i got word through the bsc email system there was a package waiting for me at mail services! during the break in the choir rehearsal i skipped over to pick it up and was ambushed on my way back by a bearhug. inside the package was a book called 'get a grip' signed by the author, frances moore lappe. i have been in touch with her small planet institute in the hopes of supporting them in some way, and to inititate me i guess, they sent me the book they are promoting right now. (frances moore lappe is the author of 'diet for a small planet' and her daughter anna the author of 'grub')
also through the power of email i heard from a professor here that he had a bicycle waiting in his garage for me! i have been attending the unitarian universalist church sporadically on campus as there i have found a wonderful world-conscious group of people that i really enjoy, and one weekend had mentioned that i was on the hunt for a bicycle. lo and behold, someone found a second-hand red bike and thought of me...i was and still am completely overcome by the generosity and kindness that went into making this happen.
rewind a couple days:
this weekend i spent my days at colchester farm and with the wonderful family that runs it. in my search for ways to complement this formal education, i am seeking to get really hands on in my learning about food security and safety. what better way than to do so by pitching in on organic farm? we spent friday harvesting brussel sprouts, kale, chinese cabbage, arugula, and parsley, and saturday chopping, blanching, and freezing the harvest (as well as cooking lovely healthful meals in between) since it was blustery and stormy outside. we even lost power for a few hours! things that made me happy:
- chopping thawing cranberries (that came from a nearby cranberry bog) and seeing the tiny white seeds inside and the way they stained my fingers pink
- freeing little inchworms trapped inside brussel sprouts
- taking eggs out of the chicken coop
- scouring the family cookbook to find recipes for everything from grandma's ravioli to burnt toast
- dinner by candlelight that bounced off the wood walls and table and seemed to warm the room (while listening to NPR)
- the prickly feeling left under my fingernails from chopping mustard greens and hot peppers
- being taken into a house for the weekend; not to mention, a lovely house surrounded by trees with colourful leaves and filled with friendly people
4 comments:
Hi Hannah
Life seems magical sometimes doesn't it? I think you have found a wonderful community of people and your 'education' is really underway!
The photographs are spectacular and I really must see a cranberry bog first hand. All that vibrant redness - mmmmmmm.
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haha this seems funny to say since it goes without saying, but you are more than welcome to visit me at any time :)
It's so great to hear you're getting (and taking advantage of) such wonderful experiences. I especially liked the list of things that made you happy - they remind of how beautiful the little things in life are, something that isn't always so apparent in a big city.
This post really supports my suspicion that the atmosphere at BSC is a lot like Mount Allison. Initially, when applying for the Killam, it was the school that first caught my attention (because of this apparent similarity), but then I decided to try to go for a completely different experience.
And although I don't regret my decision at all, I've got to say, I'd probably sooner be working on a farm this weekend than going on a day-trip to Baltimore...
Finally, I entirely agree with your comment on how nice it is to be in a house. Despite great efforts from the residence staff, dorms just don't have anything like that warm sense of family that a house offers. Although I can't get inside them too often, I get my fix of homy warmth by running through the beautiful residential neighbourhoods of old brick and stone houses that overflow with orange light in the cool evenings.
Aw I want to help harvest at a farm! I have a garden in my yard 'cause it's so exciting to go out and pick things and be like yeah, I grew that. I don't eat them though haha. That's my dad's job.
But the growing season is over :(
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