June 30, 2011
Today is Soil Day working with Earth. We did the Earth Trance today that is in the book The Earth Path and it was powerful. We will not be doing trances everyday but I love it when we do. I did some tance tending since some of the younger students have not had the type of intense trance experiences I have and they appreciated a chance to process the power of Starhawk’s magic. I thought it was a little interesting that the teachers left the room right after the trance but sensed there was a need to stay.
This morning we talked about soil from the biological creation of the earth to the make make up and the components, sorta like a biology class but much more interesting. Then we started talking about composting and different ways to break it down and the many kinds of compost and its components. We also talked about vermaculture, worm bins and I got to share my experiences with that. Starhawk gave us the basic of bio-remediation, which is breaking down chemicals contamination in soil from household products to radiation.
Our afternoon session started with distributing our biobrew on to plants that will be planted in our new gardens. Building an aquaponic system for plants and fish, which we did not finish. And building self watering Earth Box style planter out of 5 gallon buckets. Then we weeded the spiral garden, built another one beside the old one with cardboard sheet mulching, cleared an area for a third, made a compost pile in the center, hauled many wheel barrels of horse manure up the hill. And then we made an area for the hammock, the most desired and loved permaculture tool.
The weather today was cold rainy and wet but it never really rained. It was a good day for physical labor. I am on Potty Patrol and we shut down the second of four today. Before we are done I am sure we will be totally on compost toilets. There is only one real toilet in the house the others are camper or RV toilets and the flappers are broken, several removed and that is what is causing the stink. With this group we will all be much better with composters. Eggs for breakfast and happy campers and if we are really good we might get salmon for dinner one night this week. We are all talking about what we want to do on or day off on Saturday. Louise has asked me to go to the market in town with her if we can find a way to get there. That really bothers all of us here. There are only a few vehicles and more than 20 people, we are very dependent on others to take us or provide for us, it is not a comfortable feeling, but one that is important to validate. It also has made us concerned that we need to leave this place in a week. How are we going to get to point A or to connect up with point B. I am seriously considering leaving and going to Montreal with Louis, instead of staying for the three days after the workshop. Because I am afraid I will not be able to make my flight if I stay and get stranded here. I feel obligated because I agreed to stay a few days but I am not comfortable with staying either. We will see how this works out..
Our evening session was about meeting structure in consensus. Now this is a subject I have a lot of knowledge and experience in but we had a great time role playing and laughing. We were really a silly toxic group and laughed so much class went to till after 10 pm. But it was part of our community building work too and in permaculture we are building a community here, even though it is only for a few weeks, we still use the same components and structure. Starhawk just finished her book in community building and it will be out in the fall and she has a lot of experience as an activist on doing this with people with a cause and action, even under the most extreme situations. It was a good day.
Today is Soil Day working with Earth. We did the Earth Trance today that is in the book The Earth Path and it was powerful. We will not be doing trances everyday but I love it when we do. I did some tance tending since some of the younger students have not had the type of intense trance experiences I have and they appreciated a chance to process the power of Starhawk’s magic. I thought it was a little interesting that the teachers left the room right after the trance but sensed there was a need to stay.
This morning we talked about soil from the biological creation of the earth to the make make up and the components, sorta like a biology class but much more interesting. Then we started talking about composting and different ways to break it down and the many kinds of compost and its components. We also talked about vermaculture, worm bins and I got to share my experiences with that. Starhawk gave us the basic of bio-remediation, which is breaking down chemicals contamination in soil from household products to radiation.
Our afternoon session started with distributing our biobrew on to plants that will be planted in our new gardens. Building an aquaponic system for plants and fish, which we did not finish. And building self watering Earth Box style planter out of 5 gallon buckets. Then we weeded the spiral garden, built another one beside the old one with cardboard sheet mulching, cleared an area for a third, made a compost pile in the center, hauled many wheel barrels of horse manure up the hill. And then we made an area for the hammock, the most desired and loved permaculture tool.
The weather today was cold rainy and wet but it never really rained. It was a good day for physical labor. I am on Potty Patrol and we shut down the second of four today. Before we are done I am sure we will be totally on compost toilets. There is only one real toilet in the house the others are camper or RV toilets and the flappers are broken, several removed and that is what is causing the stink. With this group we will all be much better with composters. Eggs for breakfast and happy campers and if we are really good we might get salmon for dinner one night this week. We are all talking about what we want to do on or day off on Saturday. Louise has asked me to go to the market in town with her if we can find a way to get there. That really bothers all of us here. There are only a few vehicles and more than 20 people, we are very dependent on others to take us or provide for us, it is not a comfortable feeling, but one that is important to validate. It also has made us concerned that we need to leave this place in a week. How are we going to get to point A or to connect up with point B. I am seriously considering leaving and going to Montreal with Louis, instead of staying for the three days after the workshop. Because I am afraid I will not be able to make my flight if I stay and get stranded here. I feel obligated because I agreed to stay a few days but I am not comfortable with staying either. We will see how this works out..
Our evening session was about meeting structure in consensus. Now this is a subject I have a lot of knowledge and experience in but we had a great time role playing and laughing. We were really a silly toxic group and laughed so much class went to till after 10 pm. But it was part of our community building work too and in permaculture we are building a community here, even though it is only for a few weeks, we still use the same components and structure. Starhawk just finished her book in community building and it will be out in the fall and she has a lot of experience as an activist on doing this with people with a cause and action, even under the most extreme situations. It was a good day.
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