Day 8: Rockin' the desert.

Yesterday afternoon we worked around the house. We had to move telephone poles so that a net could be put over the volunteer trailer and the girls' trailer. I guess it gets hot here in the summer.

The sun comes up over the grove.

Then this morning we went down to the grove at 05:30. Did you know farmers get up early? I could not do this for too long because I would find a hole to go to sleep in instead of working.

Then it was back to the rocks! But Shelby and I got the field cleared enough so that Avi can bring the tractor and till the ground. Then there will be more stones!

So here is the field after it has been cleaned up for tilling. A small greenhouse will go here.

Next I had to clean up the grove around the gardens and greenhouse. I was talking to Avi because I am so impressed by the amount of fruit and vegetables plants they have here for a family of six--the two boys are often at boarding school, so it is really just the four of them. Oh, and they have goats, chickens, a do (Blues, I'll have to tell you his story soon.), and too many cats. Well, and then a greenhouse, the grove itself, all of the other structures, like the living quarters, and the brand new walk in refrigerator for the produce.

And here is a picture of the materials
that I gathered and stacked.

Anyway, you get the point. I was voicing my amazement and Avi said that this is just what they do. Sometimes the place doesn't get as clean as he would like it, but when he has the man and woman power, like now with three volunteers, that he can put energy onto cleaning up the place. So this is what I did this morning after I defeated the rocks (the ones I could see, anyway). And here is a picture of the materials that I gathered and stacked.Anyway, you get the point. I was voicing my amazement and Avi said that this is just what they do. Sometimes the place doesn't get as clean as he would like it, but when he has the man and woman power, like now with three volunteers, that he can put energy onto cleaning up the place. So this is what I did this morning after I defeated the rocks (the ones I could see, anyway).
 Shelby is a wonderful person to volunteer with. While she has not done much physical labor, she rolls her sleeves up and goes to town. I gave her lessons on how to use a mattocks. I learned in the army how to do so properly, but I never imagined that I would give another lessons on using it. She came here on the Taglit (Birth Right) trip, and she stayed to see more of Israel. After she leaves here she is going to travel around a bit more before heading off to England. I applaud the fact that she is about the world.