3/3/14
Today was the first day of my internship at Turtle Lake Refuge. Today I was introduced to my Co-workers and showed around. I was also introduced to the microgreens, showed the processes they go through in order to be suitable to harvest.
3/4/14
My second day was full of food and preparation. Tuesdays and Fridays are lunch days, meaning that the Turtle Lake staff makes lunch for the public, who in turn can come into the restaurant, sit down eat their meal and give a donation to the organization.
3/5/14
In todays endeavors I again took to the kitchen. Two staff members and I prepared some of the products that Turtle Lake Refuge sells to other stores. I was able first hand to experience the whole process.
3/6/14
Today on my adventures I took a trip out to the farm to see how they grow and harvest the plants they use in their products. I spent most of my time filtering composted soil that had been sitting for awhile and putting that soil into the plant beds to give the new seedlings we had just planted plenty of nutrients. I learned about composting and soil useful things in the process of growing. Along with this I learned the proper way to plant seeds and which plants need more water and which need less. Overall it was a successful day at Turtle Lake.
3/7/14
Today was a fun day. Today is one of the days we get to cook lunch and serve it to locals who stop by. Today I learned how to set up and clean up from this, along with interactions with the locals who come in and how they run their lunch time bussel. We started off the day by taking out all of the table cloths, pillows for the chairs and wrapping utensils. After doing this we set up tables both outside and downstairs. As the lunch bussel started I got to interact with the people coming in asking them how there day was going and serving them food. I really learned today the true value of community. The community environment at turtle incredible, its something that extents to anyone who happens to come into Turtle and is truly amazing. Today along with with cooking great food I learned about the value of community.
3/10/14
Today is a Monday so that means microgreen care happens today. I have had previous experiences with the microgreens but today we really got into the ligestics of the process of growing and harvesting microgreens. Microgreens I learned are harvest about 14 days after they are planted and can easily be grown all year round. I also learned that microgreens go through 4 stages. First they are soaked. They are soaked with a pinch of kelp for eight hours, the kelp provides mineral support for the seeds. After the seeds are soaked they are planted. This happens by placing the seeds and soil in trays with holes inside, which are placed in trays with no holes inside to allow drainage of the seeds. Following this is the germination process. The seedlings are watered everyday, hose set to mist and the trays are rotated every day so that the weight is evenly distributed over time. Then when they are 1 to 2 inches tall or after 3-5 days they are unstacked and a empty tray is placed on the top of each. It is about 24 to 48 hours transition period before they are brought fully into the light. After this stage comes the adult stage. The microgreens in this stage are watered everyday with the hose set to shower. Sunflowers greens and buckwheat I learned like warmth and more water, while peas and wheatgrass don’t need much water because of their dense roots. After my experience today it is safe to say I know a great deal about microgreens.
3/11/14
Today was a lunch day it being tuesday and all. Today I enjoyed working in the kitchen trying out new recipes and creating some of our very own recipes that we get to serve. Today along with cooking I learned a great deal about foods that help with stabilizing your mood. Some of the mood stabilizers I had no idea about. For instance I learned that orange foods, apples and lemons are all mood stabilizers that help your body stabilize your moods and makes for a happier life. Along with this fact I learned that black foods have a great impact upon the body also. Black foods such as black seeds, grapes, cabbage are great ways of boosting your system. Not only do black foods boost your system they have been used for more serious matters. These foods have been known to cure cancer, the qualities that they hold are so great for your body that they can go to extremes like that and help your body in amazing ways. Not only today did I cook amazing food and give it to amazing people but I broke down some learning tools about plants that I will be able to use in the future for years to come.
3/12/14
Today I came in a little bit early to attended a class that Katerina said would be very beneficial and interesting. This class was not taught by Katerina my mentor but she attended the class to gain new knowledge like me. The class was held in Turtle Lake Refuge’s caffee. The class was focused on the relationship we have with nature and more specifically birds. The core idea of the class was that courting your way to the natural world is reached through birds. Throughout the class we spoke of natural rhythms of a place, we talked about how through birds you can hear danger coming from miles away. We looked into the relationship we have with birds and nature further and reflected upon that. I found it interesting that we are so linked to nature weather we like it or not. Today was a learning experience for sure but I really enjoyed the class.
3/13/14
Today was a Thursday, I was unable to go to my internship due to illness.
3/14/14
Today we prepared lunch due to the fact that it is Friday one of the days we get to make lunch for the locals. Today I learned how to prepare green drink and facts about the nutrition of the drink. Green drink is made mostly with wheat grass. To make the green drink you cut up as much wheatgrass as you want, add your choice of lemon or ginger, and put them into a blender and fill the blender to the top with water. After this you blend the contents and then strain it giving you the leftover nutrients from the plants in juice form. I also learned that you fill the blender with water to unlock some of the nutrients that is found in wheatgrass so when blended it can be released. Along with this I discovered that wheatgrass is full of protein, minerals, and is great for your skin and basically everything else. Having had learned this I am able to apply these health tips to my own life and today I started thinking about changing my diet completely.
3/17/14
Today we started off the day by cooking products that Turtle Lake sells to other stores and shops. I learned how to do the packaging and labels along with how to weight the correct amount of sprouts and wheatgrass into each little bag that is sold. Today was about the art of food production I learned a lot and had a good time doing it.
3/18/14
Today was a lunch day, we spent most of your time in the kitchen preparing food for others to eat. Today I learned how to make a pie using all raw foods. I found it amazing that I was able to make a delicious dessert without any sugar wheat or dairy within the recipe. The pie we made was a Banana Coconut Cream pie. This coconut cream pie was made up of coconut, dates, honey, salt, coconut oil, cashews, bananas, vanilla, and water to add consistency. Today I realized that health can extend as far as desserts that its possible to indulge your sweet tooth while still eating clean to me that is amazing. I am eager to learn more.
3/19/14
Today I walked around and seeked new information about different types of plants. Today was a production day, a day where we tie up all the loose ends that need to be done by the next day. I talked to my coworker about foods that help with weight lose and fatty cell breakdown. She told me that grapefruit helps a great deal with the breakdown of fatty cells. The grapefruit actually makes the cells more available to burn when you exercise. along with this information I found that mallow is both good for stretch marks and weight loss. Besides these I learned that greens, chia seeds, hemp, and many more are good for the building of muscles. I am very interested in fitness so these things were very useful for my research.
3/20/14
Today I interviewed my coworkers for my project. I asked them what they liked most about working at Turtle, why they decided to work there, where they are from and what Turtle means to them personally. It was great to hear all their different stories and how they came to love Turtle Lake Refuge just like I have over my internship. Today is my second to last day here and I am happy to say I have grown over my internship. I am sad and excited for my last day tomorrow.
3/21/14
Today was my last day at Turtle it was a mixed feelings day. I was excited because my coworkers and I got to choose exactly what we wanted to prepare for the lunch for that day. We chose to make a lemon tart kind of dessert, veggie wraps, and soup. I didn’t get to stay and eat today however because I had to make it to my exhibition to present my project. It was great spending so much time with so many amazing people I learned d so much. I hope to come back and volunteer for Turtle Lake Refuge because the experience was amazing.