Memphis Democrat
January 14, 2008

Hello from Toby at Dancing Rabbit, where the snow has pretty much all melted, with those number crunching meterologists currently predicting a flurrying return on Wednesday. Looking up at the blue sky to indulge in what scientists apparently call 'nowcasting', I reckon the sunshine will continue for ooh, at least a couple of hours.

We enjoyed a gorgeous spring-like day last Sunday, which at 75 degrees was enough to wander round in just a tee-shirt. I had to keep reminding myself that no, this doesn't spell the end of winter. More cold is on its way and I really do need to bring that pile of wood in to dry. When I was out I heard birdsong for the first time in ages, and glanced up in suprise to see a cardinal sitting in the tree that hangs over the garden. Throughout the winter I've occasionally imagined I could hear cicadas... my mind plays tricks with me.

Ted, Sara and their toddler Aurelia got back this week. Aurelia seems to have taken charge of the family now, and was last seen dragging Ted around the Common House by the hand. She can now open doors, draws and cans and we're all going to have to lookout for her. The fact that my three-month old son Adam will soon, too, be able to move himself around in some fashion is gradually dawning on me.

Somewhere in a fancy hotel in New York, Kurt is joining Alline in preparation for her receiving her 2007 Eileen Fisher Business Grant for Women Entrepreneurs. This for her business the Milkweed Mercantile, which will be and running later this year.

The floor of our 16' truck trailer will soon be repaired using oak milled from a tree on land Oren and Celina Erickson own across the road. Dan has been working on sourcing the materials for months now. Our covenants prevent us from using new timber unless it's locally harvested, and we avoid using treated wood because of the chemicals that can leach out. Dragging out the bundles of cut-offs from the Oakwood furniture factory many of us use for firewood will be a whole lot easier once the floor isn't patched over with particle board.

Dan has also been asking around about power systems for the cabin he moved over from Red Earth Farms back in October. He's getting by with candles and vegetable oil lamps for now, but hopes to have somewhere to plug in his lights, stereo and computer within the next few months. Solar panels on his roof are the most likely solution, though he might also install a wind-turbine. Dan is also looking into teaming up with the residents of the grain bin, a few yards away, to share power. As usual in these situations, Dan announced his plans at one of our Sunday meetings and asked for anyone with ideas or resources to help him out.

My conversations with Dan, and his request for ideas, reminds me of the Sustainability Guidelines we each sign up to as residents; it's a document I've been re-reading as I reflect on the past year and consider some of the changes I can make to further reduce my impact on the earth. Written collectively back in 1997, it describes the likely 'lifestyle impact' of our efforts to 'create a sustainable culture that takes into account all impacts of its actions and acts to preserve the Earth for the future':

'... members should be prepared to put more care and thought into decisions than is the American cultural norm. This may also mean more community involvement in personal decisions that have ecological consequences, since crafting holistic solutions to our problems may require a synthesis of many different viewpoints. In addition, members may often find the need to find alternative or creative solutions to meeting their needs and wants sustainably.'

You can read more by clicking the Vision link on our website.

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