Rock & Roll Farm

Saturday! Mar 25 2006 // 8:31 pm //

Filling in the blanks

Getting ready to live in a place you’ve never seen is a little strange. I suspect a lot of people go through the same thing every day but this is my first time. I’m trying to make a list of things I may need, but it’s going kind of slow. I’m very curious about the life I’ll be living up there, and last week I got a few of my questions answered by the nice people I’ll be working for.

Housing will be in a weatherport Quonset. Those following my time at Tantre will remember the Pumphouse - this new housing will be comprable in size and uh, rusticness. The major differences to me are that I will have a woodstove but no electricity. Things were reversed at the Pumphouse.

My days will be split between living and working at Calypso farm which is a few miles outside Fairbanks, and working in Fairbanks at a garden. There will be another intern at Calypso, but she’ll be spending all her time at the farm. Calypso has some goats and chickens, which I’m excited about. I love working with animals.

The garden I’ll be running is 6000 sq. ft. About 6-10 students will be helping me for about 10 hours a week. The majority of the students are Alaskan Native, and will get paid hourly. The garden we’ll be working serves a 20 family CSA. We will grow the normal veggies like beets, broccoli, greens, cauliflower, leeks, onions, herbs, etc. There are cut flower shares available as well.

A major difference for me this season will be not going to market. Anyone who was reading last year will remember how much I loved market - it was one of my favorite things about farming. I’m not worried, though. I think there will be a venue for me to get adequate face time with the people eating my vegetables. The CSA pick up days will probably bring me the same joy as market. Having so few members will make it easy for me to make connections and discuss all the things I love to discuss with my customers.

I still don’t know much about Fairbanks. I know there is a University there, that has a nice botanical garden (sorry JPB - no big farm as you’d thought). The people I’ll be working with at Calypso spend a bit of time in town. I’m looking forward to making some new friends up there.

Speaking of friends - if anyone wants to see me before I leave, there’s a party in Ann Arbor this Friday night. Details can be obtained through the usual channels. If you don’t know the usual channels, try leaving a comment here.

And I’m still working on that list of supplies to bring - if anyone has any suggestions, feel free to lay them on me.

Jessica S Tuesday! Mar 28 2006 // 10:38 am Oh my goodness! Can I come visit in Alaska? How long will you be there? Will you be stopping in Chicago on your way out there? I’d love to see you before you go!