
This was my second trip to Cold Antler Farm in Jackson NY. Held over Columbus Day weekend, Antlerstock makes no promises for the weather, but this year was gorgeous- warm and sunny and at near-peak for fall color.
Farmer Jenna gathers friends that have unique skills and holds this 2 day event to offer demonstrations and talks about topics like felling trees, using draft horses for farm work, keeping small livestock, making soap, spinning wool (sheep-to-knitting needle!), preparing for storms, and generally relying on yourself.
It's a fun weekend, with people from all over that have varying levels of interest and ability to homestead where they are. This year there was a couple from NYC and another from Long Island, someone from Ontario, a few of us from PA, some more local to Jenna- in all, about a dozen hardy souls ready to experience small farm life for a few days.
Saturday night we had a bonfire and read The Legend of Sleepy Hollow out loud, mere miles from where it's set. Jack o'lanterns surrounded us, the wind blew, and it was delightfully creepy!
All week, after I returned, I was telling my pilates clients stories- about how Brett cut down a cherry tree and I took my turn learning to split it into firewood, about how BIG Steele the Percheron draft horse is, about the 2 turkeys who followed us around all weekend, puffed up and huffing to attract attention, about the goat eating my ponytail holder off my pigtail... But really, I kept saying, the best part was being around so many people who are seriously living their dreams. It's not always rainbows and cupcakes by any means, but everyone I met was so inspiring.
As I settle in for winter, I'm really glad I took this weekend off to go do something that makes others raise their eyebrows at me but that fills me with ideas. I have lots to think about and work towards as I snuggle into my little apartment. My pilates and herbal work, this wellness work is in my soul, and I just got a weekend full of reminder to make sure I'm feeding my dreams as well as my soul. There's two fluffy blankets waiting for daydreaming on my couch!