Rancho Montana

We know, we know. We´ve been neglecting the blog a little. I must say, though, it is not because we just didn´t feel like it. We were kinda on vacation. It is difficult living this way. Everything we do turns into an epic journey. Just finding food or an envelope leads to a wild goose chase through the city. I am sure you are thinking something like "cry me a river." We won´t take offense to that. We had a wonderful vacation from our traveling. We spent three weeks an hour north of the city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia on Rancho Montana.

Rancho Montana is a two hundred acre farm that belongs to Brent, an ex-pat from Montana who works in the seismic business. Staying with Brent and his family made us feel like we were royalty. The farm is teeming with activity. He has a hundred or so chickens, 20 or so head of cattle, 10 dogs, 3 horses, 2 peacocks, 2 pigs, a handful of geese, and a kitten. Pati and the girls were always preparing delicious food for everyone. Brent grilled steaks on the barbeque and got his smoker going for ribs and steaks from a steer that was butchered while we were there. I am fully commited now to building a smoker like his someday.

We contacted Brent through an organization called WWOOF, which means something like "willing workers on organic farms." The deal is to work on the farm in trade for meals and lodging. The ecology of the area would be something like a savannah. It was hot there, a big difference from the high altitudes where we have been spending most of our time. The temperature was always hovering around 90 degrees Farenheit with 50% humidity. Sticky.

Our main responsibility was to prepare his garden beds for the winter planting. I guess the summer is too wet and too hot to grow there. It is unbeleivable how fast things grow there. We cleared lots of brush and fence rows, we pruned the banana trees, and trimmed hedges. After that was done, we began to turn all of the soil by hand with a heavy duty hoe. It was a great feeling for both of us to actually do something to get our hands dirty. By the time we were getting ready to leave, we had all the gardens turned, tilled, and manured. Beth had planted some seed for their starts.

The worst part about the experience was that I was sick a lot with a stomach bug. I still hadn´t kicked the bug that I had picked up in La Paz. I would feel good for 4 or 5 days and get sick for 3. Eventually they took me into town and helped us navigate the Bolivian healthcare system. We would not have been able to do it on our own. It is very different than what we were used to in the states. Pati made me soups and things to help me feel better. They were really great.

Some of our favorite things while we were there...

...the fresh lemonade made from the lemon tree

...watching the peacocks lurk around the garden eating bugs

...the softball sized tarantula we found while we cleared brush

...the smoked ribs

...the inside scoop on South American politics

...seeing how a steer is butchered

...getting our hands dirty

Thanks to Brent and his family for the wonderful experience!