Olive harvest

Here are pictures from our olive harvest today. The process is long but therapeutic. Tarps are laid out beneath each tree. Olives are harvested by combing the branches with a rake, gliding your hand along each branch (called milking) and my personal favorite: climbing the tree and shaking it with all your strength. Once all the olives fall to the tarp below its gathered up and put into buckets. After 500 kilos of olives are harvested, Mark (the farmer) will take them to the olive press.
The days are long. Starting at 6am and ending at 6pm. But we rest,eat and discuss our fascinations while laying in the shade of the olive trees.

Location:Neve Harim,Hatzor Haglilit,Israel

Israel Week 4 & 5 : Farm 2

I quickly realized farm 1 was not going to cut it for this girl. Large production, very impersonal, farmer not involved in the farming process. my intent was to work on a farm alongside the farmer, gleaning from his knowledge and contributing back to the family. Farm 1 wasn't interested in the community aspect of WWOOFing. Rather it seemed to be taking advantage of the free labor I was providing. I Cashed in my Israeli get out of jail free card and traveled north to Rosh Pina. The 3 hour bus ride took me past the Sea of Galilee, Tiberias and numerous other towns.
At a cafe in Rosh Pina, my South African server helped me find a place to stay and promised to take me sight seeing. It was suggested I stay in Tzfat, a old town known for Jewish mysticism. the name of the hostel I received from my server turned out to be non existent. I wandered around the town for an hour asking and searching. By the end of the hour I had 5 people escorting me thru old winding alleys. After knocking on doors, a lady opened and took me to her friends house who rents out rooms. At last I had a beautiful room with a kitchenette overlooking the hillside. I slept happy and clean, finally free of the lingering garlic scent which had seemed to invade my body.
I woke up on Election Day, listening to the Hebrew news channel trying to figure out who was winning. Once I deciphered that Obama won I happily ventured out into Tzfat. Met many artists, learned about Jewish mysticism and relished in the beauty around me.

Farm 2 is the epitome of what I believe farming should be. Family run, community oriented, small scale production. Mark and his woman Amira have belief in their eyes. Belief in life, people, this land. They have goats, chickens, make amazing cheese, run a weekly bakery/cafe, small garden, compost toilet. I'll be here for the olive harvest. An extensive task. And I'll hopefully learn how to bake beautiful bread for my bakery I'm opening in Sitka.

I continue to face the challenge of being so far from home. I expected it to be easier. I am left alone to think. Thinking too much seems to hinder my positivity. Always asking why? What's my purpose? My goal? Are the frustrations I face worth it? what am I even seeking? I feel like I'm counting the days til I'm home. I've decided that every weekend I'll travel to a new place, explore a new town. The other volunteer is a challenge to work with. he's on some type of power trip. It brings out my intense stubbornness and a competitive nature I didn't know I had. Trying to learn how to be firm yet kind. Not easy. So right now I'm removing myself and drinking some tea to calm down. Having to share meals, a bathroom, bedroom and work with a semi-manipulative, selfish, power tripping man is something I won't ever wish to do again. I think I can push through it, I came to learn about farming.
I plan on staying here a few more weeks and then after Becky's visit I'll spend several weeks diligently exploring every inch of Israel.

Tid bit of facts:
Lime trees have nasty thorns.
You can use the brain of an animal + salt to cure its hide.

Tzfat:











Sea of Galilee:




Rosh Pina & Farm:

Location:HaHalutzim,Rosh Pina,Israel

Israel: Week 3 - Farm 1

Sitting next to me are a couple from England, a girl from South Africa, 200 bunches of organic lettuce, and Anon & Lang (workers from Thailand). Slowly passing by us are pomegranate trees, pineapple plants, strawberries, limes, pimelos, and oranges. Its hard to believe that I'm sitting on the back of a tractor in Beit Yizhak, Israel being transported to a field where I'll spend 4 hours weeding in direct sunlight. When I was little I hated weeding, now it's exactly what I signed up for. What the hell has gotten into me? I am not sure how I got into this or even why it seemed like such a great idea 4 months ago. Kneeling, hunched over, carefully deciphering between garlic-look-alike-weeds and actual garlic in the blazing sun I begin to wish I was back in Sitka. I'd be comfortably sitting near a fire, clenching a hot mug of earl grey tea. But alas, I am in hot Israel, sweating and pulling weeds. I convince myself to feel the excitement with each weed gone. I let my mind wander and contemplate what it is exactly I want to gain from this experience. I am uncertain. I feel very uncertain about it all, everything, life. I miss everyone I left behind so ridiculously much. Perhaps by the time I've pulled my millionth weed I still won't have gained any more certainty just fresh perspective and more confidence. With each plant I touch, every person I listen to, each new place I see, every meal I eat, my perspectives will shift. That's what I signed up for. I want to constantly be growing, searching, learning, discovering. It's who I am and in order to get there weeds must be pulled.
Here are pictures of the garlic field I will be spending my weeks in. Also my cute apartment I'll be sharing with two other volunteers, Jenna & Adam.
























5am sunrise + lettuce picking

Israel: week 2.76

I went into the city again today, with the goal of spending the day on the beach. When I reached the city I realized I had forgotten a book, snacks and sunglasses. On the way I found a book store filled to the ceiling. After sidestepping my way through Yiddish, Hebrew, German, Dutch, and English books I made it to the philosophy section where I grabbed the first book that peaked my interest (something about Chinese spirituality). Book in hand I moved on to buy snacks: bananas, grapes, Israeli version of a mound bar, and fresh squeezed orange juice. Sunglasses were an easy and cheap find.
The beach erases the hustle of the city and I was able to relax while reading about Yin Yang. Wasn't completely a page turner, but still interesting. I do not remember the last time I was sunbathing on a beach. Bikinis and I seldom interact, perhaps because I live in Alaska or maybe because I inherited my mother's insecurity. Regardless, after two hours of laying in the sun I had two date requests and one marriage proposal. Actually in the spirit of Israeli men, they were not requests. They were commands. I need to work on my responses. Laughing and smiling does not do the trick. "Why you no like me? I good man. I marry you."

I finally landed a farm and begin on Sunday. Its near Natanya which is 30 minutes from Tel Aviv. It's a pretty big farm. I'll be working with 3-4 other volunteers, have my own room, even internet. The farm is a 30 minute bike ride from the beach, where I will most likely spend my evenings after working in the field all day. I'm so excited to start farming and feel productive again. I'll be there for 3 weeks or so, then venture up north.

Tomorrow I am in charge of the meals and am going to make Vietnamese Pho, my new favorite thing to cook.

Location:HaBanim,Kfar Malal,Israel

Birthday!

Tonight was Yael's 30th birthday celebration. Went to a restaurant where you order any kind of steak by the gram and they bring it to your table on a grill. So delicious. I'm pretty sure I haven't ever had steak that amazing. Even tried beef tonsils tonight. All you can eat steak, all you can drink wine...incredible. Tomorrow we enjoy a girls day at the beach and the
spa.

Location:Reut,Hod Hasharon,Israel

Talitha Kumi

I found this in New Jerusalem while out on the town w uncle Johnny. "Little girl, I tell you to get up." It has always been something I remind myself and I found it here. And funnily enough it's my blog name.

Location:Heler,Jerusalem,Israel

Israel: week 2

I began my week exploring Tel Aviv; shopping, journaling, writing letters, eating falafel. Its amazing how much shopping takes out of me after not really having shopped for clothes in a long time! It was exciting to see all the Israeli brands. I have never before had clothes thrown at me while in the dressing room. The next day I took it easy and decided to make headway on actually finding a farm. It's not as easy as I thought. After calling ten farms I found one that looked rather promising. It was the only farm that needed a volunteer starting next week.
I arranged a time to see the farm and decided to take Uncle Johnny with me. I met uncle Johnny in Jerusalem. We stayed mostly in the new city, ate breakfast overlooking the original Jerusalem wall and then began our drive to the farm. It was an interesting place, but did not exactly excite me. Back to ground zero, hoping I actually find a place that fits me. I don't like being in limbo. I want to know now, right this moment where the farm is, what it's going to look like, when I am going to be there. Maybe I'm too picky, but I want what I want.

Jerusalem is a beautiful city. We explored the old city today. So many shops. Winding passages led me through Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and Armenian sections. In each shop a merchant tried to lure me by expressing his friendship with me. "You don't need pay to look. You my friend, come I help you." or "You have boyfriend? He want you to wear dis. Yah really beautiful on you. " my all time favorite one: "where you from? China?" The city reminded me a little of Fez, Morocco. I could spend a week there and not see everything. Extremely intricate.

We saw the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Dome of the Rock, the Wailing Wall. I was amazed at the architecture. The aesthetics alone are spiritually uplifting. I will need to spend much more time here. Tonight we are meeting up with Yael and Nadav to go to the Jerusalem Knights Festival. There will be dancing, music, dragons, jesters, magicians. Perfect start to the weekend.











(Was given a shawl bc I was not modest enough for the wailing wall.)

Location:Heler,Jerusalem,Israel