Memphis Democrat
August 29, 2002

We have continued bursting at our seams this week. Dancing Rabbit is a nonprofit corporation and we have a Board of Directors that meets once a year. They met this week here to give input and approve our decisions. The Board includes old friends and previous members, so it was also an excuse for visiting. Jacob, who left us two years ago to live closer to family and build an ecovillage in Detroit, stayed around for a whole week, bringing joy and music into our lives.

Alex is an old friend of several members and she and her friend Greg stayed for a few days after the meeting. Alex is a yoga instructor and she agreed to teach a class in the Rutledge Community Center. Mary and Irene got the word out and about 15 or 20 people came from Dancing Rabbit, Sandhill and Rutledge. Irene had such a good time that we decided to do a little yoga every Monday at noon in the Community Center (though not next Monday because it's Labor Day). Anyone is invited, but come equipped with a mat or towel and an openness to new things.

We were also pleased to host former intern Alexis. She was doing field research with birds on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and stopped by on her way out west to do a bicycle trip in Washington. She took folks on one of her famous informative land walks, even though she was only here for a very short visit.

But as usual, as people come, people must go. Besides all of our old friends leaving, intern Ann has left us for new adventures. We hope they are successful but not so exciting that she won't come back and visit us sometime.

The Rutledge Fall Festival is just a month away and I hope you are looking forward to it as much as me. People here have been practicing some songs to entertain you all. Saturday night a whole bunch of musicians and singers went over to Mary and Roger's to practice for the big day. From what I saw, none of you will want to miss it.

Its fresh fruit season around here. We've enjoyed peaches from our orchard and have been going out onto our land to pick wild cherries, plum and grapes. But because our orchard is so young, in the past we've gratefully received the generosity of our neighbors who have more fruit on their trees and vines than they can use. If anyone finds themselves in that situation, we'd love to come and pick the remainder so we can enjoy jams and pies this winter.

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is a nonprofit and a residential community that demonstrates ecological sustainability in Rutledge, MO. We give a tour every Saturday at 1pm. Please call first before coming by, at 883-5511.

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