Thursday Work Party, June 13 [Photos]

Last Thursday saw the weather turn brisk for June. After several thunderstorms rolled through it felt more like early spring or fall! I walked 1.4 miles to get to Green Acres for that morning’s work party and enjoyed the smells on the air that reminded me of my grandmother’s home in the Appalachian hills of Virginia.

I was no small time away from Green Acres, while pet sitting and having family visit and depart earlier in the week. I’d not gauged the walk time very well, so was late to the party. Roommate Andreas had just returned from California and we shared warm greetings and both ‘welcomed’ the other back home — where the work party was well underway.

I was tasked with pinning down the chicken fence around the coop in back, as we had lost another chick to a predator that we still hadn’t been able to name. When I returned:

L: Dan and Justin, R: Justin carrying heavy containment blocks from the end of the drive.

Last year, the front of DeKist 2 house had a garden bed on the street. Folks eventually parked their cars there after the last growing season. The task ahead was to clear out the good soil and move the containment blocks that lined the drive, to lay gravel and have parking spaces out front. Now that the large trailer is removed from the driveway, we’ll have ample parking for gatherings and future musical events… Yay!

L to R: Justin setting a block by the pond, Rebecca in the foreground, and Ann. Notice how everyone is dressed for the brisk weather — hard to believe this was June!

L: Rebecca weeding and Dan is street-side on the R where the gravel will go.

After much care from Rebecca, the beautiful smoke tree has bloomed out front, showing us how it got its name!

Red lettuce bed is producing well and the color is absolutely stunning.

It was time to put the camera down and cover the potato plants in the next bed with some seasoned hay. Then over to the greenhouse to empty the extra lettuce that didn’t get planted to give nourishment to the chickens. In permaculture, nothing gets wasted in a closed system.

The little ones grow fast and yes, we have lost a few to predators. No matter where you live, whether your bioregion is near ‘tornado alley’ in Southern Indiana or the rolling hills of Appalachia, if you farm — you will experience both the beauty and brutality that is nature. Hope springs from the former but be prepared for the reality of the latter.

Two days later, the Green Acres crew were huddled together in the basement. I was lucky that my pet sitting client has one, too. Feeling very grateful…