It has been a rainy week here in northeast Missouri, with some crazy thunderstorms and a tornado warning on Wednesday, but it wasn’t enough to dampen the singing or the weeding or the outreach-ing. It takes some pretty rough weather to keep us inside.
Christina here, new resident of Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, bringing you news of the green, the magical, and the pig.
Over the weekend, Dan, Javi, and Tereza went to St. Louis for the Earth Day Festival, where they staffed our booth, talking to people about Dancing Rabbit. People were interested in learning about life at an ecovillage. Many didn’t know that we have amenities, but we do indeed have electricity (I am writing on my laptop right now).
The Rabbits answered non-stop questions for the whole nine hours that they were there. People were especially interested in the sense of community and how we interact, and the materials that are used for building here. Apparently people are interested in finding alternative solutions to the problems that they face.
During the second week of their session, the visitors have been attending workshops, joining in work parties, eating lots of great food prepared by the various kitchens, and visiting with the baby goats. They have formed some strong bonds, and are already figuring out how they can bring what they have learned back to their lives—or how they can bring their lives back to Dancing Rabbit. If you want to visit, we still have three visitor sessions left this year!
On Wednesday night, we had a small turn-out for the weekly song circle. Just my two kids, Max and Emma, as well three other participants. We had just taught the others to sing an old Quaker hymn called “Dear Friend” that Max learned in preschool when we heard the sirens and saw people headed toward the storm shelter in the basement of the Mercantile. As a former New Englander, I am not afraid of rough weather, but when I see the locals heading for shelter during a storm, I follow.
We headed down the wet and dripping stairs into the dark cramped basement. With around fifteen people and four dogs, it was definitely not the most comfortable situation. But as we turned the corner looking for more room to sit down, we heard “Dear Friend” being sung—with harmonies and in a round no less. After a few rounds of that song, the group spontaneously started another. I am new to song circle, so I didn’t know the songs beforehand, but I was mostly able to join in or at least hum along.
The acoustics in the basement were great, and we found some buckets for seats. My kids each took a seat on one of my legs, and the dog found a place to lie down away from the other dogs. There were more rounds of song, and the time passed quickly.
This is the kind of magical moment that happens here all the time, but that doesn’t make it any less special.
Apparently, my daughter Emma had not had enough of the singing, because when we went to a post-dinner bonfire hosted by the visitors by the old pond last night, she wanted to sing a few more rounds of “Dear Friend,” this time accompanied by a drum circle. After a few rounds of “Have You Seen the Ghost of John” we were all sufficiently mesmerized by the fire and the stars and the croaking frogs. We didn’t talk much but sat perfectly content, drumming more at times and less at others, and adding more wood to the fire.
In my other life, this would have been a once-a-year type experience, but spontaneous song has graced my life twice this week.
In other news, things are green.
The cabbage, kale, and lettuce are thriving in our little garden, and so are the weeds. I spent about an hour hacking away at some long grass that has been choking out the tiny pea shoots that are bravely making their way up from the ground. I like snap peas, and more importantly, they are a green vegetable that my kids will eat. The prairie is beautiful here, but not when it’s in my garden. I think I might find a pick ax to go at the grass roots later today…
On Friday, the Critters finally received their much-awaited pig. For the bacon and sausage fans among us, this was an exciting event. But it will be a few months until the pigs are ready for slaughter, and so until then, we have lots of greens and eggs.
We’ll go out to pick those greens when the rain stops, singing out loud or in our heads.
• • •
Tomorrow is Give STL Day! It was a big success for us last year, and we’re hoping for another great day tomorrow, May 3rd! This is an exciting 24-hour online giving event where donations we receive at certain times during the day will be maximized by the St.Louis Community Foundation, so your donation can go further! Find out more here or click here on Tuesday to give! Thanks for your support!
• • •
Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is an intentional community and nonprofit outside Rutledge, in northeast Missouri, focused on demonstrating sustainable living possibilities. Find out more about us by visiting our website, reading our blog, or emailing us.