|
SPRING 2008 Newsletter
Medicine Circle Vision for 2008
by David Kirchhof
Infrastructure
I see 2008 at Medicine Circle as a year of in-depth planning and design, a time to build some permanent buildings and infrastructure that will facilitate future gatherings. We want to work on things this year so that the land can comfortably host more visitors in the future, projects like expanding our composting and water systems, and putting in some demonstration gardens.
I'm especially excited about getting some yurts up, starting to put a design in place for the landscape, and working on a permaculture site plan.
Caretakers
It would be nice to have an additional caretaker or two here to help look after the place when I’m not here, people who might live here all or part of the year to join in to care for this sacred place.
In the past people have been here as more of a retreat experience, anywhere from months to a couple of years; it’s been a time to figure out where they’re going, what their dreams and talents are, and then move on elsewhere and live their vision. While I don’t think a community is something that one can contrive (it has to happen by attraction), we are setting the intention for the right people to join us in caring for this place and receiving from it.
Being a caretaker
What do I mean by “caretaker”? Being a caretaker involves helping with gardening, learning, music, celebration and general work on the land. We’re looking for people that really truly want to be themselves, explore who they are, and help others to do the same.
In a sense everyone who comes is a part of the family. Caretakers are those people who live on the land for all or part of the year and develop a more intimate relationship with the place so that they can hold the space, along with the land, for what is meant to happen here.
Workshops
This year some of our workshops will focus on infrastructure, like buildings and gardens. Over Memorial Day weekend we'll put up a fabric yurt together and build a wood-fired earthen oven. All of our friends and Medicine Circle family are welcome to join us and help us set the energy for the summer.
In June we're privileged to have Bill Coperthwaite, master educator, designer, yurt vuilder and author of A Handmade Life join us for three workshops. For seven days (June 14-20) we will work with Bill to build a tapered wall yurt that will become a central workshop space and gathering place here at Medicine Circle. The weekend after the Yurt Building Workshop, Bill will lead Saturday and Sunday workshops on making spoons and bowls.
All of these workshops include overnight camping and some meals. Evenings will be spent sharing around campfires, and we have some special events (slideshows, storytelling, poetry and music) scheduled for these evenings as well. It will be a week not to be missed...
In July we welcome back Twin Eagles Wilderness School (www.twineagles.org) for two week-long overnight camps, including a camp this year for 9-13 year olds, and another camp just for teens. These camps offer youth an opportunity to steep in the teachings of the earth, connect deeply with the essence of nature and have a powerful transformational experience in a community of passionate learners.
We're also finalizing dates for an Intro to Permaculture weekend sometime in August or September. Please let us know if you're interested.
|
|