Goat Farm Will Travel: May 2012

The commute from the dorm (my first residence) to the kitchen

Cob visitor kiosk at Lost Valley Education Center

Well...... given that my life has taken a totally new turn, I thought you all might be interested in hearing what it's like to live in an Ecovillage.

I had a few reasons for moving here...

For one, I was having a constant nagging feeling of guilt about my level of consumption given what is going on in the world. I finally decided to pay attention to it. I knew I could live a simpler life, and I felt like I was willing to do so also.

I know that I drive my car - okay, I'll say it, though I know it's only relative - a lot - to shop, to socialize, to attend events - and that it wasn't really necessary. But I did not want to stay home by myself, or with just a few people around. Since I want to live in a rural environment with food production as a primary focus, moving to an ecovillage made a lot of sense to me.

And I guess I'd also say that after my relationship with Mark ended, I just needed to get away from the environment where we had shared so much for so long.....I am not sure if this is the right approach to recovering, but I did it anyways.

So what is it like in this ecovillage, you wonder? You can come and visit at any time - there is plenty of space. Very rustic, and much like summer camp, since it used to be a summer camp, and lovely, and interesting and easy in many ways. There is a large lodge where we eat, and the food is very simple and healthy. Most of the vegetables are grown here. There are permaculture guilds and swales for water retention all over, and there are cob buildings, rustic cabins, a few yurts, a sauna, and large gardens to explore. There are chickens and ducks, but those are the only domestic animals. Boots and Bella (2 goat friends) helped us out with blackberry removal for a few months, but ended up going to a farm with better pasture.

I promise not to bite your head off

And will I stay here? I've signed on for 3 months of volunteer work - first at part time (17 hours per week), then to full time (32 hours per week). I have no idea at present if I will stay beyond the three months required before one can make a decision to stay long term. The housing is very rustic and mostly uninsulated. It needs work and dedication, investment and love. There are a lot of travelers that stay for a few months and then go, which is interesting, but also a bit uncomfortable. There is also a strong community feeling, and lots of good structure upon which to build. Time will tell and as I report on this new life, I will be using this time again to re-vision my life and where it will go next.

Update - May 2012: I wrote this posting in November, so apparently it's sticking. I have a half-time job at a goat dairy (Fern's Edge Goat Dairy www.fernsedgedairy.com), and am half-time in the kitchen at Lost Valley, buying the food, cooking, organizing, and of course, cleaning.....

Thanks to all of you who helped me and shared with me while I was in Bellingham. I am extremely appreciative of all the love and friendship I've received.

Occasional hangout scene in the lodge

Weird new friends

It's all squeezed into 160 sq. ft. now

Boots and Bella help with a forestry project

Fern's Edge Goat Dairy, my other workplace

My front porch - I live in a forest!

Mirna and Garrett

Donald got us all together again 25 years after this world changing event in our lives! It was amazing to see you all, I am so grateful to all of you for your dedication, so impressed with your gorgeous children, and so happy that we had a few hours together again. It was a tremendous surprise to see Susan Cookson and Rachel.

We reminisced on how Ben had affected our lives, saw the movie American Sandinista by Jason Blalock, had dinner at La Pena, and were amazed at how old we look - well, except for Des.

Also thanks to Shari and Fred at Fern's Edge Goat Dairy for letting me out of work for the day!

Hope to see you all again soon, and if you think of any way to stay in touch, let me know.....I'm hoping for other short trips to the Bay Area now that I'm only half as far away. I guess it's time to

Roger and Maura

start adding to my blog again, life is getting interesting.

Forgive me for forgetting kids' names, send me additions and corrections if you're inspired. Many last names have escaped me at this point, probably not so important for this blog, but in general it would be good to get everyone's contact info. I'm sending a link to this to everyone whose email I have, please feel free to send on to other friends, and catch up with my soap opera life since last year.....and visit me at Meadowsong Ecovillage (www.lostvalley.org) anytime you're inspired or in Eugene. It's worth a visit, and I'd love to see you.