Bowdoinham, Maine
Waking up to chickens clucking and roosters crowing was a real treat! Reading books and dozing in the morning sun. Soon Beau came to coral us toward a delicious steaming breakfast with his workmates and farm boss. Such kind, welcoming, down to earth people! Fully satisfied we wandered around the farm ‘s border down to the Abbey through the fields and forest. A beaver made a damn in the little river that flows into a beautiful glassy lake with an island of bright green trees. On our way back we visited the chickens, filled our water bottles at the pump, snapped on the mosquito netting for the back door of the van for a swift cool breeze and a nap in the shade. In the afternoon, Beau invited us to help plant potatoes in a nearby field. Six workers, one tractor, a field of rows, half a dozen types of potatoes and three hours later, the potatoes were cozy in their new soil home and ready to grow! That evening we dined on delicious curried muscles, peanut noodles, hamburgers and beers at the coolest restaurant art gallery in Maine!! Snuggled the farm cat Kiggy before retiring. Fell asleep to twinkling fireflies in the fields and our own personal light show presented by two stow aways in the van.
Woke up ready to explore this beautiful organic farm. Walked amongst rows of vegetables and through huge caterpillar greenhouses. Visited the goats with some scrumptious carrots. They are getting ready for kidding, goat cheese and milk! Yum! Recovering from a bit of a bug, I took an afternoon nap while Mitch planted peppers and weeded beds with Beau. For dinner we made clam chowder and enjoyed greens from the garden sautéed in garlic. Shared a few beers and stories before bed. What an amazing chance to experience homesteading first hand! If we can build our lives around the simplicity and self-sustaining joy of a homesteader’s life I believe we will find our place. So far on this adventure it has felt the closest to our hearts’ home.
