Only a week long stay here at Alpha Beta Hops, but that doesn't mean I haven't had a full experience.
I
had an interesting drive down the state, stopping at coastal viewpoints
and then revisiting Alice in Corvallis. The separate stretch on I-5
added a completely different flavor. I saw so much dry land, in the
sense that things were tan and black versus green. And even went through
a pass that could've passed as North Idaho. Stopped to snap a pic at
the Rogue River and continued to Ashland.
I found the farm right away and was way too excited to have Steve and company greet me. With the minor description on the WWOOF
website, I wasn't all too sure what to expect. So after walking around
the back yard I was able to meet Spencer, Jordan, and Dan. Then Morgan
and Jessica arrived and everyone finished cleaning up the new couple's
wedding reception deco. To wrap up the day's meet and greets, Rebecca
came back with our fourth wwoofer Rachel. :) Such a great crowd, and it
was added to when Zeb joined the crew a couple days in.
So
the first full day on site was spent arranging tables and canopies for
the picking line, and general prep for the week. Every day after that a
group between 10 and 24 met to harvest. The strings at the bottom of
each section are cut, then bunched to the center. The tractor with chute
attached drives to meet the vines, while someone atop the ladder-backed
machine snaps the lines from the top. Collecting 3-5 rows depending on
the yield will put any group to work for a couple hours. The entire
harvest encompassed a full seven days and filled the drying racks many
times. With smiles broad, the group picture was taken and a good meal
enjoyed. :)
The WWOOFer group went out and attended a
"bachata" style dance class- good thing we were the only ones there- and
actually came out with a mild excitement to show off skills in the hop
yard. Another day Jordan, Rachel and I went to check out the Green Show
outside of the big Shakespearean stage in downtown. This was completely
entertaining and hilarious as an adult improv group performed a whole 30
minute musical off of a random book title given by an 8 year old girl,
called "The Snow Spider." The evening was capped with relaxed drinks and
funny conversation at Alex's Plaza Restaurant and Bar with a Reggae
group performing for the night. The most priceless moment for me was
meeting and learning from an older gentleman, Mackenzie. He filled us in
on his very full life from air force and boxing days, to traveling and
many different jobs, and then his advice on how to cure Rebecca's back
pain. So awesome! What you can learn when everyone respects the
conversation and has fun.
>>I did get to experience
a full-on allergic reaction to something not completely identified, but
i am leaning towards the tracking of hop residue to my face
repetitively. My face was in full swell mode with accompanying
unpleasantness for two days with previous days of minor agitation. So
the day I was to depart, after taking a break from picking and
eliminating possibilities, I went to Urgent Care to get my first-ever
shot and prescription. Now I'm on a 16 day cycle of Prednisone, Allegra,
and Benadryl. (The swelling was all gone this morning when I woke up,
instead of worsening like the other mornings. So I am much happier now
and just letting my skin recover.)<<
The stories and jokes shared were definitely a part of
the experience, and hopefully the pictures on the next page will do
some justice. :) I was able to watch the Hotel Hell episode with the
Roosevelt Inn along side these awesome individuals, and across the four
days of my encounter with allergies was treated with the most generosity
and kindness possible. I loved them!! In general, I had a very
well-rounded encounter with much support and humor from my last farm
visit. Hoppy Days! (As Steve inserts on a casual greeting)
Post
Script--- Rachel and I have driven back to Nehalem and she is now
working for Ginger at Re-evolution Gardens just down the driveway from
myself at Lunasea. I am going into town as soon as my face clears up and
will be obtaining a fine job at either the health food store or
boutique, then getting serious and committed for the fall gardening
season.
“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” – Tim Cahill
“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and
instead of thinking how things
may be, to see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson
