Week Two: Farm, Forest, and Friendship Foundations
With Week One and orientation experiences ending, Week Two has brought more routine, yet also excitement and independence. This week, there has been a focus on creating foundations, whether that’s basics for the garden or making memories with our peers.
One of the things that week two has brought us has been an abundance of knowledge from Farmer Sam. This week has been the beginning of farm foundations and so we have been learning skills both in the fields and out in the pastures. We learned how to feed the chicks and chickens, collect eggs, feed the pigs, and most importantly, how to disable the electric fences surrounding most of the pastures so that we can get in safely. In the garden and tunnels, Farmer Sam taught us the proper ways to harvest produce as well as replant it. We also had the chance to cut, wash, and pack produce for customers who are a part of the farm’s CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program. Unfortunately this week, we did lose one of the cows to bloat and so she was processed. It was very interesting to watch Charlie clean off the skin to then use it later though.
As we are heading out on our canoe trip in about two weeks, we have been taking a lot of time to work on carving out our canoe paddles in the wood shop. We each were given a piece of wood cut into the rough shape of a paddle, but a lot of work has to be done until they can be used. So far, we have cut our paddles to the right height, traced out our grips and paddle dimensions, and we have started on cutting the paddles down to the correct thickness. The process takes a while, especially as it can be time consuming carving down the wood to the right size, but we luckily have plenty of time built in over the next few days so hopefully everyone will be finished by the time the trip starts.
Us gappers have also continued to bond in and out of the house. This week we worked together to put together a small birthday celebration for our instructor Nora, complete with a peach and raspberry flavored cake. This was also the first week of having school groups come to Glen Brook while we are here. On Wednesday we had dinner with the 11th graders followed by a small song session. Although we didn’t want to be there at first, it ended up being better than we thought and we even continued it back in the family room of Hill House with just the gappers and instructors. Most of us also spent a night out in the gazebo together as we wanted to do it before it starts getting too cold at night.
The week was also packed with trips. On Tuesday we headed into Vermont to see Bread and Puppet. The troupe has been around since the 1960s and puts on new, unique plays every year. This year’s show was called “The Beginning After the End of Humanity Circus”, and it focused on themes such as the War in Gaza, fighting against the system, and some goats who like garlic. On Saturday we went to downtown Keene as usual, and ended up first at a bookstore and then at Puggy’s - a local vintage shop. Along with small rings and other jewelry, other items that were bought included old zines and comics, a canvas for the family room, and a new board game. After making the grocery list for the week, a few of us headed into town to grocery shop as well as check out Keene Pride.
Hear From a Gapper:
Here’s Clay, our editor of the week, detailing one of his favorite moments from week two.
Come back next week to hear from our next guest editor!
Clay & Allison
