Cast of Characters

This is a little difficult to write, because every time I go to do it, the number of people here changes.  So, I’m going to do my best, and you’ll just have to bear in mind that by the time you read this, it’ll probably be wrong.

Maiju and Joshua: These two are two of the sort of ruling forces here on the farm.  Joshua was one of the founding people 7 years ago, and was really the seed for the idea.  Majiu didn’t come until 2 years ago, but has been here since, and is one of the contact people here if you want to stay at the farm.  Joshua has a very large, boisterous personality, is something of a conspiracy theorist, and always talks very loudly and with energy.  He’s a hard worker, and is usually busy on whatever is the biggest, hardest job on the farm.  Maiju is more quiet, but can be very stubborn, and speaks her mind quite clearly.  She owns the horse on the farms, and is into the animals and their care.  And she’s super petite!  Only 107lbs.

Yamaya: Yamaya is Joshua’s ex, and was also a founding person for the farm.  She has an equally strong personality, and it isn’t rare to find her in conflict with someone or another.  She is a belly dance instructor for her living in the states, and is very into herbal medicine, and energy work, and meditation, and the like.  I imagine she and Charles would get into spectacular disagreements. J  She occasionally teaches workshops here at the farm, and was one of the people who was very kind to me when I was sick.

Kaileah: One of the kids here on the farm.  She belongs to Yamaya and Josh, and is 9 years old. She is amazingly outgoing and confident.  She loves to dance, and has more energy than an atom bomb, I swear. J  She drives me a little crazy from time to time, but she is also a source of light and laughter here.

Melissa:  Melissa is a “Tica” or a Costa Rican native. She speaks decent English, but it is definitely a second language still.  But she is very cheerful and kind, and is an amazing artist!  All the murals on the walls around here are by here, and are gorgeous.  She is also a wonderful cook!

Edo:  One of the “tribe members” here (or people who own shares in the farm), even though he’s only been here a few weeks.  He is from Holland, but speaks English more or less perfectly.  He is a huge conspiracy theorist.  It can be quite entertaining to listen to some of the ideas he has.  He can have something of a acerbic wit and sarcastic humor, but also a temper, so he can be a bit much at times, but he is very helpful for me with the computer and internet, and is ready and willing to help teach me how to do chores etc.

Casper: Also a tribe member.  Also from Holland.  One of the “prettiest” people here. ;-)  A genius at turning a hodgepodge of leftovers into casseroles that actually taste good.  We call them “Casperoles”.  Probably the most tech savvy person here, also very good at carpentry.

Douwe: Another tribe member harkening from Holland.  He is tropical forest engineer, and is the lead guy on everything going on outside on the farm.  He can be gruff, especially if he’s been drinking the night before (and he’s something of an alcoholic) but when he’s in a good mood he’s very informative and funny.  His drinking is mostly a problem when it means he is up late with his music blaring, and ends up being an ass in the morning and having a hard time getting up and going.

Wouter: a Dutch friend pf Douwe’s, he’s only been here a couple days and will only be here a couple weeks.  But he is nice, and funny, and he and I have been showing each other critters and interesting insects we discover on the farm.

Catherine: One of the two newest and two youngest people at the farm, she is 19 and in college studying environmental design.  She actually gets to stay here for 6 months for school and it counts towards her degree.  She’s a bit of a pot-head (though, in reality, most people here are.  I am in the definite minority in my abstaining) but is super sweet, smart, and amazingly hard working, especially for someone so tiny.  She’s into construction in particular.

Chris and Marie: Both tribe members, but from Oregon.  Chris is a wonderful chef, and seems how to do most things around here.  He is also one of the most laid back, easy-going people here, and more quiet than most.  I enjoy time around him a lot.  Marie is his partner/wife.  She is a little less competent seeming and is less sure of herself, but is super kind, and I enjoy learning how to do things from here, because she seems to allow for error more than some here.  She is also super laid back and mellow, and more of a peace keeper than many around here.  Back home they teach conscious connection workshops.  Not exactly sure what that means, but something about being genuinely present with yourself and the people you’re around.

Mariska, Vincent, and Kaya:  Kaya is the baby here, ringing in at not quire 2 years old.  He doesn’t talk quite as much as my nephews did at his age, but he is tri-lingual (Dutch, English, and Spanish when he does talk, so I figure it’s just taking him a while longer to assimilate that many words.  He is often the farm alarm-clock at 4-something in the morning. J But he is a sweet kid, and well-behaved for the most part.  Mariska is quiet most of the time, but very kind, and has a fun sense of humor and awesome LONG dreads.  She teaches yoga classes here and there on the farm, and does Thai massage.  Vincent is our other most awesome chef, as it is his actual profession back home.  He is also one of the people I’ve talked with most and would say I am closest to here.  He likes to take advantage of my gullibility though. :-P

Jordan: The other youngest and newest person here, and friend to Catherine, also in school, but for environmental science, rather than design.  I don’t know him too well yet, but he seems to have a good sense of humor and be willing to lend a hand.

Sioned:  One of out two folks from Britain, she is actually Welsch, and that was her first language.  My lord, and don’t know how she makes her mouth make those sounds.  Another person I’ve grown pretty close to here, she is funny, nice, and a willing assistant whenever you’re trying to do anything. 

Qat:  Qat has a big personality, and is a tribe member with a lot of force behind her.  She is often at the center of conflict.  She is the lead for all the food processing and inside the house stuff that happens on the farm.  I worship this woman’s stamina.  Most days she goes endlessly from sun up to sun down, hard work stuff!  She’s very impressive, but she also comes across strong.  She has an especial issue with Spencer, who we’ll get to shortly…

Robin: One of my roommates.  When I got here she was the next newest person, having been here only 5 weeks.  It was great, talking with her, because she went through a lot of the same experiences and thought processes that I’ve been going through, and so could sympathize and tell me how she got through it etc.  She’ll be moving to Portland when she returns home, and I’m hoping we can stay in touch and see each other now and again.

Tosca: Also very new here, only showed up 3 days ago.  She’s another “youngin” at 22, and is also in college, though she’s about to graduate.  She’s in some sort of independent study, and she gets credit for her time here, though she’ll have to write papers.  Very into holistic healing and yoga, and was actually teaching yoga before she came here, she’s also one of my roommates.  I enjoy talking with her, and I think we’ll grow to be friends, especially since we’re here a similar amount of time.

Spencer:  Last but very much not least.  Spencer is from England.  He was a professional musician for many years, and still has the remnants of that kind of personality.  He plays guitar very well, and sings.  Sings often.  And Loudly.  He can be very sweet, and is the only person here who really flirts at all, but man does he flirt, but he can also be abrupt, self-centered, and abrasive, especially if you make the mistake of approaching him in the morning.  He and Qat clash often and with vigor, but he also grates on a lot of other people.  On the other hand, he’s a hell of a worker, especially in the kitchen, and he sweet with the compliments etc.