Fin Three

So I broke this whole thing up in three parts, because I've learned that if you do that, it's more likely to get read, because it doesn't seem as long. Ha ha.

Let me close off by sharing a revelation I had during our last potluck with the Winter/Spring volunteers and staff. I've kept in touch with a lot of people who graduated with me last May, or in the years before me, and have found that many of those people haven't been all that happy, or fulfilled, since they graduated. Some just got into work or got jobs they didn't like or care about, others are just nostalgic about the glory days of college, and I guess the rest haven't enjoyed the real world all too much. I feel very lucky that I've avoided all of that so far, and I give all the credit to Heifer International and Overlook Farm. For me, it was a place where every day was new, challenging, and meaningful... and hilariously chaotic. I felt fulfilled by my work every step of the way, and there are not many places that can supply the kind of environment that Overlook did. I mean, come on, where else are you gonna find a house, randomly gathered group of people, herds of livestock animals, and plenty of good, communal work and play, all ready for you? I don't know if I'll ever fully forget my time spent there.

Two final side notes, both of staggering importance: Yes, you'll probably leave the farm poorer than when you arrived (worth it) and NO you do not have to be a hippie to volunteer here.

Fin, Two

But really, I can't include all the things I've learned as a Heifer volunteer. Living in rural New England, working on a farm, meeting all these great people who have come to visit, sharing a house with so many even greater volunteers, getting to know the splendid staff every day, learning about Heifer, livestock, gardening, development, and thelistgoesonandonandononon.... It's so much stuff that I can't really gage how much I've changed, because I can't visualize myself without this experience anymore. Just the simple act of moving a cow fence was mind-opening, not to mention watching a 6th grader start to see what poverty is really like, and the whole nine months is truly beyond description.

So, I loved my time there, obviously, and I'd recommend it to anyone between ages eighteen (only because of legality reasons) and sixty+. Don't think we haven't had volunteers close to both those ages, because we have. Overlook Farm is a wonderful place to learn about the things I listed above, to meet a crazily diverse group of people, to do... everything. I don't know. I think an experience like this, if only for three months, would do just about anyone some good. AND you'll able to get Food Stamps and free healthcare!

Fin, One

So, I haven't kept any of you blog people in the loop. This may be obvious, but I've sort of lost steam with the blogging business. Nothing personal, Blog. It's not you, it's me, honestly.

I am no longer at Overlook Farm, because I got caught trafficking drugs hidden in migrating geese. I would have gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for those stupid honking geese.

Just kidding. My term simply ended, and it was time to go. That's something that can be hard to recognize, when it is time to leave. But it was the right time for me (that time being around May 20th). In part because, in the months of March and April, the farm started getting busy with groups again, and come mid-May, I had just about worn myself out with the persistent influx of kids and programs. Oh Lords of the Livestock, I got sick of talking about the Global Village.

I guess this would be the time to sum up my experience, or something like that. I'll begin by saying, "Uhhh.... What?" Because that's about as far as I can get before being overwhelmed. Mostly by the things I've learned since the day I showed up on the farm, a naive little city slicker. A friend of mine from the farm actually reminded me recently of the first time I helped put the chickens up for the night, at which point I turned to her and said, "Can you believe we get to do this every day?" Back then, even closing a chicken door was profound beyond belief. Now, I kind of hate putting the chickens up, but that's neither here nor there. The wealth of experience I gained there is truly staggering and wonderful... TBC