Tag Archives: kick ass work

Apr18

You Say Goodbye and I Say Hello

Posted on by
Standard

Jason and Eric sailed off into the wild blue yonder today upon the wings of a graceful, black Skylark.  It was interesting dinning alone tonight.  We’ve had house guests since February, it’s lonesome, one gets used to having all that company.  The last set of WWOOF’ers, Courtney and Grace headed west, Eric and Jason be headed east.  Jason wants to see more “southern” farms.  Around the campfire last night he mentioned how he hasn’t heard a single southern accent since he started his trip.  He had been in St. Louis, Springfield, to Patrice’s farm and here.  I respect that he’s trying to find a black owned farm and get the stories of those who stayed opposed to those who escaped to the cities.  I hope you find what you’re looking for.  You were a good worker Jason and Paul’s a little misty you took off, but life goes on and you’re always welcome.

On one of their last days here, Jason and Eric stuccoed the inside of the greenhouse, and it’s almost complete!

Adios Gentlemen!

Apr18

Pre-Earth Day Earth Day!

Posted on by
Standard

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

Posted on by
Standard

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!

Apr15

First CSA Customer

Posted on by
Standard

Kelly Mullhollan came by the other day to give Paul a check for his CSA share.  Kelly and his partner Donna used to live on the farm and are excited that it is finally turning into a working farm.  He saw Paul and Jonathan speak at and OMNI event on Campus about sustainable agriculture and committed to being the first customer that night.  Thank you Kelly for supporting Northwest Arkansas Local Harvest and understanding the value in a local, sustainable form of agriculture.

Photo credits: Isaac Chapracki.

Apr12

Babies! Babies!

Posted on by
Standard

Some things I’ve been working on.

Herb/strawberry beds.

Strawberries and “Blue Boy” Bachelor Buttons.

That’s ME, and some chives, oregano, mint and the like.

Paul dealing with CSA checks…YES it’s happening!

Garden in my front yard, and the greenhouse.

Peas.

My art project in the greenhouse.  It’s my face cast in plaster, dirt, grass clippings and wheat grass seeds.  The mint is for an aromatherapy effect.

It’s growing y’alls.

Here they are!  Here are my babies!

Tomatoes, zinnias, calendula, marigolds…

Newer tomato babies.

Zinnias…(I’m so excited about these!!!)

Lavender, leeks, more zinnias, calendula.

Apr11

Teen Leadership Corps

Posted on by
Standard

Last weekend, we hosted the Teen Leadership Corps.  The Teen Leadership Corps (TLC) is an academic year certification program in non-profit management sponsored by the OMNI Center for Peace, Justice & Ecology.  Their mission is to provide awareness of global issues while inspiring innovative solutions among youth leaders, connecting them to worldwide opportunities for service and career development.  Here are some shots of their service.

There are more from one of the students who took pics.  They are trapped on Facebook somewhere, but they are goodies, so I will track those down.

Apr10

Living on Earth

Posted on by
Standard

I was listening to the show “Living on Earth” today while I was making dinner, and I heard this story about humanure.  You should give it a listen, or a read, whichever you prefer!

Apr7

For Friday

Posted on by
Standard

Paul was asked by a professor at the University of Arkansas to give a presentation to his class on Friday.  I feel silly not knowing the professor’s name (even though I’ve met him), or what class he teaches.  I’m assuming it is a cultural anthropology class, because he showed them the movie Food Inc. and their discussions are focused on agriculture in the industrial age.  Paul and Johnathon, (intern), have been working on a presentation for the class.  The professor said that on a good day there are 200 students present.  In other news, the CSA is comming along swimmingly.  We had another “Know your Farmer” meeting at Arsaga’s on Mission and Corssover, giving a presentation to court new clients.  This was the second one we’ve held and at each one we had people sign up and pay in full which is awesome.  We have been getting a great response with this venture.  I guess, like with anything, there are going to be those who are totally on board with the idea, because they believe in it, and there are those who need more convincing…and that’s America for you.  BUT, everyone should get on the bus because it’s about to leave!

Sep19

It felt good

Posted on by
Standard

Synergy, in general, may be defined as two or more agents working together to produce a result not obtainable by any of the agents independently.

We had an unbelievable day today.  Well, I cannot speak for Beth and Franchy, but to me it felt good.  We finished what we started yesterday.  We were widening a row by a few feet.  That’s how Franchy had his accident : )  We pitch-forked the Bremuda grass up and then shook the soil from the roots.  This morning we finished that chore.  Franchy continued to work up the grass the next row over and finished it.  Bet raked the first row to even it and we started planting more cilantro seed.  It felt great getting dirt jammed under my fingernails.  As Beth and I were scratching dirt over the holes we drilled with our fingers, Beth said “Scratching Mother Nature’s back”.  How apt.  It felt really good to have my hands massaging the warm soil.  You should try it sometime.  Then we watered in all the seeds.  Good work team!  We broke about 1:00pm for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a salad.  Never had a meal tasted so good.  I felt so exhausted and dehydrated.  I had to sit still for a while because I had too much sun.  I don’t know about the weather in your neck of the woods, but in my yard it’s in the high 80’s/low 90’s…it’s brutal out there come 12:30 pm.  We took the rest of the day off.  Still ore to do, but tomorrow is another day.

Sep19

As of this morning

Posted on by
Standard

As I sit here, drinking my morning cup of coffee, letting my interns get their last ten minutes of sleep, I’m just realizing all of the work we still have to do before we can plant any seeds.  Trying to write it down on paper, to have some sort of game plan, so we’re more efficient out there.  Today, I think Franchy will wear shoes.  He learned a lesson yesterday and I didn’t have to talk to him like his mama…I can come off that way a lot, (right Monica).  But, I just thought I’d drop my readership a line to let you all know there is hard work to be done today, so please come over and show your face, pitch in if you wish!  TTFN.