Memphis Democrat
September 19, 2002

It sure has been nice since the weather has cooled down. Now if only it would rain! People seem to have perked up in the cooler weather. Skyhouse has been moving along at a fast and furious pace. Two more room's walls have been textured and painted and so many things change that if you don't visit for a week or two, it looks like a whole new building.

Tony has been passing on his skills as a plaster master. Jerry, Mark and Fred from Quincy came by for half a day to help out plastering Skyhouse and learn some skills. During the other half of the day, a bunch of folks from Sandhill came over to pick up some tips.

Tom and Penn have been biking off to Downing for three days of intensive work each week deconstructing an old barn there. We admire their fortitude, biking all that way and camping there to get the work done quickly. They will use the wood to build their houses.

The garden crew has been harvesting tons of tomatoes, green beans and the like. Which means that we have been canning and drying nearly every day. Its hard work, but its satisfying to see the jars fill the shelves. We've been having Snap Along parties to snap beans in the evening that have been so much fun, folks hardly remember they are working. By the way, we had hoped to have a root cellar built by this winter but it has not happened. Too many things to do! Anyway, we are looking for a local empty root cellar we might be able to borrow or rent for the winter.

Kristen, our art intern, has begun experimenting with lime paints that are colored with earth based pigments. He's really interested in painting on plaster and will be making some murals for us.

The Paynes of Memphis brought their out of town relatives for a tour. He also brought the tools he had been sharpening, which were put back into use immediately.

Mark, Megan, Megan's friend Cara and Tamar spent the day in Kirksville attending the Food Fair on Saturday morning. Sandhill has been so busy attending fairs that they asked this crew to go in their stead. The word on the street is that there were some delicious food served up.

Last week I forgot to mention another arrival. Becca joined us from Champaign-Urbana, IL to work on building Skyhouse. We're glad the weather cooled down to helped this Maine native cope with the Missouri climate.

We said goodbye to Alline, as she headed out West to go to a meeting and visit with her parents. But she'll be back just in time for the Rutledge Fall Festival. Don also headed out, but to the East, to attend the memorial service for his sister who was killed in early August. We all send our condolences and support to his family.

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is a nonprofit and a residential community that demonstrates ecological sustainability in Rutledge, MO. We are not giving tours for a few weeks. Please come instead to our Open House on October 12th! Please call first before coming by, at 883-5511.

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