What’s Happening: June 2013

Spring

We’ve been enjoying beautiful springtime weather in the Ozarks.  East Winders are loving the warm days and cool nights. Many of us consider this the nicest time of the year, before the heat and bugs of summer are upon us. Spring has come on a bit later this year, with the catalpa tree on the Reim lawn blooming a full month later than it did last year.  Day after day of perfect spring weather greeted us through April, May, and well into June, much to our delight. The landscape is lush, green, and full of plant and animal diversity. Life is good in the Ozarks.

Garden

Sweet potatoes were planted early this month.  Potatoes, corn, sweet and hot peppers, zucchini, eggplant, onions, garlic, leeks, melons, cucumbers, broccoli, kale, cabbage, collards, carrots, tomatoes, beets, rhubarb, peas, and beans are growing rapidly in our gardens.  The first of the garlic planted last fall was harvested and braided this month. The first small harvests of cucumbers, zucchini, broccoli, peppers, blueberries, and black raspberries came in later this June.  Strawberry production dwindled by the middle of the month, but not before most East Winders had their fill of delicious fresh smoothies. We’ve had lots of help in our gardens this spring, with many hours devoted to weeding and removing insects by hand. Our gardens are in good health and good hands, and we look forward to the bounty we expect to harvest this summer and fall.  Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, melons, and berries are expected in great abundance next month.

Herbs

Yarrow, wild carrot (and poison hemlock, a look-a-like), valerian, echinacea, sage, self-heal, comfrey, chamomile, calendula, lavender, and roses flowered this month.  We harvested and dried motherwort, tarragon, oregano, peppermint, lemon balm, catnip, daisies, calendula, passionflower, and chamomile, among others. Chamomile flowers are blooming by the thousands, and harvesting the tiny flowerheads is a daily chore.  Chamomile is a favorite herbal remedy, and is very effective for soothing anxiety and digestive troubles. We distilled yarrow, daisies, and cilantro for essential oils and hydrosols. We made salves for community use, including a drawing salve for snakebites, splinters, thorns, spider bites, insect bites, etc., and a calendula-yarrow salve for healing cuts. Late spring and early summer provide bountiful wild and cultivated herb harvests, and we use this time to prepare community for the year ahead.

Building in Community

Progress at our new gazebo in the Mulberry Garden is coming along beautifully.  We recently adorned our new cob table with colored ceramic tiles, bits of colored glass and mirror, fossils, and crystals.  The top of the table features a colorful depiction of the sun with quartz crystals embedded in the center.  The twenty-eight cycles of the moon are depicted with pieces of broken mirror embedded around the edge of the table. The four stone/cob benches are still awaiting finishing touches, and plans for a new cob oven are already in the works.

East Winders held a building meeting to discuss ideas and plans and organize labor for upcoming building projects.  There has been a lot of talk about building projects in community, especially with the high number of people living on the farm.  Priorities include repairs to Rockbottom, our central building and dining hall, and rebuilding some of our showerhouse that burnt down in December 2011.

 

 

Summer Solstice

East Winders enjoyed the longest day of the year and the shortest night of the year on June 21st.  Many former members, adults and children alike, joined us for a lovely solstice party by the creek.  The weather was warm but pleasant, and many enjoyed the creek throughout the day. Homemade music, snacks, soda, beer, and wine were shared, and a good time was had by all.

Nutbutter Website

We’ve recently launched a brand new website featuring our cashew, almond, and peanut butter, and tahini.  The new website includes information on our business, our community, and our products.  It also features short bios of over a dozen East Winders, focusing on how they contribute to our community and our nutbutter business.  You can check out the new website at eastwindnutbutters.com.

Waiting List

The waiting list continues to grow.  There has been very little turnover, and the wait is long for most new people.  Females are given priority over males in an attempt to adjust our current gender imbalance, causing males to undergo especially long waits.  Individuals on the waiting list are allowed to stay and camp until November 1^st, but will be asked to leave during the colder months.  Aside from not having a room, people on the waiting list are unable to enjoy many of the other benefits of membership.  Members receive $150 per month, are able to vote after three months, receive medical coverage after six months, can serve on the board, can run for managerial positions, and can operate community vehicles, among other things. Individuals on the waiting list do not enjoy any of these benefits, though they are expected to work the same amount as everyone else.

We recently held a community meeting to discuss our plans for dealing with the issue of ongoing population capacity.  Many East Winders felt that improvements to our shared infrastructure, including our kitchens, showers, and laundry, are a priority.  East Winders also felt that it would be a good idea to put a cap on the number of people on the waiting list that can live at East Wind during their wait.  There are already eight waiting list-ers staying on the farm and camping in tents right now, and limiting the number to ten or fifteen has been suggested. Overpopulation is somewhat of a new issue for East Wind, and there are no simple solutions for the multi-faceted problems that it presents.

National Rainbow Gathering

A dozen East Winders headed to the National Rainbow Gathering in Montana on June 23rd.  East Winders packed up a full Rainbow kitchen, including a few hundred pounds of our famous East Wind nutbutter.  East Wind Community Kitchen will be on the map again this year, and all are welcome to stop by.  Folks from our fellow communities and other communally minded individuals/groups are welcome to join our camp.  Peace, love, and peanut butter!   

What’s Happening: May 2013

East Wind’s 39^th Land Day

East Winders past and present celebrated East Wind’s 39^th Land Day on May 1^st.  Partiers enjoyed a beautiful sunny day at the creek with friends, food, and drink.  At sunset, East Winders and friends gathered around a beautiful old elm tree to take a group photo and wrap the tree with ribbons.  East Wind will celebrate its 40^th anniversary on May 1^st of next year, and we are anticipating an East Wind reunion that will be remembered for a long time.  Many past East Winders will be attending, and there is talk of organizing an East Wind renaissance fair.  You can find out more information here.

Construction in Community

East Winders have been motivated to create and build this spring, and a number of different projects have been undertaken and completed.  A new aquaculture greenhouse is being added onto the south side of our exercise room/recording studio.  Our ice machine has been moved outside of RB in a new shed built specifically for that purpose.  The outdoor shower at Fanshen has been renovated using timber framing and thatching techniques.  Sunnysiders built a nice new front porch for Sunnyside, one of the original residences built at East Wind. Natural building at the new gazebo in the Mulberry Garden is well underway, with a cob/stone table and three benches nearing completion.

Plans for the hopefully near future include renovations to the floor and foundation of Rock Bottom, our kitchen/dining hall.  A lot of work has been done on a substandard personal shelter, Barnabus, in hopes that it will soon be inhabitable.  There are plans to build a new wood shed next to the general shop in the near future. There is also talk of rebuilding part of the showerhouse that burnt down in December 2011.  Maintaining, improving, and expanding our infrastructure is a never-ending job at East Wind, and we are always grateful for people willing to take on these kinds of projects.  This certainly looks like a promising year for construction at East Wind so far.

Garden

Mother nature has been kind this spring, and ample rain, sunshine, and pleasant temperatures are being enjoyed by people and plants alike.  The landscape is lush, green, and growing rapidly. Tomatoes, cucumbers, hot peppers, zucchini, and figs were all planted out into our gardens during the first week of May.  Melons were planted later this May.  Lettuce, asparagus, and strawberries became harvestable in early May, and are now being enjoyed daily in abundance.  Strawberries are a garden favorite of many East Winders, and are being devoured by the bucketful raw and cooked into desserts.  Many of us are eagerly anticipating the mulberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries that will come in during the next few months.  Garlic, cabbage, and broccoli will be ready to harvest soon as well.  Small peaches, apples, and figs have already begun to grow on our orchard trees.  Many East Winders have been putting a lot of love into our gardens this year, and we’re about to reap the benefits as we head towards the peak of summer garden harvests during the next few months.

Herbs

Hibiscus, basil, holy basil, sweet marjoram, borage, lemongrass, nasturtiums, and echinacea were planted in our herb gardens this May.  Our new copper alembic column still for essential oils is up and running, and herbs are being distilled fresh from the garden.  Lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, wild rose, and catnip were the first hydrosols that we made this spring.  We’ve already started drying large quantities of herbs for next winter, including lemon balm, oregano, peppermint, spearmint, tarragon, sage, thyme, violet, chives, etc.  Chamomile, calendula, valerian, and sage have already begun to flower and enchant our herb gardens.  To support East Wind’s growing interest in natural medicine, we are growing and processing more medicinal herbs than ever before.

Elections

East Wind holds annual elections for the management of different branches, including garden, ranch, dairy, food processing, recreation, medical, utilities, grounds, forestry, house, kitchen, pets, finances, membership, auto shop, nut butters, etc.  All East Winders are able to sign-up to run for any of these positions during the month-long sign-up period.  The last week of May is reserved for voting, and new managers take their positions on June 1^st.  There was a lot of participation this year, with over 35 East Winders running for 40 positions (with some people running as teams and some people running for multiple positions). Eleven positions are being sought after by at least two opposing parties or individuals, allowing voting East Winders to choose their preferred candidate for the job.

East Wind is an egalitarian community that strives to offer a viable alternative to the hierarchical structure that dominates the workplace elsewhere.  Managers here aren’t bosses and don’t have employees working beneath them. Managers don’t make more money or enjoy other additional benefits (other than the satisfaction of helping to maintain and improve the quality of life in community). Instead, managers are self-motivated individuals who volunteer to be responsible for a particular aspect of community life.  This system has its drawbacks, but generally seems to work quite well for a community of this size.

What’s Happening: April 2013

Spring

Onions, carrots, lettuces, collards, cabbages, broccoli, and potatoes were planted out during the first week of April.  Each year, we do our best to grow more of our own food and reduce our reliance on store bought goods. Last year, we successfully grew, harvested, and stored enough potatoes to last our entire community for about four months (potatoes are a major staple food at East Wind).  We’ve planted even more this year, and hope to supply community with homegrown potatoes for over six months.

Parsley, dill, oregano, fennel, elecampane, calendula, valerian, marjoram, spilanthes, marsh mallow, hollyhock, hyssop, and hibiscus, among others, were transplanted from our greenhouse into our herb gardens this month.  Chamomile, cilantro, and oatstraw were direct seeded and have begun to sprout and grow. Comfrey, lemon balm, valerian, feverfew, rose, and marsh mallow, among others, have broken dormancy and sprouted fresh green growth.  The season’s first harvests of yarrow, violet, chickweed, cleavers, tarragon, and thyme have already been brought in and dried.  Our new Mulberry Garden has expanded in all directions, and this promises to be its best year yet.

Peach trees were among the first to flower and have been pruned.  Apple trees flowered later this April.  In the woods, carolina buckthorn, elms, and ashes were among the first trees to leaf out, and by the end of April few trees remained bare.  Dogwoods bloomed during the last week of April, dotting the understory with enchanting white blossoms. The forest is green and vibrant and unabashedly full of life.  The rains have been frequent and plentiful.  Many days have been warm and sunny, though the nights are still often cold and wet.  A few late frosts have done some damage to our spring crops and fruit trees, and another cold snap is expected during the first week of May.  Because of this, we will be holding off on planting some of our warm season crops like tomatoes and cucumbers until later this May.  Even so, spring is undeniably here at last.

Largest Black Gum Tree in Missouri

The largest registered blackgum tree in the state of Missouri lives at East Wind.  The tree was nominated recently, after the previous state champion of 30 years fell to strong winds in August 2012.  The Missouri Department of Conservation came out and took measurements of the tree, and have verified that it is the largest known blackgum in the state.  The tree stands 92 ft tall and has a circumference of 129 inches and a crown spread of 46 ft.  East Wind is home to a number of very large and beautiful sycamores, oaks, elms, cedars, and pines.  The champion blackgum resides on our New Land, a 700 acre wooded plot set aside by East Wind as a wildlife reserve and nature sanctuary.  We practice sustainable forestry on the land as well.

FEC Conference

Delegates from the five communities that make up the Federation of Egalitarian Communities met at East Wind this April to hold an annual conference.  Delegates from Twin Oaks, Acorn, Sandhill, The Midden (a community-in-dialogue), and Emma GoldmanFinishing School participated in the week-long conference.  East Wind welcomed the delegates from our sister communities, and many individuals were happy to make new friends and hear about life in other communities.  Many of us who live communally believe that a strong network of communities is fundamental, and are happy to have the chance to strengthen our relationships with like-minded individuals and groups of people. A strong network of communities presenting viable alternatives to the mainstream culture can help to change people’s lives and make the world a better place.

LEXers from Twin Oaks and Acorn

Ten individuals from Twin Oaks and Acorn spent a week at East Wind in late April.  Communities in the Federation of Egalitarian Communities participate in a labor exchange program that allows members of each community to spend time working at other FEC communities.  East Winders were happy to host guests from our sister communities, and many of us were glad to spend time with old friends and to make new friends.  LEXers were ready and willing to help out around community, and their hard work in our garden and our businesses, among other things, is much appreciated.  The LEXers were a lovely bunch of folks, and we hope that they enjoyed being here as much as we enjoyed having them here.

Although there is occasionally a sense of sibling rivalry between the communities, we love our sister communities and appreciate the relationship we have with them and the fact that they exist.  Folks from other communities are always welcome to come spend some time at ours (just let us know that you’re coming first).  Thank you to everyone who lives communally with the intention of creating a better way of life!

Natural Building

The land we call home offers abundant resources to East Winders willing to use their resourcefulness and ingenuity.  Materials for our current natural building project (a stone/cob table and benches in our new gazebo in our new garden space, the Mulberry Garden) are being sustainably harvested from our own land.  Clay, stone, sand, and straw are the essential ingredients for our table and benches, and are all readily available in abundance.  Our gazebo roof has been completed, along with a beautiful stone floor and steps.  The gazebo will soon be surrounded by a lovely nervine herb garden (herbs for the mind, such as valerian, chamomile, holy basil, rose, lemongrass, borage, lemon balm, hops, passionflower, etc).  As soon as the danger of a frost has passed, we will begin mixing cob and constructing the table.  There has been a lot of interest in helping out with this project in community, and we hope that this will inspire future natural building projects.

Waiting List Continues to Grow

The waiting list continues to grow with no end in sight.  Some potential members have now been waiting for over six months for rooms to open up.  Even so, six more individuals are scheduled to participate in the May visitor period.  Individuals on the waiting list are welcome to camp out during the warmer months, but will be asked to leave during the winter until more space opens up.  We’ve heard that many of our sister communities are experiencing similar situations.  Hopefully this demand for communal living will inspire the creation of more intentional communities and other alternative ways of life.  There are many forming communities looking for members, as well.  You can find out more information about established and forming intentional communities at ic.org.