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.