Rally

Horn O' Plenty

So Pat and I are in Manns Choice, PA (we've been told it's named after a rich dude, last name "Mann", who used to ride his motorcycle around and then became mayor) at a farm called Horn O' Plenty. We've been here for 3 weeks and things are going really well. The couple who run the farm, Mandi and Jeff, are in their mid-thirties, laid-back, great cooks and very generous with their time and knowledge. They farm a lot of vegetables, have some sheep and chickens, 2 goats, some cattle, they also raise quail and pheasants which they release into their woods for people to hunt in the Fall.

We get up between 6:45-7:30, walk up from our cabin (we have our own little cabin on their property which is nice) to the farm, work until 11:30, have lunch and then we're free to do what we want until about 6:00 where we'll go back up and work until 8:00-8:30 and then have dinner. Mandi and Jeff have been doing most of the cooking, anything from pasta salad with veg. from the garden to lamb burgers and bbq chicken.

They also run a CSA program (Community Supported Agriculture) where we'll collect a bunch of produce that is ready to harvest, put it in crates, and take it into town where the families that buy into it ($400 for 23 weeks of produce) can pick it up (some also choose to pick their crate up at the farm). Recently we've been harvesting a lot of wax beans, green beans, potatoes, a few strawberries - though their patch is really young, chard, calendula (edible flower), sunflowers and leak blossoms.

Mandi and Jeff have also took us to a nearby river to swim and picnic when it's hot and to their favorite ice cream spot (maple yogurt was the big hit). We'll also go over to their cabin (just down the road from ours) for dinner and drinks sometimes and hang out.

There were 3 other wwoofers (stands for world wide opportunities on organic farms) here the first 2 weeks we were here. They were just out of college and we had a great time with them. There are 2 new wwoolfers here, and though we aren't as chummy, they're nice to work with.

I think we've been really fortunate in how well this is working out and look forward to a few more relaxing weeks.

(Sunset on Field)

(Gardens)

(Jeff cooking up Beef and Lamb (BLAM!) Burgers)

(Mandi getting the CSA crates ready)

(Farm from where we walk up in the morning)

Thanksgiving 2008

Colbert Christmas

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

A Colbert Christmas: John Legend

Colbert at Christmas
Colbert Christmas DVD

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

A Colbert Christmas: Jon Stewart

Colbert at Christmas
Colbert Christmas DVD

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

Back to life, back to St. Louis

I’m in St. Louis, MO at the moment. I moved here in late January after finding a place on craigslist.com (and buying a car). A few weeks later I was hired to work at a non-profit called Paraquad, Inc. My role is to visit individuals with disabilities, make sure they’re doing ok and develop resources for them should they wish to add home modifications, apply for financial assistance, participate in extracurriculars and the like. I’m enjoying it very much.

I will not be posting very often…though should circumstances change I may.

My best

Familjen with "Det snurrar i min skalle" - Zealous Swedish Techno

Ladies and gentlemen...the great beardo of our generation...Devendra Banhart (& Friends)

Mesa: Land of 300,000 Retirees

Hi all, sorry it's been awhile. Just to bring you up to date. I got laid off my job in Klamath Falls, OR as a firefighter for Lost River around Sept. 24th, a lot earlier than I was told the fire season would end, but realistically no one is ever sure when the work will end. My boss felt bad that she told me I'd have work until much later into fall and took a train from MN for this job, so she paid for my train ticket to Seattle, WA, where I met up with some friends. I spent a few days there, seeing the city with my friend Bill, we were both impressed. Seattle is beautiful, clean and sophisticated. Our mutual friend Mike, who was also in Americorps, works at the famous Pike Place Fish Market, so Bill and I got to catch one of the giant fish they toss across the counter and then we all went out for fish and chips at Lowell's in the market.

A friend of mine told me about a temporary position working for the sw conservation corps in Tuscson, AZ until December. So I was heading down to Tucson to do that and was going to visit with my grandma in Mesa beforehand, though as it ends up, I haven't made it to Tucson. My grandma told me she could use some help taking care of her terminally ill husband Ed. Someone has to be near him 24/7 so she couldn't even go get groceries or visit a friend without hiring someone to be with Ed. So I'm planning on being here until November and that's as far as I've planned out my life. I'm hoping to live in San Diego for awhile after this. Wishing you the best.

Kevin

A Big Hello From Klamath Falls

Hello all. So life is pretty good in Oregon/California (I live right on the border). We have a day off today and hopefully that's it, since there are many fires in the region and I came out here to be gainfully employed. The biggest trip for me has been witnessing the culture out here, as a mexican on the team often repeats to me (disgustedly at my ignorance) when I ask him about life out here: "What'chya know Minnesota?" Lost River employs two crews of 20 (ages 19-37) which for the most part work independently of eachother all over the west, and of them all, I understand I'm the only one that has been to college. Not too surprising, but coming from college and this last year amongst highly educated and intellectual Americorps co-workers it is an abrupt departure.

I'm staying with one of the crew bosses (Dango) and his girlfriend and his girlfriend's son right now. Dango's a really good man, but there's a lot of drama at the house from his girlfriend and his girlfriend's friends - which I try to avoid.

Some observations:
1) I've noticed that people out here are much more expressive when conveying a story: using sound effects and hand gestures to convey a vivid picture. I wonder if this may have something to do with oral vs. written tradition, since in the same vein, no one on the team reads.

2) There's a fairly strong gang culture here between the mexicans who live in northern cali and those that live in southern cali (sobrenos).

3) Homophobia is huge - I can't even begin to relate the insults and negativity directed at gays. I've expressed my opinion (it's not a choice, etc...) and the crew is semi-receptive to this logic though I don't think I'm changing anyone's opinion.

4) Quite a few people believe in UFO's - and very strongly. I really enjoy these conversations.

Overall I am very pleased with how this venture seems to be working out. Though the people I'm working with are different then those I'm used to being around, they do have a wisdom and perspective I've never had the opportunity to hear before. It is fascinating. I hope to write more in a few weeks.

Love, Kevin

Oregon, never been & Photos

Hello all. I'm going to Oregon tonight, by way of Amtrak (42 hrs of bliss). I'll be working for Lost River Management Services on a hand crew (stationed in Klamath Falls, OR) until sometime in November, at which point I will be doing something else. I'll post a few stories of my time out west when I get the chance. Your amigo Kevin

Some Old Pictures

Bob's Fall Formal 2002

Family Trip to AZ 1996?

Family Outing 2001

Walk up to the ceremony

A gas station in Nebraska

The second years

In a Smoke jumper plane in Missoula

Outside Fleecer Station, our residence in MT

After Montana, comes missoury

I'm in STL currently, back from a month long hiatus in MT. We did some work on the continental divide trail, unnecessarily building a bridge over a creek so hikers don't get their toesies wet (CDTA wanted it done) and refurbishing some puncheons. Our hike out of this area, called the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, was kinda something wonderful: near Rainbow MT., through old-growth forest and along mt. lakes and streams.

Some of the most momentous times this last month have occurred while sitting around, getting to know the other members better and better. Amazing people I feel fortunate enough to have had so much down time with.

I'm catching a Greyhound back to St. Cloud on Wednesday the 15th, to arrive Thursday morning.

Hope to see you soon, love, Kevin

After the Americorps graduation ceremony in MT. Our boss, Bruce, is the white-haired hobbit in front

Cedar removal in Washington State Park.

To Montana

Hello all, hope you are well. Yes, Bonnaroo has come and passed already, always so quickly... Tim, Zack and Peter got into St. Louis late Saturday the 9th. I had made enchiladas to feast upon as a sumptuous beginning to our week together, though McDonald's stole that design from me while my mates were hungry on the road. Damn accessible, cheap and easy victuals. No problem though, we went to the nearby hang-out bar: Barney's, had a few, shot pool and returned to dine. We hung out in STL till Monday. Went to the Zoo one day and the city museum another - my two favorite destinations in the city of blues.

Monday night through Wednesday night we camped. Tuesday we had fantastic luck, finding an empty and isolated beach/campsite early in the day which we enjoyed to ourselves throughout the night, perhaps in part thanks to our peculiar appearance. It was a lovely time for us. Thursday we rolled into Bonnaroo around 3:30 p.m., having spent around 3 hours in line to get in. The wait wasn't bad since we could play frisbee in the ditch and people watch - one of my favorite enjoyments at Bonnaroo. Highlights: dancing at the discoteque friday night, STS9, Manu Chau, Ween, the Flaming Lips show, DJ Sasha, guy dressed as a Mechwarrior, our neighbor Marcos and Tool. The Flaming Lips put on the best show I've ever seen. Wayne, the leader singer, emerged from a space ship on stage in a plastic bubble and rolled into the audience where upon the delighted fans pushed him around the crowd. Earlier in the show and to the puzzlement of the crowd, thousands of lazer pens had been distributed. The purpose became clear later on when the audience was prompted to shine their pens at Wayne who cleverly shielded himself behind a giant mirror, deflecting the beams back through the fog into the audience. An imaginative, theatrical endeavor. He also gave very impassioned speeches throughout the show about social change, politics and the Bonnaroo community.

This Sunday I leave for Montana until the end of July. Our 18 person crew will be building trail, possibly fighting fire and doing some various forest restoration projects.

Trail Conquerers

Mia reflecting in Sherwood Forest

Trail building action in Sherwood Forest

Cat, Ben, Whitney and Carly sharpening tools...while I play with grass