Former Kona Biodynamic Farm WWOOFer, Jan Pruden writes about her stay at our farm.
Dear Farmer Phyl,
So far, the ranch/complex/estate is going well. Everyone here thinks we are gardening and plant geniuses, no joke. They are so impressed with our knowledge and our team work. They literally ask, as if we descended from garden heaven, "where did you come from?" And we proudly say, "Kona Biodynamic Farm!!!"
Dylan and I owe all of our knowledge to you and the farm. One hundred percent. Well, Dylan had a small amount of previous knowledge of agriculture and I had little to none when I arrived. And now, apparently we know A LOT! It is hard to quantify what you have learned or how much you've grown, until you can practically apply the knowledge. And not to stroke your ego . . . but we learned so much.
So Farmer Phyl, the system works. Apprenticing lives on, not just in the hearts and minds of romantic farmers, but it is a real function to the rest of the world. I cannot thank you and the cows and the farm and the veggies and your family enough for how much we've learned and the tremendous positive affect our experience is going to continue having on our lives. Just the fact that we know how to milk a cow elicits oohs and aaahs from everyone here. I wonder how long we can hold up the act (ha ha).
Dear Jan,What an absolutely lovely letter. Thanks for all your wonderfully kind, deeply thoughtful and genuinely heartfelt words. What an amazing person you are! You and Dylan were lots of fun. Thanks for all your GREAT help! We miss you! —Phyl
So please feel so good about what you've done for us. It was some of the best six months I've spent in my short little life. But what a powerful impact. Of course all of this is clear in retrospect and hindsight, because it is hard to fully realize the potential of any situation when you are living it. We are truly shining here at the ranch, and it is a great feeling to have that kind of respect for knowledge you didn't even know you had!!
We miss the farm and the animals so much. I still say things like, "our cow Monique . . . . " Everything is still in present tense.
What a school you have! What a gift and a tool that farm is. When we speak of biodynamics, the listeners are so wide eyed and curious; they want to know more. They are so intrigued by our experiences.
So once again, thank you. We miss you. You and your family have such a lasting place in our hearts.
Please be good to yourself, and take time to reflect on your accomplishments. And simply pat yourself on the back for all the good, incredibly hard work you do. It isn't done in vain, and that goodness resonates into the world forever and ever.
Love, Janny and Dylan