Friday, April 10, 2009

Shambala Ranch, Mendocino County

Where do I begin? Yesterday afternoon, Matt and I left Patricia Kovner's piece of shit "homestead", a 20 acre property with a small house, trailer, cabin, a few fruit trees, and a few raised beds. This almost 60 something year old lady would go on and on about how she's "into" permaculture and sustainable living, but there was nothing permaculture about her place. I would call her place a hobby farm, or maybe just a hobby. I didn't take any pictures of her place, though I should have because to see her garden is to see what not to do. First off she had no overall design. A system will never be effiecient if it is not properly designed. Anyway I wont go on about her place, suffice it to say I don't reccommend anybody to WWOOF there.

We left Laytonville for Ukiah ,an hour's drive, and then took a scenic winding road through redwoods and oaks for 45 minutes, while heavy fogs rolled in between the hills. We arrived at Shambala Ranch, an Inn and Retreat center owned and operated by Stuart and Tara Marcus who were hosting a second night Passover Seder for the Ukiah/Willits Jewish community. It was incredible! Yes we were the youngest people there aside from one high school kid, and one baby. But the energy and enthusiasm of the people here last night made up for the lack of pretty girls. It was like no seder I've ever been too, lots of songs in english many of them childish which made them so much fun to sing. Eventhough it was a relatively fast seder ending around 11:30, there were a whole bunch of really great comments and interpretations given about arious parts of the hagaddah. it was one of the most creative seders i've ever been too, we even danced around the room at one point. The food was great too. Anyway we stayed at the Lodge last night and then had breakfast with Stuart and Tara and some of the other guests who stayed over. I made matzoh brei which we had with jam. Then they told us we could stay another night if we wanted, do laundry too. we helped them clean up the lodge , the floors, move chairs and tables. Now it looks like we're going to help them with some things for the next couple of days at least. We're sort of playing it by ear. Tara is taking a permaculture course so she is looking for some help, though it's not clear yet what she wants to do. Tomorrow i am going to look at the sit of her new garden and map some things out and come up with a design. Oh yeah, there is satellite internet with wifi here so I'm in heaven. Matt and I went mushroom hunting just now but we only found a few small mushrooms which I haven't identified yet. Tara gave us a map with directions to places she knows have mushrooms, so we'll try again tomorrow.

Matt and I have really bonded and even though we have no clue what will be a week from now we are really happy.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

hi!!! i'm the girlfriend of the lovely man you've come across! ^_^ it's so exciting to read about your adventures--i'm totally gonna follow your blog now! :oD

i hope sometime i get to meet you! matt has told me a lot about you in the times we've been able to talk on the phone :o) i'm hopefully at some point going to come up and visit if you guys find a more permanent situation where it would make sense for me to come stay a few days or something!

well, good luck and have fun, and i'm grateful he's found someone with whom to share the awesome experience you two have decided to undergo! i truly admire what you guys are doing because it's really choosing to LIVE! catcha later! :oD

-Allison

pambler said...

hi, i'm pam, matt's aunt from massachusetts. i visited matt in california before he left on his journey.....i am enjoying your blog entries. thank you!
say hi to matt for me, happy easter, hugs, pam "auntie pam"

Mom Fran said...

Can you help me get ahold of Pat Kovner. I think my son may have been working for her and we have been unable to reach him and have not heard anything from him. We are getting very worried. Thank You--Mom Fran

Anonymous said...

Hello
I hope your boy is well
If still needed I can connect u to her

Anonymous said...

I wwoofed at Kovner's place.... While she talks a fair line...her promises rang false about care taking. She offered much and delivered little. An ecological, hypocrite. Let her reside and grow, alone.....what she deserves.

Her political actions are commendable.

Regards.