What’s Happening: June 2012

National Rainbow Gathering
A dozen East Winders spent nearly two weeks in the Cherokee National Forest in northeastern Tennessee during the National Rainbow Gathering this year.  East Wind donated over 1,000 pounds of organic peanut butter, cashew butter, and almond butter to help feed thousands of people free of charge.  East Winders also set up a free kitchen in the woods, and cooked and served delicious free food to the masses day and night.  East Wind Community Kitchen offered a free 24-7 self-serve peanut butter & jelly bar and handed out sweet gooey nutbutter treats after dark, in addition to serving wholesome, tasty, mostly vegan meals throughout the day.  The East Winders in attendence already understood what communal living is about, and everyone lent a hand by helping to build our earthern kitchen, haul water and supplies, wash pots, tend to the fire, and cook food to share with our larger human family.  This year, East Wind teamed up with a neighboring kitchen, Green & Purple, to serve dinner at Main Circle, where hundreds to thousands of people gather to share a meal every evening.

The Rainbow Gathering is a completely free and nonviolent assembly of people from all across the country and the world.  There are international Gatherings across the globe as well as smaller regional gatherings, but the annual U.S. National Gathering of Living Light is by far the largest Family Gathering.  The Gathering aims to focus our collective consciousness on the goal of world peace, and a six hour silent mediation for peace is held every year on July 4th.  The silence is eventually broken by the sound of thousands oming and then cheering as we stand together and hold hands in unity. The Gathering promotes acceptence, love, and community, and encourages us to treat our brothers and sisters on this planet as family.  Native American prophecy reads, "When the earth is ravaged and the animals are dying, a new tribe of people shall come unto the earth from many colors, classes, creeds, and who by their actions and deeds shall make the earth green again. They will be known as the warriors of the Rainbow."  You can learn more about the Rainbow Gathering at welcomehere.org or welcomehome.org. 

Working Hard to Grow More & Buy Less
East Winders are making strides towards becoming more self-sufficient by growing, producing, and processing more of our own food than ever before.  Though we still purchase the bulk of our food, East Wind is currently producing all of our milk and the majority of our produce right at home.
 

Our gardens are bringing in an abundance of sweet and hot peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, onions, green beans, beets, carrots, greens, corn, melons, and more.  Our orchards are berry vines are providing us with fresh blackberries, raspberries, black raspberries, peaches, and a few plums.  Our three dairy cows and four dairy goats are able to provide us with a plentiful supply of fresh milk-- which is also being used to make cheese, yogurt, butter, cream, and ice cream.  Beginning in July, we will be able to provide organic homebrewed wine and beer for all of our monthly holidays.  Wines and meads made of blackberries, mulberries, and plums are fermenting speedily in the heat of the summer.  Fresh oregano, basil, thyme, sage, nasturtiums, dill, cilantro, parsley, and many more spices are readily available in our herb gardens.  The first sunflowers of the year bloomed this month and are already beginning to droop under their own weight.

East Winders are working hard everyday to keep our farm and community thriving.  At any given time, a walk about community may find East Winders hard at work harvesting or weeding in our gardens, caring for our animals or working on our new barn, cooking a meal or cleaning the kitchen, repairing a vehicle or a computer, working in the offices or factory, playing with the children, or any number of other valuable jobs.  Whatever is being done on a given day, there is the unmistakable sense being part of a growing, thriving, working farm.

 

The Idiocractic Life
Film maker/ photographer/ good friend of East Wind Kent Kessinger has completed “The Idiocratic Life”, a documentary on intentional communities in the United States.   The documentary is composed of dozens of interviews from people involved in communal living across the country. Kent spent time living and working at East Wind as well as Black Bear Ranch in California and Zuni Mountain Sanctuary in New Mexico.  East Winders gathered to enjoy the new documentary together as soon as we received our copy, and most of us responded with a lot of laughter and positive reviews.  The film is beautifully done and captures a wide range of perspectives on the advantages and obstacles of communal living. Check out Kent Kessinger’s work here.  

Summer Solstice
East Winders celebrated the longest day of the year on June 20th.  We honored the occasion by gathering at our creek to enjoy the sun, the land, and each other’s company.  Fun and music filled the shortest night of the year, and drums sounded until dawn.

T-Ball Season
The Gainesville Golden Eagles (also know as the Lil' 'Iggles) played their last game of the season this month.  Three East Wind children played ball on the local little league team this year, and two East Wind dads served as coaches for the team.  East Wind children and adults enjoyed participating in the local community, and many good games and practices were enjoyed by all.