down on the farm
Part of my experience was working on an organic produce farm.
Sunny Meadows Farm
This is an organic farm that is doing it's best to be entirely organic (the only machinery is a small roto-tiller and 2 donkeys are being trained to plow, pull and of course, fertilize).
Working on the farm was an enriching and rewarding experience not only for what we were accomplishing (helping to keep Ireland organic, GMO and pesticide free) but for the time spent working with "himself" to try and make a living for his family doing what he loves best - working the land.
Farmer Lojo
I did everything from plowing to planting to fertilizing to weeding. One of my favorite jobs was spreading seaweed fertilizer on the new beds. I particularly liked this job because the seaweed reminded me of the ocean. Digging the raised beds by hand was back-breaking work mostly due to the plethora of stones and rock which seems to grow from the very soil. That's my squash/gourd/pumpkin patch you see next to me. I'd put them in about my third week there and they were already starting to fruit by the time I left. my little babies...
* Interesting note:
Some squash and gourds have only recently been introduced to Ireland...
Ireland is the land started traditions like All Saints Day which is where we get the holiday Halloween (All Hallows Eve or Samhain in Gaelic). In America it's natural for us to associate carved pumpkins with this holiday. However, prior to the recent introduction of pumpkins to Ireland turnips were carved for this holiday.
the poly tunnel (green house) full of salad fixins, flowers and...potatoes!
And, maybe the best part about working on an organic farm was bringing home fresh produce each day to turn into a very satisfying meal after a hard days work!
Sunny Meadows Farm
This is an organic farm that is doing it's best to be entirely organic (the only machinery is a small roto-tiller and 2 donkeys are being trained to plow, pull and of course, fertilize).
Working on the farm was an enriching and rewarding experience not only for what we were accomplishing (helping to keep Ireland organic, GMO and pesticide free) but for the time spent working with "himself" to try and make a living for his family doing what he loves best - working the land.
Farmer Lojo
I did everything from plowing to planting to fertilizing to weeding. One of my favorite jobs was spreading seaweed fertilizer on the new beds. I particularly liked this job because the seaweed reminded me of the ocean. Digging the raised beds by hand was back-breaking work mostly due to the plethora of stones and rock which seems to grow from the very soil. That's my squash/gourd/pumpkin patch you see next to me. I'd put them in about my third week there and they were already starting to fruit by the time I left. my little babies...
* Interesting note:
Some squash and gourds have only recently been introduced to Ireland...
Ireland is the land started traditions like All Saints Day which is where we get the holiday Halloween (All Hallows Eve or Samhain in Gaelic). In America it's natural for us to associate carved pumpkins with this holiday. However, prior to the recent introduction of pumpkins to Ireland turnips were carved for this holiday.
the poly tunnel (green house) full of salad fixins, flowers and...potatoes!
And, maybe the best part about working on an organic farm was bringing home fresh produce each day to turn into a very satisfying meal after a hard days work!
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