Memphis Democrat
June 7, 2007

Rachel here, reporting on an exciting week at Dancing Rabbit. I feel like I missed half to it though, because a knock-you-down cold has been going around, and I got it just in time for Tony's birthday. Though he was recovering from the same illness, he had a great time. His favorite flavor is cinnamon and his birthday happened to be on the night we have a potluck dinner with Sandhill and Red Earth Farm communities. Everyone's dish included at least a dash of cinnamon and he was in heaven.

This has been a food-focused week, especially for those of us who eat in Skyhouse. Amy started a blog (a web journal) about the food we grow, prepare and eat here, at http://ecovegan.blogspot.com. Every night at dinner Amy "plates" the food, Tony photographs it and by bedtime it is posted on the blog.

It's felt so busy here in part because it was the first week of a visitor session. We hosted eleven folks (including three kids) to learn about Dancing Rabbit through seminars, land walks, cobbing Ironweed kitchen, de-nailing wood and swing dancing.

They did all of this dodging the rain, which was very unpredictable. It was hard to know when that storm was going to be a sun-shower or pour down half an inch in half an hour. Which meant that there were many cancellations of Rowan and Toren's baseball games. But it also meant the rivers were flowing fast and high.

Tony and I thought this was a good opportunity to float the Fabius River. We loaded up the kayaks in the truck and spent an afternoon speeding down the waterway, avoiding felled trees and enjoying the wildlife (including baby beavers!). It was fun, if a bit rugged, and we were glad to see other folks enjoying the same simple pleasures.

The three Johnson kids have always been homeschooled, but a few months ago Rowan decided he wanted to try public school. We all anticipated that first morning of summer school when he'd climb the steps onto the bus, but many were surprised that morning to see his younger brother Toren join him! At this point, Cynder is still happy to spend her days without the company of her brothers here at Dancing Rabbit.

All the gardens are looking really good and the first harvests are starting to come in. Skyhouse felt its garden needed a little more in terms of soil amendments and went to Johnny Ericksons to shovel out some aged sheep manure. Thanks for helping our gardens grow!

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