4-30-10

Please return to the post on 4-25-10 for a newly updated video. The bris video for 4-20-10 has still not been completed. We intend to finish and post it this week.

UP ON CRIPPLE CREEK

EDIBLE OR POISONOUS? WHY IS IT SO HARD TO TELL?

MEYER LETTUCE

STAY STRONG LITTLE ROOTS

BRITA BRUSHING

Life without electricity and water for the past week hasn't been that bad since we eat and bathe at Patricia's house. Brushing our teeth, however, has been a bit of an ordeal without running water. We have a Brita water purifier Patricia gave us to filter the creek water, which we keep by the sink while brushing. At the conclusion of brushing, we take turns pouring some water into cupped hands to rinse our mouths with. It's the little things in life you take for granted.

Jen was delegated to transplant lots of little seedlings from flats into three inch pots today. These will remain in the covered hoop house for another month and finally get planted into the garden in June. We hope they take advantage of their head start and grow strong roots. Meanwhile, Aaron was helping Patricia collect and stack wood, and dealing with her van. Patricia has an old, beat up Plymouth that broke down on the road between her house and our cabin. It was there when we arrived. Her driveway is in sorry shape so she ordered a gravel delivery to smooth out the potholes on her dirt road. However, the gravel delivery truck dumped too much at the beginning and none at the end, creating mini hills at the start, and leaving potholes at the back of the driveway. She was trying to redistribute the gravel when her van broke down. We graciously used our AAA membership to get her a free tow to town, which otherwise would have cost her $100. Our AAA membership provides four annual roadside assistance calls and we thought we could spare one, since River Jumper is such a superstar. With a newly replaced fan belt, Aaron drove the big juicy van back to her house. The Plymouth is missing: a rearview mirror, side view mirror, radio, back seats, and one tail light. It hasn't successfully passed inspection since 2006 and upon Aaron's entry, the gas needle was so far below empty he didn't think he could make it the four miles back to her house. A $5 loan from the mechanic ensured his safe return, with the gas needle barely moved up to the "E" line, but only when the van was going uphill.

Today was our last day of work here. We'll stay tomorrow and explore the area and head off Sunday to Upper Lake for two weeks. Although we didn't learn too much here, we were able to reinforce skills we've already learned and it was nice to meet Patricia. We are glad for our stay but are very excited for the next month, where we'll work on a biodynamic farm and a winery both in northern California.