(some text/illustration by nicholas)

Is this global warming? We got 10-15 inches of rain in about a week, which seriously messed up our soils structure and water content, while also carrying part of our soil away (see more pictures below).

Here are some pictures from the Stephanie and Micah's last day on the farm (a few weeks ago now.)

We had some great events last week, and as usual very delicious food. We even got in the newspaper - so check it out below. This Friday, NIcholas and Alice will lead a discussion on Anarchism and Cooperation.

Here's a short article about Practical Farmers of Iowa, with a picture of Nicholas as a young leader of a really cool farm.

Does it have a roof yet?

No roof yet.

as you might have guessed, it's been very busy on the farm, between the vegetables, the guests, lively pot-lucks, and of course, building a house. I finally got the pictures from back when we worked on the foundation, so i thought I'd do a little educational illustration of how to build a foundation. If you really want to build one of your own, there are probably very good books with instructions, but this is what we did.

as nicholas mentioned previously, we dug a trench.

Hi, my name is Steph Plant and I’m new to the farm. (Alice asked me to write a blog entry, which I consider quite a treat, except I’m not quite sure what to say..)
I came to mustard seed community farm a week ago and I’m really glad I did.

Tomorrow night we'll have a potluck at the farm. Here's the info:

Catholic Worker Farm Philosophy
Next Friday, June 11th, with a potluck dinner at 6PM and a discussion at 7PM. Again, at the Mustard Seed Community Farm (366 W Ave, Ames, IA, 50014).
Alice will lead this discussion, focusing on the basic principles underlying Catholic Worker Farms in general, and our farm in particular.

We'll have other potlucks in the following Friday.

Nicholas

a stubborn robin built a nest in our tool-shed.

this is from Alice, posting an entry that nicholas wrote last week:

Hello, today I have an update on what's going on on the farm and some events you might want to attend at our farm.
Update:

This year the craft retreat was down in southern Iowa, at Strangers and Guests CAtholic Worker Farm in Maloy. It was super fun for me to learn some new skills - i especially loved the rag-rug weaving. It was renewing and inspiring to see many friends from other Catholic Worker farms and houses in the midwest. We also made baskets, candles, bread, cheese, and did folk dancing and knitting. Here are some photos of the amazingly complicated but elegant loom process.

Come to our pot-luck this friday Jan 22 at the Blaedel's house: 900 idaho ave, ames, iowa. topic: personalism.

6pm food, 7pm discussion. all in the town of ames.
upcoming pot-lucks:

Feb 19 at Donna's house, NE corner of 8th and douglas - big white house with cupola in front yard. Leader:Gary Guthrie, speaking on Fidelity and Fecundity - the fruits of our faithfulness.
March 26, at Jim and LInda's 5019 Keats ST. Led by Rhiannon Hanson.
April 23, at Jen and Steve's - 708 Brookridge. topic: hospitality, led by Shari Reilly.