The past two weeks have passed so quickly with Gappers engaged with a variety of experiences that were rich with learning and appreciation.
Visiting a local milking goat farm was a treat! The couple who owns the farm were excited to introduce their over 70 goats (all with names!) to the Gappers. They shared the process of milking the goats daily and the many steps of taking the raw milk to the pasteurized goat cheese which they sell in their farm store and at local farmer’s markets. It was fascinating and delicious! In return for generously giving of their time with touring us, the Gappers pitched in and helped with clearing new pastureland and rebuilding a chicken yard.
Gappers returned to one of their most favorite farms later in the week and the focus was garlic- in fact hundreds of pounds of garlic! Our shared task with the farmer and his small group of volunteers was to split the bulbs into cloves for planting – a challenging and time-consuming task. Once split, we spent the next two hours carefully placing the bulbs into the prepared field. Had the farmer had to do this task on his own, it would take days not hours. This was clearly a case of “many hands make light work”. Our time together ended by sharing a delicious community lunch of chili and cornbread prepared by the farmer next to the garlic field we had just planted.
Fiber Arts was another focus for Gappers. Beginning with a tour of a local fiber mill that produces 100% virgin wool yarn, Gappers learned about the steps it takes to transform raw wool to beautiful yarn used for knitting, felting, and weaving. Of course, the mill uses machinery, some of the machines dating back 100 years, but we wanted them to also break down those steps and learn how the process was done historically. Gappers tried their hand at making yarn by hand – using raw fleece from our sheep they cleaned and carded it, then tried their hand at spinning yarn with drop spindles and a spinning wheel and then progressed to learning basic knitting and felting skills.
Last week culminated with a 24-hour solo in the Glen Brook woods. Gappers packed their sleeping gear and food and headed out at dawn to the spots they had chosen and built their shelters. Some were nervous, some were excited and some were wondering if they would be bored. They spent time exploring, observing and listening to nature around them. They had time to let their minds wander and for reflection on their time at Gap and what they would be taking away at the end of the program. They weathered rain, came back with great stories of their 24 hours alone and a deeper appreciation of slowing down and being immersed in nature.
So much “doing” during these past two weeks have led to a deeper understanding and appreciation within the Gap group for the many steps needed to bring food to our tables be it vegetables or meat, the logistics of running a small business, the complexity of creating things we use daily, the power of a community working together, the experience of being alone without distractions, and the faith in self to do hard things.