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!