Off to Cloudplay

6 buses. 2 car rides completely stranger danger free. 1car ride with stranger danger in the cramped backseat of the owner of a bus company’s sedan (they said they would get us from Eugene to Coos Bay and they did). 2 nights on a college couch. And finally, after 583 miles, we arrived at our new farm: Cloudplay.
Despite consistent communication with the host via email, I was completely unsure of what to expect from Cloudplay upon being picked up from the local library. But just as his teal green, ‘97 Honda Accord gradually ascended up one lane, gravel mountain roads, I gradually began to understand Cloudplay. Apparently, the “F” in WWOOF can be deceptive, because Cloudplay is not a farm, but rather the title of our host and his partner’s house and garden, which is located 3 miles from the closest neighbors in the Siskiyou mountains of Southwest, Oregon.

Vegetable garden

Our host strives to live sustainably. So when he and his partner returned to his handmade house this summer from living New Zealand for six years, his dreams took off. Using his own manpower, he dug up the beds for his vegetable garden and begun planting everything from tomatoes and butternut squash to kale and coriander.
Sustainability extends into all facets of his life. Living off the electrical grid due to his remoteness, he powers his house with solar panels. Unfortunately, the batteries for the solar panels failed for our first week here, giving us the unique opportunity, experienced by few outside of colonial Williamsburg actors, to live an 18th century lifestyle (unfortunately not the opportunity to blog). He heats his house with a wood burning stove, for which we have spent the past week collecting, splitting and stacking lots and lots and even more lots of wood.

Mmmmmm Birthday Cake!

Despite the lack of electricity, there has been a lot of positive and welcoming energy at Cloudplay. Upon only knowing me for a few hours, they treated me to a chocolate cake for my first birthday away from home. Unlike at Inca Gold Brand, we are treated to delicious dinners (ranging from Indian korma to tofu tacos) with no fear of food a couple years past its expiration date.

The sunset on the fall equinox, just a
two minute walk from the front door

Although this farm is no where near as absurd nor funny as Inca Gold Brand, it is great to actually be learning about sustainability, sleeping after 5:00 am without roosters calling, being treated well and see amazing views.