 |
| November on the farm |
In November
we felt the real Irish cold...
Some days
the fields have dawned with frost. When the soil is frozen, we usually work
inside the polytunnels planting sprouts or weeding in addition to classifying
the potatoes that we had harvested. One day it was so cold that even the water
for the horses appeared frozen.
This cold
weather doesn’t stop the production of the farm. Here, we have plants and
vegetables that are adapted to the cold and to the winter season like the
brassica family. The least resistant plants as lettuces are sheltered from the
cold in polytunnels. Onions, carrots and potatoes are stored in places insulated
from cold and moisture.
 |
| Amazing harvesting with winter vegetables |
 |
| Brassica family |
Although some days the kale leaves are wilted by the cold, every Monday and Friday we make a great harvest of this vegetable.
 |
| Black kale |
 |
| Black kale |
 |
| Red russian kale leave |
 |
| Scarlet kale |
 |
| Scarlet kale |
We are also harvesting cabbage. We have several varieties
as Savoy cabbage, common and red cabbage. The last
cauliflowers and broccoli of the season were harvested as the frosts have affected their
growth and their production.
 |
| Savoy cabbage |
 |
| Savoy cabbage |
 |
| Savoy cabbage leaves with water |
 |
| Broccoli |
Another crop that has been affected by the cold has been celery. Although it tastes good, plants grow at a very slow rate.
In the polytunnels
we continue harvesting mustard and baby spinach.
In this
month we also continue harvesting herbs like parsley and coriander although due
to the cold, their growth is too slow. The mint herb is definitely finished.
Inside polytunnels we have many varieties of mild and spicy lettuces. In addition, spring onions, chard and beets which don't stop growing.
 |
| Second polytunnel |
 |
| Third polytunnel |
During
November Kevin has taught us to plant garlic. Garlic is a crop that needs a lot
of care in the sowing process. How have we planted garlic? (link)
 |
| Garlic |
Other tasks
we've done on the farm have been cleaning the horses' stable, weeding leeks,
and walking with the horses.
 |
| horses' stable |
 |
| Weeding leeks |
Goi and I
continue learning about horses. We usually walk with them about three times a
week. We practice orders as turn right, turn left, go back, stand and walk
forward. Each time we feel more confident with them and I think they too with
us.
 |
| Horses |
 |
| Shadow |
 |
| Misty |
 |
| Cocco |
 |
| Buddy |
On 26th of
November we had a Farm Member's Meeting. The members of the farm called us to
elaborate a presentation about the work of the EVS in the farm. The others EVS
and I made a brief statement explaining our personal situation before coming to
Cloughjordan and why we decided to be part of this project. It is curious to
hear the different concerns of my fellow EVS and the different reasons why they
wanted to dedicate a year of their life to support the community farm. In the
presentation we talked about our experience and vision as volunteers and
workers on the farm. This presentation helped us reflect on our volunteer work.
In addition, it helped us learn to work as a team by organizing and agreeing on
different aspects about what we wanted transmit to the community’s members.
Another
extra-work learning that I have felt this month and that I would like to share
is the change of our lifestyle in the ecovillage. For example, in these months
I haven't bought anything unnecessary. Yes, it is true, I had to buy two pairs
of working gloves, some pants and rain-resistant boots but that was really
necessary material to be able to work in good conditions on the farm. I don't
know what has made me see how absurd consumerism is, maybe being away from a
big city, maybe not having money, maybe being disconnected everything from TV and
its publicity... maybe It has been all together, it does not matter. Another
opportunity we have being EVS in CLoughjordan is that each month we have an
amount of money to buy food in a cooperative (Independent Irish health foodsLimited). This responsible consumption has also helped me to "open my
eyes" since I discovered food and products that I didn't know and hadn't
had the opportunity to buy before. Many of the products of the cooperative are
organic and responsible with the environment. For example, this month I
discovered a coffee that I love called Grumpy Mule.
Peru Café Femenino is a coffee produced by the women of the Union
Cecanor Co-operative in Peru’s Lambayeque region. Part of the Café Femenino
Coffee Project, this coffee is grown, processed and traded exclusively by women
in a way that allows the coffee’s natural qualities to shine.
Another
example of responsible product that I had the opportunity to discover has been
the ecological toothbrush. I've never stopped to think of the difficulty of
managing a common toothbrush as a landfill becouse they are made of
non-recyclable plastics among other materials and, for obvious reasons, the
common brushes aren’t biodegradable. Little by little we are discovering
products that are more responsibles with the environment and, therefore, also
with ourselves.
We learn a lot this month!!
Some photos in November...
 |
| Goi & I in the Cloughjordan's main gate |
 |
| Goi enjoying a tree swing |
 |
| Cloughjordan' sky. Can you see any constellation? I've found the big dipper constellation! -Is in the lower part, near the trees! :) |
So far, the
reflection of the month of November.
Thank you and all the best like always!
 |
| Blanche (we miss u!!), Goi and I hahahaah |
