On the Road Again

Yesterday we left the farm, a day later than we had planned because it as just so hard to leave. Our last night we went up the main house and drank elderberry wine with the Kern Family, and talked revolution and organizing and Sue brought out tons of books on farming and poetry for us to read and browse through. I can't wait to go back; Kern Family Farm is forever in my heart. We drove through Death Valley, which was fucking INCREDIBLE, then drove through the night (and the Hoover Dam and Las Vegas) to attempt a sunrise Grand Canyon arrival. We spent the night sleeping in the car at a 24hr Denny's parking lot, and woke up to ice an inch thick on the windows because the temperature had dropped to 2 degrees. We did make it, early, before the Visitors Center even opened, to the Grand Canyon and walked around totally marvelled at the beauty of the geography and the freshly fallen snow. From there we drove to Prescott so I could check out the college there, which I am officially in love with and applying to and going to. Most of the buildings were either old house/motels, or built out of recycled/sustainable/reclaimed materials. They have a gear room which made me drool, and a farm, ranch, and a garden that supplies the cafe with veggies. Every wednesday the faculty and students have a free, delicous lunch of soup and bread together. I can't wait to start school again! We are now listening to a Hannah Viens family history from Andrea's cousin, which is pretty damn interesting, and really makes me want to learn more about my own, of which many details are fuzzy. Anyway I have to go sleep now, we have a big day of hiking in the Superstitions planned for tomorrow.

North Fork, CA

From the exact center of california, I say guten morgen! I just finished up my first week of working on the Kern family farm. I never want to leave. We wake up in the morning, work until lunch, which is always a huge delicous feast with salads and breads and goat cheese (made on the farm, i did it yesterday!) and juices and smiles with the Kerns, and then hike, nap, climb trees, explore the property, read, etc for the rest of the day. The family is oh just so great. Hansel reminds me of Mr. Kipp, in that he has a huge grey beard and vocal liberal ideas. He wears overalls and a flannel everyday with his big straw hat. The kids, Becky and Aaron, are close to me in age and are both planning to stay on the farm. They run everything on solar, hydro, and wind power. I have been drinking a ton of goats milk, which I like better than cows milk, and eating so  many vegetables that I harvested I don't know what I'll do going back to a grocery store. I really really love doing farm work; it is so satisfying, I don't know if I've ever been more comfortable in a place. 

The land that the farm is on is in the foothills of the Sierras, and the end of the property is a cliff that looks out on mountains and a little river winding its way to Fresno. The sunrises and sunsets are breathtaking and the stars are incredible! I have also seen numerous UFOs. On the full moon we had a bonfire. The other wwoofers are really relaxed. These two guys from Canada, Jeff and Jordan, are starting their own farm up there in the bush,and tell stories of hinting rabbits and growing ginseng. Hopefully I'll be able to wwoof on their farm someday soon. Max is from Pennsylvania, which is cool because he knows what I mean when I talk about the sound a horse and buggy makes. This weekend we're going hiking in Mammoth Pool and Yosemite, but first I have to go help Hannah make beet, carrot, and potatoe soup and finish weeding the broccoli beds. My phone is dead and has no service here, so maybe send beautiful thoughts on my birthday instead of trying to call. I love you all, HI JACK, be healthy and I'll write again after we leave North Fork next weekend.