SHF Mission Trip to DC 2016: Day 2 - Farm Work at Clagett

The day started with a 7:00 wake up, toast, English muffins, and cereal. After a short drive we arrived at Clagett Farm. While waiting for the last van to arrive a small game of frisbee started up. It ended up becoming a game with almost everyone joining in. Once everyone was there we all walked up to one of the smaller barns on the top of the hill and met Rob, one of the workers who showed us our task. That task happened to be filling up 3 gallon buckets up with dirt and planting small maple and sycamore trees that will eventually be planted along the banks of streams and rivers in nearby states to prevent erosion from flooding pollutants and trash going into the river. We had two large hay wagons filled with 25% mulch and 75% potting soil for the pots we would be filling. Two groups worked at one wagon and one group worked at the other. The groups made quick work of each wagon and they had to be filled 8 times. More than 1000 saplings were planted, after a few small mishaps with the local bees and wasps. Throughout the day we got to tour the property and met the sheep. Two lambs of the herd decided to play and snuggle with a few select members of the group while the boys herded the remaining sheep around the pasture. After a short lesson on the benefits of grass-fed life stock we hiked back to the hot vans and headed back home.

The Justice League prepared dinner and after we ate a few students made their way down to the Capitol to watch sunset on the mall. The weather is warm and sunny (in the 90s today), and the trees are in full blossom. During our program time tonight, we talked about the challenges that face migrant farm workers, learned about Cesar Chavez, and talked about how to survive on farm worker wages.

Tomorrow we head to Lutheran Social Services to help refugees resettle in the United States! It should be less dirty, but still lots of heavy lifting. Thanks for your prayers and support!