Hi readers. It’s been a week for the pond this week. Temperatures are a little warm for working out of doors, and you know that humidity really gets under your skin. On the other hand, the pond is just warm enough to not be shocking, and cool enough to be thoroughly refreshing. It’s been a hopping scene down at the dock. This is Sam, writing, and I want to send a personal message of gratitude to whomever set up the towel rack to help us avoid chiggers and ticks. Thank You!
Also thanks to Kody who is helping me remember what happened this week, and think of the right words to use.
After the WIP on Sunday we tried to get all of our DRVC members together for a photograph with our (now) four passenger vehicles. Not everyone showed up, but it was still pretty impressive to represent visually how many fewer cars per person we have than an average resident of the United States. The new Nissan Leaf is a very pretty addition to the vehicle fleet.
We can see progress being made toward the new common house. The workshop is taking shape, for one. It’s a couple of shipping containers with a roof spanning the space between them, a gravel floor and one additional wall. We’ve also been removing some trees from the old fence line that passes through the construction site. For many of us, it’s a reverent time, full of mixed emotions. Whenever we begin new construction for a building, a road, a shed, or a garden, we displace some existing residents of the space our new structure will occupy. In the case of removing something like a dozen trees, we’re even more aware than usual of the liberty we’re taking, and feel an even greater sense of gratitude and responsibility to use that space well.
Nathan celebrated his birthday with a party, and, in keeping with his sharing nature, he decided at the last minute to make it a combined birthday party for himself and going away party for Watson (Mercantile wexer) and Katrina (Coz’s wexer). Watson is leaving very soon, and Katrina left in the later part of the week. Watson’s been active with planning activities for us and her fellow wexers, and making awesome cakes in the Mercantile. The kids particularly miss Katrina for her slack line. It’s just a piece of webbing with a tensioning ratchet, strung up between two trees, I think we can make a replacement appear someday, given the hours of fun and learning it brought to us. Thank you Katrina and Watson; We enjoyed having you.
We’re between visitor sessions right now, and have another one coming up next week. I think there’s still a few spots in future sessions, if you want to get in on the viz program action.
The folks working on the Ecovillage Education course are excited to host students from all across the globe representing 6 countries and 4 continents. If you are interested in registering for the course, this is the last chance to register.. now through July 1. Go to www.ecovillageeducation.us to check it out. The course is billed as a premiere training set in a living, thriving ecovillage, you will be able to see, touch, and taste the practical applications of the principles being offered in this course. The students will benefit from the gathering of wisdom of ecovillages worldwide and the skills of local staff to ignite their own path.
For the past few weeks we’ve been running a Thursday evening tour of the village. It’s a little shorter than the Saturday tour, and you can also enjoy pizza and a beverage at the Milkweed Mercantile along with conversation with Rabbits in a relaxed atmosphere.
Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage is an intentional community of more than 70 people in Rutledge, northeast Missouri, practicing ecologically sustainable living. We offer a free tour to the public on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from April-October, with June 22nd being our next tour date. The tour begins at 1:00 pm and generally lasts one and a half to two hours. You do not need to make a reservation for regularly scheduled Saturday tours. For more information you can visit our website www.dancingrabbit.org, read our blog The March Hare at blog.dancingrabbit.org, or give us a call at(660) 883-5511.