Good ol' fasion West Coast experience

- That was yesterday

It was my last weekend here, on the island, at the farm. I was asked if there is anything I'd like to do/see/etc. Saturday night I went to Victoria for dinner with a friend. Sunday was the big day. 'Canada's Biggest Tree' was the goal of the day. To see this tree you have to drive about an hour and a half up island, past Mill Bay and Duncan, to Carmana (which is actually on the West Coast). Well after our drive up island we then headed inland - on wonderfully pothole filled logging road. We drove by a group of elk which was pretty neat. We were heading down the logging road, past Cowichan Lake, past millions of logged trees. We were getting closer. After about an hour on this logging road we came to a halt. The road had been flooded - and there was actually a current. Well, to get to this point we had already driven through lots of water so we at first didn't lose hope. We inched along in the water, then decided that getting stuck in a lake on a logging road in the middle of nowhere was probably not a good idea. The road was flooded, washed out, and after driving three hours and being only an hour away from Canada's largest tree (which is a cedar by the way) we felt defeated.

Well now what?

It ends up I saw the world's third largest spruce tree - which is pretty humongous. We also drove to Port Renefrew (mind you, yesterday I spent around seven hours driving through logging country). The tide was high, and that with all of the rain had flooded out the road. In three spots we drove the Tacoma through feet of water. There was a couple vehicles that had sucked water into their exhaust, a van stuck in the water, and an awesome offroading Sidekick that was fully capable of pulling out any vehicle that needed help. We were fine though. The truck got some good use out of yesterday, that's for sure. When we got to Port Renefrew I finally was able see my ocean sunset. This is pretty special, seeing that it's November and being able to see the sun let alone a sunset is something to be thankful for. I saw the sun set right on the ocean. Around much of the lower island the sun actually sets behind the Olympic Mountains, not on the ocean. The stretch of coast I could see was rough, and violent. The winds were strong, and the waves stronger. It was an absolutely beautiful view, completely priceless, and a reminder of the magnitude of beauty that untouched nature has.

And then! I was taken to a surprise (though the surprise had been spoiled due to large mouthed people) at one of the restaurants in Sooke we sell produce too. Let me clarify: we only sell food to incredibly high end restaurants that without the financial aid of a secondary source I would never eat at. Everything was local and the chef was my favourite chef from all of the restaurants. We ate well - and I've never ate anything so expensive - ever. Everyone from the farm was there, and there was a toast dedicated to me. It was really kind, and I feel like I am going to be leaving the farm on the best possible note!

Today - well at ten we have coffee. Because that's what we do every day at ten. Then I am going for a hike to my favourite look out spot in East Sooke Park with the neighbour. I'll have chicken wings tonight. Because that's what we do every Monday night.

I cannot believe that this experience is almost over. I've become so used to life at the farm, working every day, eating the highest quality food, seeing the beautiful ocean views, and not being scared of cougars. I'm nervous to go back to school - and to Guelph for that matter. Mostly school though. My desire to return to school will go unmentioned, because it's rather small. I really do love Vancouver Island, the rugged beauty, and the incredibly eclectic people. East Sooke has a rather high concentration of them. Every person involved with the farm has aided in how enjoyable this has been for me, and how difficult at times as well. I'm often times a flip-floppy person when it comes to whether or not I enjoy things. I have a love-hate relationship with lots of activities. After much reflection and thought I can seriously say that I have enjoyed being here at the farm, that I've grown, I've been challenged, and I'm a little less scared of the unknown, my questions and my doubts. I want to continue to pursue truth, to search after what's real and what's genuine. I have no clue where that search is going to take me.

A lesson in communication

You know, if we all just communicated with each other - why don't we do that again? I don't know. Someone explain it to me. I'd probably get a grade f in a "proper way to communicate" course.

Can't get enough of this band, this song, or even this video.

mumbo jumbo

A battle: the fight between hope and defeatism. People claim, "The world is sick". Agreed. It is. But the world is also beautiful, and full of goodness. Sometimes I feel overwhelmingly hopeful. Other times, it's safe to say that there's no solution. A problem at times is simply that, a problem.

I guess people feel the same way about suffering, and large scale injustices.

It's the small, personal struggles that cause a spirit of defeat in me at times.

And there sits hope. 

(on a side note: it seems strangely appropriate that my blog is called "and peace will come")

Winter rain

Room heaters, bath tubs and wool are the key to my warmth these days. I keep reading about people in Ontario throwing snowballs, biking home from late study sessions at the library in the snow, and wearing winter coats. Here in East Sooke the weather is far from wintery - at least to me.

Please listen:

Please watch:

Please look:

This is Canela.

This is Leo.

This is at Ford Warden State Park in Port Townsend, Washington.

Tofino! And true open ocean. None of this Olympic Mountain background business. Just pure, beautiful, harsh, vast - OCEAN.

This week I successfully made sour mizithra. It's a soft cheese. Mmmm. So delicious. I also made parmesan. Woop de doo. I thoroughly enjoy making cheese. It tastes so delicious. The farm dwellers had pizza for dinner on Friday. We used cheese I made to put on all of the pizzas, and into the outdoor stone oven they went. Delicious I tell you. I was thinking about it and I probably eat around five servings of wonderfully fattening dairy a day. I've recently made chocolate, raspberry and vanilla ice cream. 

The month of November has been rainy so far. Rain is a daily occurrence now. That's alright, it's all part of the experience. And what an experience it has been. My heart is beginning to ache for the comforts of home - my own space, friends that drink tea together, potlucks, and funk night at the Albion to name a few. At the same moment, simultaneously, I am so unsure. The farm is a place I am now accustomed to. I wake, I work, I live here. I learn here. It's been such a testing time being here. People always talk about "going off", "doing something", "taking time off" - well technically I've done that I suppose. But here I am, in the office of the barn (because technology stinks and computers break) and is there some greater lesson I've learned? To be honest, most of the lessons I think I have learned are dark and dreary. But they're true.

Today I took off to Victoria and drank tea in Chinatown. I'm a feeling advocate. I'll tell you that. I say feel to the max. Feel it all. And I realized, that the simple knowledge of truth is meaningless to me. Knowing what is true in life has no affect on me. Knowing something in my head is at times useless. Once I feel truth in my heart, it is then that truth ultimately affects me. And I suppose that's why the lessons I've learned seem somewhat depressing, because they've been difficult truths to learn, and difficult feelings have accompanied those truths. This may sound like bologna to you - but it's realities slap in the face to me.

The farm is reality. It's work. It's food. It's disagreeing with people. It's laughing with people. It's a simple life that at times is so incredibly easy to appreciate. It's at those times I think to myself, :"Why the heck am I leaving here?" But life requires change, and I need to figure out what change I need in my life. I can't run off to some farm on Vancouver Island whenever I'm scared of what's coming. I need to face life. And face my uncertainties about school and social work, by returning to those very things. I need to face my uncertainties about the necessity academia, student life and community by partaking in it. I have many more truths to learn, perhaps dark, perhaps full of the brightness of life. But in order to learn those truths, I need to not run away. I need to go back to Guelph.

I can't spell

I kept trying to think of how to spell words - such as parmesan (parmesean?) and hayleage (haylige?) for a blog post heading but I was reminded of how horrible of a speller I am.

When I got here over three months ago (!!!) it took me two weeks to remember how to spell zucchini, and when we started to harvest broccoli I was met with another spelling challenge (for me). The funny thing is since being here I have read more than at any other time in my life. That's just how the ball rolls isn't it?

I took Shu (Susan and Vivi's dog) for a walk in the back forty today. They're in Vancouver and I am dog-sitting. I walked all along the creek and was reminded of the sheer beauty of this place. The trees have the most colour right about now, and it finally feels like winter is coming. It's cold in the mornings now; long underwear is necessary. My hands froze while feeding the cows this morning.

But our walk was beautiful, and I felt more peace than I have felt for days. As my time here draws to an end I need to remind myself to keep my eyes open. I need to remember the simple beauties that I am surrounded by. I was just talking to someone today about how when I wake up in the morning I think "work" and that's just fantastic, isn't it? I put on my "work" clothes (I've sure got good use out of them) and eat my oatmeal. Then off to work. This morning it was milking the cows, tomorrow it'll be harvesting vegetables, and the next day it will be setting up for market. I don't wake up and think "school, assignments, appointments, AHHH". I simply think "work". I really enjoy that.

The more I talk to people, the more I realize that I really enjoy farming. I enjoy it's simplicity. Yes, I know you have to have money to buy a barn. Thanks everyone, I know I am presently broke. But we need farmers, do we not? Why can't I be one of them?