A Typical Day at Adamah

At the CC, filling crates with jars of
pickles to sell at markets and on campus.

When people ask me what I’ve been doing this summer as a fellow on a farm, my mind starts swimming, trying to decide what to say first, what to say last, what I can possibly leave out that would still give the person an idea of the type of experience I'm having, yet not allow the conversation to go on for hours. The things we’ve been doing have been endless, taking up all our time while here, causing my parents and other family to question what it is I’m so busy with. So I decided to list out all the things we may be doing on a typical day at the Adamah Farm.

A Typical Day on the Farm

6:00am- Avodat HaLev, led by staff or Adamah-nik,either at the Beit Adamah or at another location (in which case wake-up as at 5:40)

7:00am- Chore, which may consist of tending to the chickens or the goats, milking, taking out compost, or housekeeping at the Beit Adamah

8:00am- Breakfast and get ready for the day

9:00am- Work session

Work option 1: Field

                            - Harvesting tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, green beans, or other fruits and vegetables on any of three different field areas.

                            - Hand weeding or hoeing

                            - Working with irrigation hoses or drip tape, ensuring they are connected and placed correctly on the beds

Work option 2: Maintenance- 

                           - Collecting garbage from around campus

                           - Painting or remodeling the Beit Adamah

                           - Installing an air conditioner in one of the retreat buildings

Work option 3:  Cultural Center

                            - Making or jarring pickles

                            - Placing labels on pickling and jam jars

                            - Washing vegetables

                            - Loading or unloading crates into and from the truck that goes to main campus or for CSA

12:00pm- Lunch

1:30pm- Work session

  Option 1: Field

  Option 2: Maintenance

  Option 3: Cultural Center, lead tour for guests in various areas (compost, chickens, barnyard, hiking)

  Option 4: Work in the main kitchen

4:30pm- Class about farm workers and pesticides

6:00pm- Dinner

7:00pm- Class about active listening

On days we have class, our day ends at 8:30pm, when Adamah-niks return to BA to go running, cook a late dinner, watch "Orange Is The New Black," schmooze with a beer or ice cream, or update their blogs :-)

We rotate on chores and work sessions, and generally when we request a certain type of work that we particularly enjoy, the staff is relatively accommodating. My favored job is working in the field using the stirrup hoe and weed wacker (which I've only had the chance to do once), and leading Avodat HaLev for kids in the morning during various retreats at the Isabella Freedman. The classes range from that on agricultural skills and information, Jewish topics (like one called "Torah of Earth"), and leadership and communication skills.

In case you have been wondering what I've been up to this summer... I hope this gives somewhat of an idea and answers your questions about what the Adamah fellowship is all about.