Memphis Democrat
June 1, 2006

This is Suzanne. It has been a blazing hot week and staying cool has been a challenge even in Bella Ciao. Straw bale houses do stay remarkably cool in the summer--especially if you are good about keeping doors and windows shut and curtains closed. I have  been fairly comfortable inside, even without a fan--but going outside is a different story. We have started playing ultimate at eight am to avoid the heat, and even that early it feels too hot--to everyone but Nathan, that is. He is from Texas and would happily play ultimate in the middle of the day.

A lot of us have been harvesting strawberries this week. Geneveive, who is leasing some garden space that formerly belonged to Skyhouse, has been harvesting huge bowlfuls of strawberries from her new garden and sharing them with everyone. She has been serving strawberries with chocolate sauce for dessert, making strawberry butter, and brewing strawberrry wine with Nathan and Thomas. Next week I am hoping to make strawberry jam with Tom and Tereza.

Jennifer and Rowan are in Turkey for ten days and after that they will be in South Carolina. Cynder and Torin will be joining them there for a week. Tamar left for Massachusetts where she is going to attend another friend's wedding. She might be breaking a record for attending the most weddings in one summer.

We had sad news this week--Jenn told us that she is leaving Dancing Rabbit. She has decided that she would be happier in a smaller, more family-like, income sharing community. She will be spending the next two weeks in a community in St Louis, and then in July she has a visit scheduled with Sandhill. Hopefully she will end up living not too far away.

We've been getting ready for our second big group of visitors this year. Nine adults and two kids will be joining us. About half will stay for 1 week and the rest will stay on for a full three weeks. We are looking forward to meeting them and gearing up for a week of workshops and fun events.

On Monday night Skyhouse hosted Truman professors Royce and Devin and their toddler Henry as part of our Neighbors series. A few other folks brought their dinner over to Skyhouse to join in the meal. Devin told us about the modern dance class she teaches at Truman and said she could be persuaded to come visit again and teach a class here--many of us are excited by that prospect. 

Tuesday night was our potluck dinner at Sandhill and some friends of Gigi's, Digger and Jasmine, put on a puppet show for everyone complete with a portable theatre, costumes and zany voices. The stage was set up on Sandhill's large screened-in porch and the entire floor space was filled for the very entertaining show. They performed Punch and Judy and Puss in Boots. Thanks Digger and Jasmine!

On Wednesday we had an informal question and answer session between folks here who have experience with natural building and those wanting to build who have questions. Tony, Thomas, Tom and and Bob were there to answer questions and Nathan and I asked quite a lot. I am getting more and more excited about the prospect of building my own house, perhaps next summer. It is great having so many people around with building experience.

And last night we celebrated Tony's birthday (a day early) with an after dinner showing of the Grateful Dead movie. It was a great movie to see on a big screen. The new projector, a gift from Stan and Jo Ann Katz has certainly made movie watching a lot more fun.

We are still looking for spoiled straw or hay. If you have any you want to get rid of, please leave a message on the main phone line listed below.

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is a nonprofit and a residential community thatdemonstrates ecological sustainability in Rutledge, MO. We have tours on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month at 1pm. The next tour is June 10th. Please call before coming by. 660-883-5511.

Back to list of Memphis Democrat Columns