Aprovecho's harvest festival drew almost 200 people out to the farm. The day ended with an elaborate 100 mile feast- one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.
This one is for Bridget, who has been waiting for me to post a picture of my tent home. I felt very much like a garden gnome all season, with my little home off to the side of the garden tool shed.
Abel standing with our 100mile Chili second prize ribbon and award! It should also be said that the sun did come out in the afternoon and it turned into a really nice day.
Aprovecho entered the chili cook-off of Cottage Grove. This was quite the scene, the fire dept entered along with many others in what it turns out is a very competitive contest. These people love thier chili! We entered ours as "100mile chili"- so no chili powder, or other non 100 mile spices. Lili, Kyle, Rachel and Myself rose before sunrise and in the pouring rain to load up the truck with tables, posters, food, propane stoves and headed down town, where Main st. had been roped off for the contest. We were greeted by other hardcore chili makers who were already getting their stuff simmering. We set up and got cooking! Mostly we saw this as an educational opportunity for people, fun and good eating for us! But low and behold, WE WON SECOND PRIZE for our dank chili! YAY! What a highlight, and total conformation to us what our diet is not only postive socially but also super tasty (not that we didnt already know that)!!!!!
Its been a few weeks since I have made any posts, but I'm back and have some pictures to share! This is looking up at the community building from the bottom of the garden (before the rains came). Currently, the rain is around most days and it has started to get pretty cold, thank God for wood stoves, warm blankets and whiskey. The fall internship program ends this Sunday. We all have been on the 100 mile diet for a month now, and are feeling great, well fed and happy!
Yes...two kegs were stored in our spring. They stayed icy cold for our party on Friday which was total blissful chaos. We had a tremendous oatmeal stout and IPA from Ninkasi brewery in Eugene. Oh how delightful summer is!
Josh and I took a hike to the top of our watershed the other day. So many clear cuts, but the up side to that is how far we are able to see in all directions. we were able to see our little valley and all around it! it was quite a site, really made me even more in awe of this beautiful land, and also saddened by all the clear cutting that takes place here. The summer internship ends at the end of this week and Josh leaves to start school early next week, I am so sad to see everyone leave and to feel the summer coming (slowly) to a close. I will really miss Josh when he goes. But I am also looking forward to this abundant fall season and for our fall internship, four weeks of which will be spend going the 100 mild diet. We had a meeting about it tonight and I am sooooooo excited for it! I cant want to eat nothing but what we can get from within 100 miles of us. It looks like we will be eating lots of veg, fruit, meat and dairy. Beans, grains, oils and spices will be harder to get, but we are creative and I think it will be a really powerful experiment and will help us all become more connected to what we eat. at the end of the program we are hosting a gathering called "eat here now" which well be at the end of our month long diet and a harvest feast! I feel like I am learning so much in the garden and am so inspired by what the people around me are doing to help this earth. I am so positive about how much more there is to learn in the coming months!
Here are friends Lily and Kyle cooking up some lunch in the outdoor kitchen where all our meals are made. The garden is right behind, its so great to pick all the vegetables and salad you want (meals for 30 people everyday) and then just use what you just picked. there is nothing like it! I am blessed to be surrounded by amazing cooks and such creative people who make amazing food ALL the time. There is always somthing good cookin up in the kitchen. All our stoves and ovens are wood powered and outside...I have never eaten better!
This picture was taken on a hike from last weekend on our quest to get to some hidden hotsprings. we made it to this roaring river and found several little hotspring pools along the side. we had to scale some cliffs to get there though and cross an old wire bridge (seen above), it was well worth it though. Josh and I were the only two brave enough to get into the cold river water, but it made the hotsprings that much warmer!
Evan, Aliza and I hung out in Portland last weekend and saw the sassy soulful Sharon Jones play at the Portland zoo. We got a bangin breakfast and then hung out for a while in one of Portland's many rose gardens. really great to see Evan and Aliza, I feel so lucky that they are both here this summer, I feel like I have family really close by! My friends Rachel and Josh from Apro also came for the weekend, it was really great to share the gospel of Sharon Jones with them!
This is from a really nice hike we took to a huge waterfall. This is Rachel and I trying to ID some wild plants. I am working really hard on learning the plant life in Oregon's green green forests. I am so lucky to have some amazing teachers here who know just about everything about plants and their uses.
