What’s Happening: January 2012

Winter Festivities

East Winders celebrated the winter solstice on December 21^st, many of us enjoying the shortest day of the year but eagerly awaiting longer days and warmer weather.  Solstices and equinoxes never go without celebration at East Wind, as the change of the seasons profoundly affects our lives on this land. Over a dozen East Winders participated in this year’s Artmas celebration by exchanging homemade gifts, songs, and works of art. East Winders greeted the New Year with another party, this time with a homemade bonfire-heated hot tub.

Generosity Shown in Response to Showerhouse Fire

East Wind is extremely thankful for the generosity shown to us by our friends and local community this winter. During the first few days after our Showerhouse burned down in December, East Winders graciously offered their own clothes and personal items to those who had less, and our community ensured that no one went without. Within weeks, clothes and other thoughtful gifts from past East Winders, friends of East Wind, and our local community filled over a dozen large boxes and bags and were piled high on our couches, our foosball, air hockey, and pool tables, and the floors of our Hammocks shop.  A crew of dedicated East Winders have been working hard to organize and sort through our new Commie Clothes, and their efforts are greatly appreciated. East Winders are also very appreciative of all of the kindness demonstrated by our larger human family— thank you all!

What's New: December 2011

Showerhouse Fire

In the early morning hours on Friday, December 16, a fire broke out in our shower, laundry, and community clothes building. We are extremely happy and lucky to be able to report that no one was injured. One of our members, Yellow Sun, had been living in the building, recuperating from a serious fall while doing some forestry work. He was able to detect smoke and yell for help, and three of our own worked to get him out through the window of his room.

While the building isn't a total loss, the damage was severe. The northern side of the building, where we kept our clothes, medical supplies, towels, bedding, and sewing room, was destroyed. The southern side of the building, where our laundry and shower facilities are, is intact but currently unusable. We don't know at this point if the building is structurally sound, and if we will be able to rebuild using any of what remains.

Over the last few days we have been able to pull together to find enough clothes and bedding to get everyone by, and a team of East Winders have worked hard and fast to revamp our old showerhouse and make it usable again. We are not currently accepting any cash donations, but we are accepting donations of clothes, bedding, towels and medical supplies. We want to sincerely thank everyone for all the generous donations we have already received.

Solar Panels

Over the last few months we have been discussing and planning a project to reduce our ecological footprint and take a step towards sustainability by installing a solar array on the top of our nut butter facility. We completed installation the last week in November. The array will provide 35% of the electricity needed to run our industrial operations. Craig Wiles of Preferred Energy in Mountain Grove, Missouri has been an enormous help in the planning of the project and selection of components. Craig oversaw the installation of the array, which was done by community members. By doing the installation ourselves, East Wind saved close to $20,000 off the cost of the 22 panel system. 

Dairy Barn

Six months ago we began building the exterior of a brand new dairy barn. The decision to reintroduce a dairy operation to East Wind was made in the Fall of 2009, after the purchase and breeding of dairy cattle. The foundation was poured before the first frost of 2010. We were stalled by a spring of heavy rains and flooding, but with the receding waters came a surge of work. The exterior will be completed by the first of 2012. Plumbing and electrical will take another couple of months. We are expecting to have the facility operational by the spring of 2012. We are already able to provide goat milk and goat cheese, and within 5 years we hope to supply all our dairy needs.