Rachel and Isabelle
Meet Isabelle and Rachel! They are both short term coworkers in our community. Isabelle came from the Drexel Hill, PA area in 2021. Rachel is from Lansdale, PA and arrived a year later in 2022. Both are actively involved in our Biodynamic Dairy Operation as well as our community.
Isabelle stumbled upon Camphill while looking for gap year options, and thought it looked like a great place to live. Rachel, on the other hand, was invited to come visit by our Admissions Coordinator. At first, Rachel agreed to come for 3 months, but then she decided to stay.
“It’s been very life changing, and a real growing experience. I’ve met a lot of people and it’s helped me grow. My people skills have improved and I have a better sense of self,” Rachel shared. Isabelle stated, “Overall my experience has been wonderful. I learned and grew a lot while here and I’ve met so many people that are very important to me now.”
Both love helping the dairy and the experiences they’ve had there. Rachel feels that one of the best parts about helping in the dairy is the way she can open up when she learns new things. “I like being challenged, and especially bonding with the people and the cows. Cows are amazing creatures. I’ve learned so much from them.”
Isabelle adds, “There’s so many things I like about the Dairy. The cows themselves, farming and feeling like you’re doing something important. Also, all the skills I’ve learned and I love the people.”
Rachel and friends
Rachel shared a favorite memory with a villager at Franklin House. While Rachel was scrubbing a stain out of someone’s shirt, she asked Claudia to push up her sleeves because she was wearing gloves and they were all wet. Rachel shared, “So of course, Claudia begins to very neatly roll up both of my sleeves, then very tenderly kissed both of my arms and said, ‘You’re doing good Rachel, I love you!’ It did bring me to tears and I told her I loved her too.”
Isabelle
There were some surprises too. Neither knew how life changing the experience would be for them. Isabelle noted, “I didn’t really know what I was getting into. It’s a lot harder than I expected, but also more meaningful.” For Rachel, she wasn’t expecting it to have such an impact on her. She remarked about the relationships with the others in the Dairy. “It’s an important experience. I made really good friends here. You end up bonding with people on another level while here.”
As for advice for new volunteers Isabelle remarked, “What you put into it, you will get out of it. It’s really worth it.”