Rose, volunteer extrordinaire, milking “Girly” Friday.  I wasn’t out there while she did it, but looking at these pictures, I enjoy seeing her confidence.  I’ve milked that goat once, and let me tell you, you get hand cramps…it’s not easy, atleast not for me.

She's a pro!

Let’s also pay a visit to the American Red Cross website, and see how you can help those affected by the storms this week.

Apr30

Flood, Flooding, Floodish

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Last week a series of thunderstorms rolled through these parts of Arkansas and beyond.  Tornadoes touched down further south across several states, the hardest hit being Mississippi and Alabama.  Up here, it rained 10″ in 24 hours.  The next day more rain fell, causing flash floods in NWA.  On the farm, the rain washed down our footpath to our house, which is its natural draining pattern, and washed over my bed which was planted with carrots.  It washed over it so much, that eventually cut channels through the bed, washing the soil into the onion bed.  We tried to alleviate some of the damage by putting straw bales into the path of the water, but when thousands of gallons are running off of a large roof over a matter of hours, you just can’t compete.  We tried, but it did no good.  It was interesting talking to some of the farmer’s at the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market today, listening to their stories of what the rain washed away.  One farmer said it washed his topsoil away.  Another mentioned, how his topsoil didn’t leave his property, but that it had washed to the bottom of the hill.  That’s something to think about, right.  Your dirt.  And how important it is.  Treat it well.

Paul and I were standing at the windows watching the lightning

Lightning just struck and lit up the sky. You can kind of see how hard it's raining, or maybe it's just blurry

A result of the rain, 2"+ of water inside

This is the rain, day 1

The rain creating a little creek

Flooding the onions

Here is a link to the American Red Cross, to see ways you can help those who were affected by the tornadoes in the south this week.

Apr26

Floods

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NWA has had an unbelievable amount of rain over the past few days which has caused severe damage to infrastructure as well as personal property.  Here is a link to KNWA which has a few albums of photos showing flooding all across the region.

Apr18

Pre-Earth Day Earth Day!

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Yesterday, Sunday April 17th, the family and WWOOF’ers joined in the fun at the World Peace Wetland prairie on the south side of town.  It was an OMNI sponsored event and we were asked to put up a little information at a table, which Paul manned and talked to people who wanted to talk about the CSA.  It was a lot of fun!  There was free food and folk music, the kids went on a wild animal parade walk with Mother Nature.  Mother Nature also had story telling in her tent where there were shrines to endangered species.  It was very kid friendly and enjoyable

Paul doing a tai chi move along with Eric holding up the display.

Isaac hula hooping

Eric chatting with farm friend Bob Campbell

Jason exploring the World Peace Wetland prairie.

Folks reading some posters outside of Mother Natures tent.

Photo Credit: Isaac Chapracki

Bicycle powered PA system

Dr. Dick Bennett and Mother Nature

Isaac enjoyed all of the sweets offered, again and again!

Folk Fun!

The wilder side of the wetlands. Photo Credit: Eric Geiken

Photo Credit: Eric Geiken

Photo Credit: Eric Geiken

Photo Credit: Eric Geiken

E. Geiken

E. Geiken

E. Geiken

"Owliver"

Mother Nature

Kiddos getting masks for the wild animal parade.

Isaac was an arctic fox

Paul listening to Joanna reading a poem about nature.

Wild animal parade.

 

Me, trying to convince Mother Nature to buy a CSA share, when actually she already has.

This is just one of many fun events coming for Fayetteville over the next two weeks as a part of “Earth Week”.  Here is a link to the Eco Passport if you did not pick one up, it has all of the events listed.  Hope to see you locals out at some of them!

Apr15

Arkansas DIY

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Yesterday the gang was busy doing farm work and such, but broke for siesta to build a rain catch for the storm that was gong to hit in the evening.  Now it isn’t a permanent system, but with the amount of rain forecasted, it was hard to pass up throwing something together to harvest rainwater.

The scene in the yard.

Alex, from York Pennsylvania.

Johnathan and Eric talking logistics.

Working out kinks.

The problem was how to keep it from falling over in the high winds.

E-town surveying the situation.

This is Shannon, also from York PA.

A side note, here are Alex and Shannon together.  They left really early this morning.  It rained cats and dogs last night, and they stayed in a tent…Hope yous guys (some Penn. speak) stayed dry.  Happy trails, thanks for your help!

Today.  I was out taking pictures of the “Take” and Rose B. volunteer extraordinaire was sticking her tounge out at me, I missed that but caught her laughing smile.

The “Take”.  A little more than 200 gallons of rainwater!!!

A look at the finished project.  Cinder blocks helped with weight and stability.

Rose B. and Eric (E-Town) pouring out rainwater out of another barrel to water some seeds just planted.

This is some Arkansas DIY in action!