Highlights of 2001-2002
Our webmaster recently shocked my by arriving. Imagine, in a snowstorm, slipping and tumbling his way down the icy trail to plead with me, yet again, to write an update for our webpage. “Elle, people are getting really tired of reading ‘Highlights of 2000′. PLEASE write and tell them we’re still at it!” Pondering his frozen eyelashes, I pick up my pen:
Dear reader, why am I the one encharged with telling our story? My version is full of briar patches, dirt under the fingernails and gossip about the wolves! I’m the she-wolf of the pack and very biased towards earthic points of view.
Others would tell you all about the fancy 495 gallon spring box we built. Or fill you in on the near completion of our rather large building to house our library, and George. They would describe how our additions to the guinea pen make it look suspiciously like a condominum. And there’s plenty to say about the internal phone system linking cabins (in progress, of course…).
There is one new development which has entranced me - a huge solar food dehydrator. I put everything I can find in it. Even grass!
I did enjoy the outhouse project. Digging that deep pit was alot of fun. You never knew what you’d find that that hole the next day. Bullfrogs, a severed end of a grapevine filled with water, a car sized boulder. If we’d kept digging there would be previous civilizations - but eventually you have to stop digging and build the rest. Then paper the inside with “Far Side” cartoons.
Yes, if someone else were writing, you’d learn more about our infrastructure progress. However, I think the big developments were concerning people and plants.
On People:
Boy did we ever learn a few things. In a nutshell, even though some entertain the fantasy of living in a small, self-reliant, sustainable community close to nature - not everyone is cut-out for it and discover that city or town living is really not so bad after-all.
Yup, some of our folks headed for the city… It’s one thing flipping pages of “Mother Earth” or “Nature” magazines over a glass of wine in Denver and quite another to live in the woods, “chop wood and carry water”. No one really knows if they can do it until they try.
What were the difficulties? Some who weren’t ever getting high marks in “people skills” thought such skills wouldn’t be needed here - an “easy way out”. Not so. When we live in isolation with only a very few people, “people skills” are more important than ever. When conflicts arise - they simply MUST be skillfully resolved. Courtesy, respect, thoughtfullness are essential. Out here, if we wrong someone, there is no avoiding consequences, no severing of relations, no replacing of friendships. Folks who think of abusive relationships as somehow “normal” - discover that doesn’t work in this environment. According to the laws of nature, dysfunctional animals are eaten. Fortunately, the barbecue pit project wasn’t needed.
Along the same lines, some discovered they really do need a wider social circle; going to the movies, restaurants, all of the entertainments of city life were really needed.
Some were very dissappointed to learn that chores really do have to be done despite our moods. We had some “night owls” who couldn’t adjust to getting up for morning chores. Such late night schedules are fine in the city - but don’t work out in the country.
Oddly, those best suited to city life attracted woodland pests like crazy. It was like nature’s initiation ceremony. Why do biting insects prefer city people? So does poison ivy. Certain people act like magnets to attract every single pest in the forest. Poor folks held out bravely but when they began to resemble warthogs, red and welty, well… the call of the city traffic sounded pretty good.
So, our ranks were thinned to the “survivors”. And we learned a few things which will make the transition easier to newcomers. We’ll be careful to ascertain that our newbies are totally suitable for community life in this forest. Forest types will find abundant blessings and very little discomfort. I can say that now from experience. In fact, to me, these woods and streams and gardens provide endless comfort.
On Plants:
This year I’ve started working with other gardeners to form a seed exchange and seed bank, as well as share know-how. So far, all are in N.W. Arkansas and with similar growing conditions we’ve got plenty to offer each other. I just sent out my own seed list which tops 300 varieties.
In 2002 ashwanga proved itself in the garden. Thats a keeper. It’s tincture treats “fatigue from over-work”. When I brought the roots indoors to process the whole house smelled of “attar of roses”. Easy to grow, too.
A big suprise - volunteer luffah and tahitian squash outperformed those I planted. Luffah decided to grow wild up a cherry tree. An odd sight to see to foot long gourds dropping from branches.
The forest continues to reveal it’s “secrets”: wild yam, skullcap, snakesroot, Jacob’s Ladder, spicebuch, Indian Pipe … to name a few. A meadow of ox-eye daisy which subs for chamomile. Lots of honeysuckels for the flu.
Grapes came in this year and I was pleased to discover I can make a nice vinegar (even though I was expecting winde).
And this year we’re launching an internship program! Folks aching for the chance to stalk the wild herbs and learn the entire process of food and medicine production will be able to spend 3-6 months at it. Contact us for more information!
Now that our website is expanding to provide more interesting materials related to self-sufficiency, I do plan to write more often - so many wolf tales to wag on the web…
D’Coda
