My time here on the farm is quickly coming to an end. The experience was not as I imagined. I learned a bit about farming, taking care of animals and growing plants/crops, but more importantly I got to spend time with some amazing people. The family on the farm, Allison, Seann and Wyatt, have been so welcoming and helpful. Allison and Seann are a great example of good parenting and a healthy, stable and loving couple. I need more examples like that in my life. Allison is so knowledgeable, I wish I could learn more from her, via osmosis or something. My housemates are warm, open-minded and passionate for life. Its been great getting to know their life stories. I hope that I stay in touch with some of the people here.

As far as farming goes, obviously 3 weeks is only enough to skim the surface of all there is to learn here. I am really considering coming back in a couple of years and doing what Leslie is doing now - being a full-time intern from April until October and learning a whole season's worth of knowledge.

Its amazing to see plants that we seeded in the first days of me being here sprouting and growing pretty tall. Yes!

Yesterday we planted another section of a "food forest". First we planted fruit trees - two types of apples(including Honeycrisp - THE BEST), pears, cherries and crab apples. In between the trees went raspberries and eldenberries. Between those and the trees today we're going to plant a big variety of medicinal and cooking herbs - mints, sage, thyme, marjoram and etc. We will mulch around each plant to give it a chance to grow a bit bigger without too much competition from weeds.

Last night we all went into Bozeman for the first Music on Main of the summer. I've been to a couple last year and its always a blast. It really should be called Drink and Socialize on Main, because no one is really there for the music. But regardless, it is a weekly summer event in Bozeman where they close off several blocks of Main street and have a local band playing. Its open container rule so people can drink whatever outside. There are food vendors and all the bars on the street are open.

I ended up running into everyone I wanted to see. I got to see one of my crew members from last year, Zack, who is now a leader for MCC. He is jazzed about life and smiling big as always. I ran into my old roommate Matt. I got to see my buddy Jim, who I drove cross country with to get to Montana and who taught me most things I know about climbing outside. As well as Chris, our Senior Youth Crew Leader from last year with a heart of gold. So, so good to see them and feel at home, standing on the streets of Bozeman. I have to make my way back here for good some day.