In the last two weeks, our group has shared questions, labour, meals, and leisure. The days have been thick with wildfire smoke, delight, and exhaustion as we have inquired into the nature of friendship and nurtured our own newly formed bonds. Above all, we have depended on the rhythm of a well-structured day to guide us, limit us, and stir us to action.

Week 2

Readings: Augustine, Karl Steel, Michel de Montaigne, Jacques Derrida, Basil Johnston, Heidi Kiiwetinepinesiik Stark

Work: Mounding potatoes, staking greenhouse plants, building retaining wall, catching errant chickens, building turtle habitat, more weeding

On Saturday, our guided hike at Wiikwemikoong was cancelled due to the smoke. Even so, with the help of three seemingly mystical local dogs (affectionately named "Black Dog," "Grey Dog," and "Brown Dog") we managed to find our way through the forest.

Reflections from participants:

Eliza: “It's been uniquely rewarding to be asking these questions about the nature of friendship in relation to the texts we're reading, but also in relation to one another—and to the land on which we're gardening, cooking, eating, resting, playing together. It feels like so many threads of our study of friendship (notions of equality, reciprocity, duty) are grounded in the day-to-day movements of communal life here.”

Fen: “Friendship is one of the few things I think we don't take for granted, but it is nevertheless often as baffling as it is precious. Reading and talking frankly together these past weeks, with the thrumming background of work and care between us and the farm, has given me both new handles on how I live and love all my relationships, and the space to breathe and wrestle with that newness. There is the kind of ease here that draws you forward in yourself and out to others.”

One more week to go!