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.

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

So long for now

Well my farming summer has finally ended; Friday was my last day at Meadowstone and I took the bus and train to DC Saturday. Even though it got cold at the end I'm glad I stayed as long as I did; seeing the beginning of a New England fall was amazing. In a way it would have been nice to stay until the end of the markets, but I do not know how much longer I could have lasted. According to weather.com, tomorrow's high for Washington, DC is 72°F. Bethlehem's is 52°F. No thanks.



I'll definitely miss it though; I liked everyone there, I loved the work, being around crops and animals, abundant fresh food. Plus, New England is pretty.

I'm going home to Tucson for a few months, which will be...interesting. I am actually looking forward to it a little, I haven't been there since Christmas, and it will be nice to stop traveling for a while and be somewhere that feels like home (though I am sure that feeling will change once I'm there!). I'll be working for my mamma at Antigone Books during the holiday season. A bit different than farming but still it should be cool.

In the meantime I'm making plans for Ireland in the spring. I heard back from a farm there a couple weeks ago:

Dear Sarah.

We appreciate you planning a wwoof assignment so far in advance. And since you are the first applicant for the next year we gladly accept. You obviously dont mind the cold since you have been already in Donegal. It is a bit milder here in West connemara.We live about 1 1/2 hour away from Galway in Cleggan near Clifden.

!!!!!
They grow soft fruit and herbs and veggies for local restaurants and I think one farmer's market. I am so excited. Hopefully I'll be able to go to more than just one but it is a start.