This week we are checking in with Senior Defender Kathy Brown (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville HS) regarding her summer travels and working adventure in Oregon:
1) What have you been doing this summer?
I spent one month this summer out in Southeastern Oregon working on an Organic Farm. I found the opportunity through a work exchange website that a high school friend has used in her travels to Hawaii a few years ago.
2) Where did you live?
My friend and I were living on the farm in what was dubbed the "Cabin- Tent." It was a free standing tent that was set -up with two twin beds, a bedside table and lamp, along with a chest of drawers. It was pretty deluxe for technically living and sleeping outside. We even had our own screen room.
3) What did a normal day on the farm consist of for you?A normal work day consisted of a fresh morning breakfast followed by watering plants/trees, weeding, tending to the vegetables, and occasionally planting or harvesting when needed. The mid afternoon was usually hammock time or free time to play with the two kittens on the ranch. Then dinner duties were split between me and my friend and another couple who was working on the farm. The group dinner usually stretched from sunset until bedtime more or less.
The day I just described actually sounds pretty tame and relaxing but there was never a normal moment on the ranch. Between the animals and the cast of town characters stopping by, the conversatioin was very colorful.
While we were in Lakeview, OR we managed to attend an "internal exercise" class that one of the farm owner's was hosting (imagine waking up at 6 to pound your stomach in search of what I only know as my "dahn jahn"), we elminated one of the farm chickens and ultimately made a lovely chicken soup, and attended what we thought was Oregon's most beautiful hotspring only to find ourselves trapped at the grimiest motel pool on the west coast.
4) What was the best part of your experience?
The ability to travel and meet people was really exciting. I saw Portland, and met up with Lauren Acker for dinner! Lived in Lakeview (the tallest town in Oregon), make a quick tip over the board to New Pine Creek, California and traveled to the lovely outdoorsy Bend, OR (with Beverly, the owner's 76 -year- old mother).
5) What was the most challenging part of your experience?
The work was tiring, but I don't really feel like anything I experienced on my brief trip lasted long enough to be truly challenging. Because of the length of the trip, any problems it was easy to put any problems in perspective and push through.
6) Anything else that you would like to share with teammates, alums or other blog readers?
I definitely recommend helpx.net or WWOOF-ing if you are interested in supplementing an extended travel trip anywhere in the world. They can provide an opportunity with some work and a chance to share a home and meals with an area resident. (The other couple on the ranch was from Moscow and they were spending 3.5 weeks of a 6 month venture WWOOFing)
