My Next Adventure: First work week

So this is the second blog I’m writing this morning. So far we’ve had 3 work days with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). On the first day we mixed seeds. I didn’t see this being as tiring as it actually was. By the end of the day we had mixed about 3,700 pounds of seeds.

The process begins with the BLM hiring some people a few times in the year to collect all the different types of seeds from the fields. We had around 8 or 9 types of seeds we were mixing. Then We collected the proper amount of bags for each seed ranging from about 4-18 bags. Then we each took one seed and poured a certain amount into a 5 gallon bucket. Then all the seeds got put into a garbage can which was poured into a cement mixer. Finally the mixed seed got poured back into bags for planting later. The process got to be so quick that I was constantly measuring and dumping over and over. This required lifting the heavy bags of seeds and quickly took a toll on my back. But by the end of the day we had got enough done for 135 acres of fields (I think).

Then on Tuesday and Wednesday we were sent to the wetlands. There is a plant there called 5 hook basia that has little stickers that attach to all of your clothes. We had the pleasure of removing all of them from the area. We’ve pulled out some tools for the work but I prefer to just find the softer ground and pull them out. We did this all day for 2 days and my hands are more sore than they ever were after percussion. But we are just about done and we had a lot of time to get to know each other while we were working. It’s been fun. Oh and a couple people from the group have been in the fields helping Bill plant all the seed we mixed.

When we got back from work on Wednesday there was a new dog waiting for us out front. Apparently he had been in the fields all day and since then he’s been hanging around the house. The 2 people in the filed named him Billie, but before we knew that we named him Winston (Churchill). So now he is Winston “Billie” Churchill. As we left in the van to drive to Starbucks this morning, he chased after the car until we couldn't see him anymore. It was adorable!

Some other things going on:

I've started reading Into the Wild. Good book so far.
I'm in the beginners phase of learning to play ukelele, fun stuff!
The other peer helper and I had our first activity last night. A random fun game and a craft-make signs to remind people of things around the house. ie please don't leave dishes in the sink
We've seen more than one black widow so far. SCARY!