The Heart of the Matter

I have been here for almost two weeks now, which, to me, seems a bit bizarre. This place has enfolded me, and I feel like I've been here forever, and will be here forever. It's so strange to be so far away from home, from my closest friends and family, and yet feel so at home. There is a part of me that is sure that I belong here, by the St. John River, hidden among the blanket of the hills and trees. And still, there is a part of me that misses my little life in Winnipeg, and the community that surrounds me there, and my blue bianchi that doesn't have fatty tires and rides like a dream.

ANYWAY- since I have been here so long (and yet not so long) I thought I should write a bit more about the farm itself. I am confident that you are intelligent and have gathered some idea of what Brighton Botanicals is all about, but let me inform you. Pam is (to borrow a term from my father) the "head cheese" of this place. And she is not without her help. Neighbours do her favours (like Jim and Peter) and often in the summer she'll have a WWOOFer (willing workers on organic farms). Or me. A crazy Mennonite in search of a simple life and the completion of a practicum requirment... I tangent. What I really wanted to tell you about is the farm itself. It is a small, and really beautiful place. Pam grows vegetables for her own use, and she sells cut flowers (she is doing the floral arrangements for a wedding in July and I get to be her date!), herbs, herbal culinary blends, herbal teas, and wheatgrass. I am learning a lot about gardening and different techniques to control weeds, etc... but I am also learning a lot about nutrition, eating simply and in season, and living simply... and even frugally. It is a satisfying life. I wake up just before 8:00, we eat oatmeal and drink coffee, we work, we drink coffee, we work, we eat lunch, we work, we eat supper, we water plants, I go for a walk, and we rest. Never has food tasted so good, never have I slept so soundly (except, perhaps, when I was a wee babe). Of course there are worries. Will the impending storm flatten the larkspur? Will the rain wash away the wheatgrass? And, of course, there is much on Pam's mind. All the same, I love it here, and I find this type of life, where work is a part of one's lifestyle, refreshing, good for the mind, and good for the soul.

OH MY GOODNESS!  That was entirely too much reading I just put you through. And too much writing for me, really. I still want to email my dear mother Irmgard before I go to bed.

I feel as if I must reward you for your endurance of that essay.

So here are some pictures:

Awwww, look! Buster is being a gentleman!

Baby Kitty, filthy after her exploits.

I promise next time I will not just post pictures of my animal friends. Are you getting bored of them yet?

...I fear I am turning into a politician. I promise you many things... and I'm not certain I will follow through.