Gap Year ’16-’17
Today we went to work at Thistle Whistle Farm. The first thing we did when we arrived was to milk goats. Next we toured the farm and saw bees, strange plants that made your mouth numb, and over 60 species of hot pepper. Next we helped harvest. Some of the group picked tomatoes, long rows of diverse kinds … Read more
I woke up early on Tuesday, the day we were leaving for the backpacking trip. I watched the sun rise over the huge crumbling shoulders of Gunnison. The other sleepers woke slowly, grudgingly around me. They rose, drifting thickly out of the building we slept in, like the heavy clouds off Mount Lamborn, whose steep … Read more
Today we went to a farm called Delicious Orchards and met with Jeff Schwarz who says his farm his an organic, biodynamic farm that is used by the community. They grow lots of fruit, varieties of apples, pears, peaches, apricots, plums and cherries. Jeff is a “doer” who says “yes” to most things and likes … Read more
The first few weeks on a trip like this are always hectic. There is so much going on and we are all learning how to live and cope with each other in a communal space, which is never an easy feat. By the time week 3 rolled around though things were starting to settle down and … Read more
Everybody arrived at the High Desert Center on September 7th. In the next three weeks we visited farms, climbed some mountains, danced a lot, celebrated a marriage, experienced some ups and downs of group living, and went on a five day backpack trip. Thanks to Journey Temple for the photos.
My first two and a half weeks in Paonia, Colorado have been a beautiful whirlwind. My first days were filled with group conversations about the nature of living in community, picking ripe fruits from the side of the road, jumping into the icy irrigation ditch, and simply being in awe of this amazing place. Exactly … Read more