Farm Camp
Camp Counselor
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Day 3
Well day 2 was a long arduous farming day, extending late into the evening. Whoever said farmers don't have to work that hard haven't been to farm camp. Before retiring for the night the counselor and camper went into Hannaford (pop 180) for some bar hopping.
Day 3 had a tentative start time of 7am, but the farmers didn't leave the house until 9am. We put in a solid hour of work, cutting up trees with the new chainsaw and then burning the garbage pit, before retiring back to the house for a pot of coffee.
Once completed with official farm work, filming continued for the farm video and several exciting action sequences were captured. (Check out some of the videos for a sneak preview). Nobody was hurt on any of the dangerous stunts performed this morning. No word yet on the official release date of the short film. The camera just loves the camp counselor, he is nailing scene after scene with minimal takes.
After lunch the camp will wrap up for 2011. As a reminder the tentative dates for 2012 farm camp are from july 12-14. Contact Wahl farms for any inquiries.
This will be the last post live from farm camp. It has been an experience and we have learned that farming is more than just drinking coffee and complaining about the weather. There is quite a lot of work to be done in between all those breaks.
Later
Day 3 had a tentative start time of 7am, but the farmers didn't leave the house until 9am. We put in a solid hour of work, cutting up trees with the new chainsaw and then burning the garbage pit, before retiring back to the house for a pot of coffee.
Once completed with official farm work, filming continued for the farm video and several exciting action sequences were captured. (Check out some of the videos for a sneak preview). Nobody was hurt on any of the dangerous stunts performed this morning. No word yet on the official release date of the short film. The camera just loves the camp counselor, he is nailing scene after scene with minimal takes.
After lunch the camp will wrap up for 2011. As a reminder the tentative dates for 2012 farm camp are from july 12-14. Contact Wahl farms for any inquiries.
This will be the last post live from farm camp. It has been an experience and we have learned that farming is more than just drinking coffee and complaining about the weather. There is quite a lot of work to be done in between all those breaks.
Later
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Day 2
Day 2 has started at a closer to normal farm time with a wake-up call at 0630. However, breakfast seems to be extending beyond 8am and past the time we told the hired man we'd be in the field. The camper received a pleasant surprise as matching blue chambray wrangler shirts were issued.
The camper received high remarks on his first pot of coffee. The camp counselor served toast and eggs and considering his affinity for cheese it came as no surprise the liberal amounts on top of the eggs.
Another 1/2 gallon of milk consumed
Time to start fffffffarming.....
After a 630am wake-up call we spun our wheels a bit leaving the farmhouse as we didn't make it outside til sometime after 815am. Part of the reason was due to a dismal performance in the attire department the previous day. The counselor didn't want his camper showing up at the local cafe with the previous day's dress, in fear of being run out of town by the other 'trained farmers'.
With a new pair of shit kickers and matching blue shirts we were off in the semi to fill the pterodactyl looking sprayer, but not before stopping at the mail box to mail some important farm documents. While at the mailbox we noticed a strong chemical smell coming from the cab and found that we had punctured a can of ether under the seat. We were lucky not to have been smoking.
After covering several miles and grinding several gears (counselor doesn't like to use the clutch) we arrived at the sprayer and it was down to business and we sprayed over 100 acres of wheat. This took nearly an hour and a half, so by the time we were done it was off to the bowling alley for lunch. The counselor may be too humble to say it, but I recently found out that he sits on the board of directors at the lanes and partially responsible for the day-to-day operations. The food was excellent!
Once lunch ended, we toured the park and drove back to the farm to discuss the afternoons plan. The counselor has an unshakeable desire to mow at an abandoned farm site this afternoon, but before executing the plan we decided to have a pot of coffee.
Over coffee the plan altered to show the camper the importance of farm business. The counselor let the camper spread his wings and allowed him to drive the issued farm vehicle into town to order chemical and to get the mail.
After this task was accomplished we mowed the alternate farm site where the 'No Rules' van has been laid to rest. Showing some serious confidence in the camper, he allowed him to drive the 4-wheel drive tractor. The camper was able to keep a much straighter line than the z-track mower. When asked what inspired such confidence the counselor responded, 'Now that he looks like a farmer, he will start to think like a farmer.' And it appears the counselor was correct on his assumption as the camper showed a much higher aptitude for batwing mowing than z-track mowing.
This evening the plan is to grill, finish the yard work, and finish the photo shoot for the 2012 farm calendar as well as film several action sequences for a short farm video.
The camper received high remarks on his first pot of coffee. The camp counselor served toast and eggs and considering his affinity for cheese it came as no surprise the liberal amounts on top of the eggs.
Another 1/2 gallon of milk consumed
Time to start fffffffarming.....
After a 630am wake-up call we spun our wheels a bit leaving the farmhouse as we didn't make it outside til sometime after 815am. Part of the reason was due to a dismal performance in the attire department the previous day. The counselor didn't want his camper showing up at the local cafe with the previous day's dress, in fear of being run out of town by the other 'trained farmers'.
With a new pair of shit kickers and matching blue shirts we were off in the semi to fill the pterodactyl looking sprayer, but not before stopping at the mail box to mail some important farm documents. While at the mailbox we noticed a strong chemical smell coming from the cab and found that we had punctured a can of ether under the seat. We were lucky not to have been smoking.
After covering several miles and grinding several gears (counselor doesn't like to use the clutch) we arrived at the sprayer and it was down to business and we sprayed over 100 acres of wheat. This took nearly an hour and a half, so by the time we were done it was off to the bowling alley for lunch. The counselor may be too humble to say it, but I recently found out that he sits on the board of directors at the lanes and partially responsible for the day-to-day operations. The food was excellent!
Once lunch ended, we toured the park and drove back to the farm to discuss the afternoons plan. The counselor has an unshakeable desire to mow at an abandoned farm site this afternoon, but before executing the plan we decided to have a pot of coffee.
Over coffee the plan altered to show the camper the importance of farm business. The counselor let the camper spread his wings and allowed him to drive the issued farm vehicle into town to order chemical and to get the mail.
After this task was accomplished we mowed the alternate farm site where the 'No Rules' van has been laid to rest. Showing some serious confidence in the camper, he allowed him to drive the 4-wheel drive tractor. The camper was able to keep a much straighter line than the z-track mower. When asked what inspired such confidence the counselor responded, 'Now that he looks like a farmer, he will start to think like a farmer.' And it appears the counselor was correct on his assumption as the camper showed a much higher aptitude for batwing mowing than z-track mowing.
This evening the plan is to grill, finish the yard work, and finish the photo shoot for the 2012 farm calendar as well as film several action sequences for a short farm video.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Day 1
Fantasy Farm Camp started today with a preliminary training exercise prior to camper reporting for duty. The camper successfully exchanged a defective 18" chainsaw at Fleet Farm for a new one.
The actual camp didn't get rolling until the first pot of coffee was brewed sometime after 3pm local. The camper was put in charge of all brewing onward for the remainder of camp. The first farm related activity involved calculating the correct concentration of fungicide to apply to the 25 acre wheat crop we were about to spray. More time was spent driving to and from said 25 acre wheat field than spent actually spraying. However, we did learn how to rotate to the 10 gal/acre nozzle and how to properly and safely fuel the sprayer.
Today was an introduction to spraying and was applied manually, tomorrow we are hoping to build on what was learned and use the autopilot/gps. After spraying for nearly 20 min, we called it a day in the field and returned to the farm after some crop checking.
Upon return to the farm, a farm vehicle and gloves were issued. Gloves might have been useful earlier in the day.
After an extended break for supper we started an introduction to farm lawn care. This task proved more challenging than anticipated and the camper struggled tremendously with the z-track mower. However, after a small pep talk the swaths started to straighten and more confidence was gained.
To cap off the night, a rabbit hunting exhibition commenced using a .22 rifle with banana clip. One rabbit was fired upon. The spotter claimed there was a hit, but the kill could not be confirmed.
Tomorrow guarantees to be another busy day at the Wahl farm, with promises of more coffee drinking, spraying, mowing, and rabbit hunting. Farm Lawn care will be wrapped up even though it seems to be more of a personal chore rather than anything related to a farm camp, but you have to pay your dues. New items on the agenda for tomorrow include chainsaw etiquette, ditch mowing, grilling, rolling dice for coffee with other trained farmers, a bowling alley lunch, and possible purchasing of furbearers license.
1 1/2 gallons milk consumed.
The actual camp didn't get rolling until the first pot of coffee was brewed sometime after 3pm local. The camper was put in charge of all brewing onward for the remainder of camp. The first farm related activity involved calculating the correct concentration of fungicide to apply to the 25 acre wheat crop we were about to spray. More time was spent driving to and from said 25 acre wheat field than spent actually spraying. However, we did learn how to rotate to the 10 gal/acre nozzle and how to properly and safely fuel the sprayer.
Today was an introduction to spraying and was applied manually, tomorrow we are hoping to build on what was learned and use the autopilot/gps. After spraying for nearly 20 min, we called it a day in the field and returned to the farm after some crop checking.
Upon return to the farm, a farm vehicle and gloves were issued. Gloves might have been useful earlier in the day.
After an extended break for supper we started an introduction to farm lawn care. This task proved more challenging than anticipated and the camper struggled tremendously with the z-track mower. However, after a small pep talk the swaths started to straighten and more confidence was gained.
To cap off the night, a rabbit hunting exhibition commenced using a .22 rifle with banana clip. One rabbit was fired upon. The spotter claimed there was a hit, but the kill could not be confirmed.
Tomorrow guarantees to be another busy day at the Wahl farm, with promises of more coffee drinking, spraying, mowing, and rabbit hunting. Farm Lawn care will be wrapped up even though it seems to be more of a personal chore rather than anything related to a farm camp, but you have to pay your dues. New items on the agenda for tomorrow include chainsaw etiquette, ditch mowing, grilling, rolling dice for coffee with other trained farmers, a bowling alley lunch, and possible purchasing of furbearers license.
1 1/2 gallons milk consumed.
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