What’s Happening: July 2013

Summertime

This summer has been pleasantly sunny and warm, and definitely a mild summer compared to the extreme heat experienced during the past few years.  The plant and animal life of the Ozarks suffered briefly during a minor drought in early June, but was relieved by plentiful rains at the end of the month. Despite the characteristic humidity, the weather has been beautiful.  The afternoons are often hot and sunny, but the mornings and nights are pleasantly cool.  Many East Winders are enjoying the creek daily.

Garden

Tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, corn, zucchini, carrots, beets, onions, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries were harvested in abundance this month.  We will continue to harvest many crops, especially tomatoes, potatoes, and cucumbers well into August.  Tomatoes will be processed into salsa, tomato sauce, hot sauce, ketchup, juice, and even wine.  Potatoes (including a variety of purple potatoes) are a favorite during breakfast time, and are also enjoyed as homemade fries, chips, and mashed potatoes.  Many cucumbers will be pickled, canned, and stored in the root cellar.  Our blackberry vines produced prolifically in the beginning of the month, but the harvest is already starting to dwindle by the end of July.  Melons and grapes are still growing on their vines, and are expected to mature in August. The gardens are a beautiful sight to behold.

Waiting List Continues to Grow

The waiting list continues to grow; there are currently nineteen people waiting for rooms to open up.  Individuals on the waiting list are welcome to live and camp at East Wind for the time being, but will be asked to leave by November 3^rd.  East Wind has now been at population capacity continuously for just about a year, and is gradually adjusting to life with a higher population and unending waiting list.  Waiting times to obtain membership and a room are variable, but males can expect to wait for up to a year and females can expect to wait for a number of months.

East Wind Community Kitchen at the Rainbow Gathering

More than a dozen East Winders helped run a free kitchen at the National Rainbow Gathering in Montana this year.  East Winders loaded up two vans with a few hundred pounds of nutbutter and other food, and headed to Montana on June 23^rd.  Everyone helped out, and East Winders were happy to feed hundreds of people during our stay in the mountains.  East Wind is closely aligned with many values of the Rainbow family, including the values of non-violence, equality, communal living, peace, love, environmentalism, and non-consumerism.