This weekend some family friends asked if I would house sit for them in Fieldbrook. I thought this would be a nice chance to get away without really getting away. Little did I realize what this would entail: eight chickens, four ducks, three cats, a dog named Daisy, and an abundant garden, not to mention all the potted plants on the deck. I had spent some time in Feildbrook when I was younger, mostly at friend’s houses, but I had really never considered what it would feel like to live there. With a population of around 200, this quaint town, located six miles east of McKinleyville, and considered an unincorporated community, Fieldbrook sits at the edges of McKinleyville, Arcata, and Blue Lake. The few blocks that comprise “town” include a country general store, volunteer fire department, school, church, winery, grange, apple orchard, and at one point a post office was running. Strolling through “town,” I saw goats, lamas, dogs, cats, chickens, gardens and orchard. Wow. This felt rural.
This week’s reading for class discussed the definition of rural, and what working with rural communities may mean to being a social worker. With limited access and resources a social worker must look and identify the strengths and assets of the community in order to best serve it. Also important to consider are the social problems of the community from a person-in-environment perspective, looking at both the physical environment and the sociocultural or rural lifestyle of the community.
Once I decided I would use my short stay as material for this blog, I knew I needed to snap a picture of the general store, which is very cute, and at which I made two stops at during my stay for necessary supplies, such as ice cream to go with the fresh berries I picked. Anyhow, while I was taking pictures of the store, fire department, and community mural, the fire sirens went off, and the station garage doors opened. How exciting I thought, not because the potential for the emergency at hand, but because I found myself in the right place at the right time to see how this community came together to support each other. When I pulled up to the store I noticed a group of people sitting in the shade of an overhand connected to the store talking. They started to come out to observe what was going on. I began chatting with the grounds keeper to the store, who named off each volunteer as they responded within minutes of the sirens. He said that everyone on the department were volunteers and lived within ear shot of the station. Not only does the Fieldbrook fire department cover “the valley” as the locals call it, but they back up both McKinleyville and Blue Lake fire department. He also mentioned with pride that the store made the North Coast Journal Best of Humboldt in last week’s issue for best old-timely general store (check it out at: http://www.northcoastjournal.com/issues/2009/09/10/best-humboldt-readers-picks/). After the fire trucks rolled out, another local engaged me in conversation as she saw me snapping pictures of the happenings. She also talked about her community with such pride, mentioning some of the strongest and healthiest coho salmon live in Lindsay Creek that runs through Fieldbrook (which is part of the Mad River water shed). We talked about housing development, history, and the timber industries. She mentioned how the Fieldbrook school put together a wonderful booklet on the history of Fieldbrook, and how Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA) did a land development survey that really incorporated the local community and held town meetings to allow the community to have a voice. She talked about how each house in Fieldbrook is on their own septic tank so growth is very slow. The woman also chatted about the Friday night music they held at the general store weekly, and how most of the community comes out to celebrate together.
Friend's Garden.
Daisy the Dog!
Apple orchard out back.
And the ducks & chickens, can't forget them! Rooster crowed all night and day. Really he did.
During my weekend stay I think I was really able to see a little glimpse of what it would be like living away from more resources that I have become accustomed to. My dream one day is to have a big garden, chickens, goats etc, so I could really identify with the peaceful and relaxing feel that I got from my weekend get-away.
