Nun Island and Fresh Food!

We recently enjoyed a trip to our "coastal" home, near Seattle. We lived most of our lives in the Puget Sound region and have myriad family and friends in the area still. So....in spite of their winter rains.... a trip home sounded like a break from our Montana winter "snows and lows." We were not disappointed in the rain department. And though the greenery and February shoots breaking the moist soil were a welcome sight; the rain and bumper to bumper traffic soon cast our thoughts towards our Montana home. But, we really were glad to see many friends and family.
A major highlight was our stay at Our Lady of the Rock Monastery in the San Juan islands. We are Benedictine Oblates of this Monastery, so our visit was welcome by us and our community there. Last time we visited, we had our son's family with us and our grandkids dubbed Shaw island where the Monastery is located, "nun island".
Off to "nun island" we went in a downpour. And, though more rain was on the menu, the clouds broke as we neared the Anacortes ferry dock. Our voyage was rocky with whitecaps and rough water in the straits and island passages. But....sun illuminating water and sky gave stunning colors only available in that land of rain.
At the monastery farm, seven nuns work hard raising Costwold sheep and wool, raw Jersey milk, hogs and poultry. They also chant their prayers for the world in Latin, seven times a day. Three farm-interns were excitedly preparing for their first lambing! The curly, natural color and white fleeces of Costwolds bring good money, as do the breeding animals.  Sophia, a white ewe, was in "lambing mode" the first day of our visit and all guesthouse-"hands" were on deck to interpret her every move. When all the interns had given up watching, Sophia lambed twin white ewe lambs. A nice treat! They are so darn curly!We were also treated to more sun than forecast and some excellent winter beach time.




Back home in Montana the snow keeps piling up. We are 1 foot above normal! March has come in roaring like a polar bear with negative temps in the 20's.
But.....next Saturday, March 8, is the Fresh Food Forum at Great Falls MSU campus. This wonderful, free event features local family farmers selling product or teaching and is the perfect way to look toward spring.  Gardens from Garbage hosts the event and offers a day of inexpensive, family-oriented gardening classes on many springy topics. Local growers will have plant starts available.

I will be hosting a table for Heifer International. HI has been fighting hunger through agriculture and education for decades and I volunteer for them periodically. Check out their website for more info.
I also will be hosting a table for our small sheep farm and will have many of the items on this blogsite available for purchase.
Think Green for Spring!