Fiddlehead Farm was a hostel and remote rainforest retreat located in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada. The farm was destroyed in 2002, but people who visited from all over the world often report that they still carry the memories as an important part of their personal history. This blog is set up to compile anecdotes and photos into a single story.
Monday, October 10, 2011
I am back!
I am looking forward to more activity on the blog. I am glad to be back in touch.
The great thing about travel is that it gives you memories that no one can ever take away from you.
My memories of Fiddlehead Farm in the winter of '89 are some of the strongest I have - possibly because in the three weeks I was there I grew so much as a person.
Of course, having a sauna and then rolling naked in the snow, under the light of a full moon, is not something that is easily forgotten!
I stayed there in 1991, it was really a special place. I remember Rueben the dog finding his way into my room at the guest house one night, he was scratching at the door, he opened it and jumped on my bed. The room was pitch black and at first I thought it was a bear, as I was a naive city typ, lol. I used to take Rueben on the walks up towards Tin Hat mountain...it was such a peaceful, place and gave me an immense sense of calm. Linda and her family were lovely...I was sa sad to hear the farm is no longer there
I wonder if anyone is still out there sharing memories of Fiddlehead. There seems to be no activity. I am still having trouble locating pictures of my wonderful 5 weeks at the farm early in 1998. Or the diaries which will remind me of the names of super people which over the years have turned into alphabeti-spaghetti in my brain. I think when I last tried to post something it was lost in the ether so I don't hold out much hope of this getting through. With very fond memories. ps. Because of the hit and miss nature of this blog site, I can be found on Facebook (Alice Denny)
Hi Linda and all. I was lucky enough to share a year at Fiddlehead in 92/93, somehow it attracted me and forever changed me. I remember so much. Trying to get in touch with as many as I can from that era, Melissa, Masa, Alex, Christoph, Finn, Mandy, Uli and Margaretha, Crazy Thomas, Melinda, etc etc. One of the times I remember the most was a period in which I slept upstairs in the loft of the barn. Sally was about to calf and I had never witnessed a cow give birth before. Unfortunately she dropped on a town trip day and I missed it all. A month upstairs with all kinds of critters was just amazing. Thomas and walked out from the farm to Powell River one time and what an amazing trip, some fairly rough terrain but being 21 years old we could tackle anything. I used to sleep in the main house of Linda's, a real treat, an yes I remember Reuben coming in at all hours and snuggling up, what a whimp he was, but must of all I remember his room clearing farts. I was lucky enough to be welcomed into the home and hearts of the Scheiber's, people I will etenally grateful for turning my life around. How I wish I could travel back in time to a swim in frog pond, a walk up tin hat or a ride on the lake in the last hope, to pick the elusive pine mushroom or to be sent running by a silent fart of dear Ruby. So many memories, it brings me to tears. I love you all. Mark Payne
Hi Linda and all, I was delighted to learn about this site (from a friend who attended my wedding ceremony, which was at the farm). This really has saved and will save history. I look forward to contributing my stories, probably slowly over time as there are many; the farm was so important in my personal and professional life eg from being interviewed by Linda and Liisa in downtown Vancouver and being chosen (god knows why) to caretake the farm over a winter, running weekend tours to the farm for international language students, celebrating my marriage, and also, more recently, visiting the area again (by canoe, down Haslam Lake). Have tons of pictures too. Even in my case, it's almost book-length and almost too personal ~ and so I can understand that for those in your family in particular, Linda, it wouldn't be an easy telling to embark on. Neither, I guess, was Mark Vonnegut's in his memoir centred on his experiences on the farm, "Eden Express". Again, thanks for making this space available. Wishing you all much good cheer this holiday and in 2013.
Hey, This is Melissa McGrinder from Waterloo, Ontario. I was there with Mark Payne, Katie Flora MacDonald, Melinda Rivera (Cali), Wayne (Autstraila), Neil Morton from Scottland, Alex(Germany) and so many others. Unlike Mark, I was there the day Sally gave birth and it was a mind blowing experience. Watching big Dougie pick up the young calf with his bare hands as the steam rose off of Norman's warm and wet body - was more moving than words can describe. We had a fabulous time making bread, watching Norman the cow be born and canoeing across to banana Island across frog lake. Is that what it was called? Still have some photos and lots of letters from these people. My time at the farm will always remain one of my favourites of all time. Freedom, choice, growth , handwork and so much more. I miss it often and have been
Message to Melissa. Its Mark here. What a delight to have read your comment. If you would like to re-unite please feel free to email me on mark@firstclassboatcare.com.au Hope you are well.
Hi i was there for a few weeks in April 1989 and loved it. I have v special memories...canoeing on the lake after trekking to it through the beautiful forest. I remember the amazing food...homecooked by Linda. Showering regardless of the weather, building fences. It is such a beautiful place. Playing Risk and evenings in Liisa s cabin in the woods...even after burning my hand on the burner..it was a wonderful experience staying there age 19. I did a lot of growing up there which I really only realised after i left. Thank you so much for putting up with me! Laura Robinson from uk.
Hi , I stayed there for a few weeks in 1990 and have a few photos of my stay there. I'm from Scotland and was traveling around Canada when I saw an ad for the farm in the Jericho beach hostel. I have never forgotten the times I had there . Very sad to hear that it doesn't exist anymore . Cheers
I spent 1 week in 1995.I was trying to cook for a week...saw the birth of a calf(got nice pictures of that), a neutering of a cat.Real farm life :-)Nice memories I have
To the person who stayed in 1995 and left a comment about Real Farm Life. As of this weekend Linda has an email address for this blog. It is fiddleheadlinda@yahoo.ca
She'd love to hear from you directly, and then you can give her more information about yourself. I first arrived at Fiddlehead in 1994-95, so I might have also met the calf you saw born, and the very sore cat that you saw neutered!
13 comments:
Thanks for reactivating the blog, Linda.
The great thing about travel is that it gives you memories that no one can ever take away from you.
My memories of Fiddlehead Farm in the winter of '89 are some of the strongest I have - possibly because in the three weeks I was there I grew so much as a person.
Of course, having a sauna and then rolling naked in the snow, under the light of a full moon, is not something that is easily forgotten!
I stayed there in 1991, it was really a special place. I remember Rueben the dog finding his way into my room at the guest house one night, he was scratching at the door, he opened it and jumped on my bed. The room was pitch black and at first I thought it was a bear, as I was a naive city typ, lol. I used to take Rueben on the walks up towards Tin Hat mountain...it was such a peaceful, place and gave me an immense sense of calm. Linda and her family were lovely...I was sa sad to hear the farm is no longer there
Darrell Jones
I wonder if anyone is still out there sharing memories of Fiddlehead. There seems to be no activity. I am still having trouble locating pictures of my wonderful 5 weeks at the farm early in 1998. Or the diaries which will remind me of the names of super people which over the years have turned into alphabeti-spaghetti in my brain. I think when I last tried to post something it was lost in the ether so I don't hold out much hope of this getting through. With very fond memories. ps. Because of the hit and miss nature of this blog site, I can be found on Facebook (Alice Denny)
Hi Linda and all.
I was lucky enough to share a year at Fiddlehead in 92/93, somehow it attracted me and forever changed me. I remember so much. Trying to get in touch with as many as I can from that era, Melissa, Masa, Alex, Christoph, Finn, Mandy, Uli and Margaretha, Crazy Thomas, Melinda, etc etc. One of the times I remember the most was a period in which I slept upstairs in the loft of the barn. Sally was about to calf and I had never witnessed a cow give birth before. Unfortunately she dropped on a town trip day and I missed it all. A month upstairs with all kinds of critters was just amazing. Thomas and walked out from the farm to Powell River one time and what an amazing trip, some fairly rough terrain but being 21 years old we could tackle anything. I used to sleep in the main house of Linda's, a real treat, an yes I remember Reuben coming in at all hours and snuggling up, what a whimp he was, but must of all I remember his room clearing farts. I was lucky enough to be welcomed into the home and hearts of the Scheiber's, people I will etenally grateful for turning my life around. How I wish I could travel back in time to a swim in frog pond, a walk up tin hat or a ride on the lake in the last hope, to pick the elusive pine mushroom or to be sent running by a silent fart of dear Ruby. So many memories, it brings me to tears. I love you all. Mark Payne
Hi Linda and all,
I was delighted to learn about this site (from a friend who attended my wedding ceremony, which was at the farm). This really has saved and will save history. I look forward to contributing my stories, probably slowly over time as there are many; the farm was so important in my personal and professional life eg from being interviewed by Linda and Liisa in downtown Vancouver and being chosen (god knows why) to caretake the farm over a winter, running weekend tours to the farm for international language students, celebrating my marriage, and also, more recently, visiting the area again (by canoe, down Haslam Lake). Have tons of pictures too.
Even in my case, it's almost book-length and almost too personal ~ and so I can understand that for those in your family in particular, Linda, it wouldn't be an easy telling to embark on.
Neither, I guess, was Mark Vonnegut's in his memoir centred on his experiences on the farm, "Eden Express".
Again, thanks for making this space available.
Wishing you all much good cheer this holiday and in 2013.
Hey, This is Melissa McGrinder from Waterloo, Ontario. I was there with Mark Payne, Katie Flora MacDonald, Melinda Rivera (Cali), Wayne (Autstraila), Neil Morton from Scottland, Alex(Germany) and so many others. Unlike Mark, I was there the day Sally gave birth and it was a mind blowing experience. Watching big Dougie pick up the young calf with his bare hands as the steam rose off of Norman's warm and wet body - was more moving than words can describe. We had a fabulous time making bread, watching Norman the cow be born and canoeing across to banana Island across frog lake. Is that what it was called? Still have some photos and lots of letters from these people. My time at the farm will always remain one of my favourites of all time. Freedom, choice, growth , handwork and so much more. I miss it often and have been
Message to Melissa. Its Mark here. What a delight to have read your comment. If you would like to re-unite please feel free to email me on mark@firstclassboatcare.com.au
Hope you are well.
So is this blog still going?
I still have an Image of me blowing out birthday cake candles in 97, with Rachel Holding the cake.
I can be reached via minjin10@yahoo.com
Hi i was there for a few weeks in April 1989 and loved it. I have v special memories...canoeing on the lake after trekking to it through the beautiful forest. I remember the amazing food...homecooked by Linda. Showering regardless of the weather, building fences. It is such a beautiful place. Playing Risk and evenings in Liisa s cabin in the woods...even after burning my hand on the burner..it was a wonderful experience staying there age 19. I did a lot of growing up there which I really only realised after i left. Thank you so much for putting up with me! Laura Robinson from uk.
Hi , I stayed there for a few weeks in 1990 and have a few photos of my stay there. I'm from Scotland and was traveling around Canada when I saw an ad for the farm in the Jericho beach hostel. I have never forgotten the times I had there . Very sad to hear that it doesn't exist anymore . Cheers
I spent 1 week in 1995.I was trying to cook for a week...saw the birth of a calf(got nice pictures of that), a neutering of a cat.Real farm life :-)Nice memories I have
To the person who stayed in 1995 and left a comment about Real Farm Life. As of this weekend Linda has an email address for this blog. It is fiddleheadlinda@yahoo.ca
She'd love to hear from you directly, and then you can give her more information about yourself. I first arrived at Fiddlehead in 1994-95, so I might have also met the calf you saw born, and the very sore cat that you saw neutered!
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