quick update

I left Jagur Organic around March 25. It was a good experience in some ways but I think I was starting to go a bit crazy so it was time to move on. I had a week or so before the next farm so spent a few days in Galway kayaking (I still have my roll!) and ended up going to Dublin for Passover for a second night seder at the reform synagogue there. It was cool to see the Irish Jewish community, and everyone was real friendly and welcoming. I heard the 4 Questions recited in Irish too.
I took a quick trip to Doolin on the West Coast afterwards to hear traditional Irish music and rent a bike to cycle around the Burren and Cliffs of Moher, both amazing places. I also proceeded to lose my camera somewhere between there and here :( so this blog will become considerably less interesting unless I get a new one.
I'm now at a cattle farm in Co. Leitrim. There are about 30 or 40 cows, 18 calves(!) an apple orchard and small garden just starting. I've never worked at a primarily animal farm so its been interesting.

Farm #2: Jagur Organic

I’ve been at a farm near a fishing village called Cleggan in Connemara on the West Coast of Ireland fr the last 2 ½ weeks now. This was the first farm I heard back from when I was planning this trip. It’s been a mixed bag though I've mostly enjoyed it, and is certainly a change from the place in Limerick.There are no other wwoofers and their children have all left hme so it’s just them and me. They only have dial up which is generally off limits to me anyway so it’s a bit isolated; and why this is the first time I’ve been able to update in the past few weeks.

Besides that they are very religious Jehovah’s Witnesses, which I have to say I was not expecting. I generally think of WWOOF and the local/organic food movement in general as being somewhat hippy-ish, but there is also a very religious/conservative component as well which is what I seem to have landed myself in. It's a little awkward.

It’s a gorgeous area though. Connemara is beautiful and their house is right on an inlet of the sea. The weather has been great since I’ve gotten here so I’ve really enjoyed the work I’ve been doing. I am glad though that I’m only staying 3 weeks instead of the 6 weeks I had originally wanted; I think I would start to go crazy soon.

(No pictures because I forgot to put them on my computer but I'll put them up next time)

Back in Ireland

Hello again! I've been gone for awhile since I was back in Tucson for ever four months but I am back on a farm again! In Ireland!
I got here Friday morning and spent the weekend in Galway, then headed down to Ballingarry in Co. Limerick. Even though Ireland never gets warm ever, its winters generally aren't too cold. This year turns out to be an exception to that; a couple months ago it got down to like 5 degrees. The day I got to the farm it was 28 and the woman's car had frozen so a neighbor had to pick me up. We(the other 2 WWOOFers and I) got to spend the rest of that day painting inside, but Tuesday we went outside to attempt to dig up frozen soil and spread manure. Then is snowed!!

It cleared up a good bit later in the week so we were able to harvest willow and help make a willw fence, and it was mostly sunny for the Farmer's Market in Limerick on Saturday:

Harvested willow branches

Edith and Alanna working on a willow house

Making jam for the Saturday market in Limerick. Apple, cinnamon and chili jelly here