Growing Things

Well, it has been just about a month since I began my internship at Growing Things Farm near Carnation, Washington - and it has been going well. I work Tuesday through Saturday, beginning each day at 5am and begin work for the day at 6am. Work tasks have varied from planting seeds to helping process chickens for meat, though I have to say my favorite task thus far is milking the goat. Michaele (the farm owner) has been farming in the area for twenty or so years and has such a wealth of knowledge on organic farming, I am so fortunate to be learning from her and from this experience. I think I may start doing a weekly tip on organic farm (or gardening), so here's the first one:

- Adding paprika to chicken feed will result in a deeper colored yolk -

Also, here are some photos! I'll post more of the baby goat, Theo, as soon as I get around to breaking out my camera again. I should also post photos of my adventures in Seattle that aren't farm related sometime soon . . .

One of my favorite pigs, Brunch

Some baby fennel that I helped plant my first week on the farm

Onions with the Cascades in the background

A misty morning

Inside my humble abode

Shops and Pure Green Living

Today I went to a little flower/gift shop in West Seattle. Fluert (click here for link) was a great inspiration to me as another one of my dreams is to own a garden supply store that offers homesteading-esque (think butter churns and bee hive gear) gear, organic/heirloom seeds, tools, books, classes, plants, and so on. Fluert reminded me a lot of Terrain (link) that is another store that inspires me, even though I've only seen photos of it.

On another note, I discovered a great new magazine (it just released its 5th issue) that is full of green living tips and such. Pure Green Living (link) captures the spirit and mind set of the two shops I mentioned above. I look forward to reading the coming issues of this lovely new magazine, and hope you enjoy it as well. Here's a few photos from the Pure Green Living blog that grabbed my attention.

What my shop would look like
Mainly just like the bed in this photo

I could continue to post photos (like usual) so I just recommend heading over to the magazine or blog website.

The Open Road

It's been awhile hasn't it? I was busy preparing to move to Growing Things Farm out near Carnation, Washington. We took four days to drive from Lincoln to Seattle, stopping in Estes Park, Colorado for a few days to visit with friends. It was a beautiful drive full of sunny days and the open road. Here's a few photos from the drive out to the Northwest.

Lily Lake near Estes Park, CO
Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Water sitting on the Bonneville Salt Flats = a neat reflection
In Nevada
Base jumpers over the Snake River in Two Falls, Idaho
Catherine Creek in Oregon

Photos of the farm and the valley I am now calling home will be coming soon . . . :)