People work hard at Hart’s Mill, traveling distances to come to meetings, work days, social gatherings, workshops, not to mention doing research, making phone calls, and preparing agendas and materials in-between. We have accomplished a lot and built bonds of strong connection in the process.
But lately, we find ourselves still in the thick of an architectural process that has not yet brought us to the finish line despite over a year of consistent engagement in an intentional process between skilled and well meaning people.
Hmmm, could we be missing something? How about if we add a different ingredient to the mix and see what happens? It was in this spirit that members María Silvia and Joe Cole offered their home and expertise to facilitate a Sharing Circle on July 2nd.
Nine Hart’s Mill members gathered in the “tower” at María and Joe’s home. After a thorough and helpful introduction to the process and setting an intention to deeply listen and receive each other, we began to speak, one at a time….
According to community consultant, Laird Schaub, the purpose of a Sharing Circle (or Heart Circle) is to give participants an opportunity to speak, without interruption and generally without time limits, on something that is meaningful to them or a topic the group has chosen. These sessions can be powerful community building experiences and may be used for these reasons:
- When the group wants to go deeper together and strengthen bonds with one another.
- To share feelings, issues, or concerns that don’t easily come up in regular meetings.
- When the group wants to access more information about a topic that can’t be achieved by normal discussion in meetings.
- When the group is dealing with an emotional situation—a member leaving, a death of someone significant to the group, an emotionally hard situation, etc.
- It can be a time for just sharing with one another, whatever is in your heart about your life at the moment.
- Generally it is not used for making decisions or to resolve a specific conflict (although it is a great forum for people to reflect on what is going on and their feelings about a contentious situation or conflict the group or individuals are experiencing).
…and each person had the space and time to express what was in their hearts about where we find ourselves now. Comments were infused with thoughtful reflections–hopes and dreams, grief and frustration, joy and gratitude, unresolved questions, excitement about possibilities, commitment to the vision of Hart’s Mill and what it could become and hold for each of us—all poured into the circle space and held with respect and love by the listeners until our cups were both emptied and filled according to each person’s need.
As for me, I was astonished to feel mainly delight and deep caring for the Hart’s Mill vision emerge when it was my turn. Far from venting my fears and concerns, I dropped into a stream where commitment, passion, love, and possibility infused the waters that we swim in together—may they be rough or smooth—and tears of joy and gratitude for all we are and all we mean to create and become together flowed freely.
The entire process lasted less than two hours. After the final words were spoken, we continued to sit in silence, loath to leave the richness and connection created in this simple, almost primal way. It was as though we had just watched a really good movie together and didn’t want to exit the theater even after the credits finished rolling and the lights came up. Gradually, we stretched and stood and made our way out into the world, carrying this experience of connection with us…
The effect of the Sharing Circle on the architectural issue remains to be seen, but that we who participated were touched, moved, and heartened in various ways was evident. Joe and María have generously offered to facilitate more Sharing Circles at Hart’s Mill with topics ranging from the open-ended to specific. Your whole-hearted engagement is welcome! 
NEXT SHARING CIRCLE: Thursday, July 20, 7pm, Chapel Hill. Contact María Silvia for information. Please RSVP if you plan to come: mariastawsky@gmail.com
Yesterday the walls of Cob Haven grew another foot or two, a notable outcome given the seasonably warm and somewhat muggy early July weather. Cob Haven itself provided some respite with the growing amount of thermal mass and now complete roof. Greg, Matt, Geri, Chris, Randy, Anika, Amy (#2), and Joe all chipped in (apologies if I missed anyone during the little buzzes of activity). Matt hit a vein of really nice clay in the future root cellar which contributed to what was generally regarded as the best cob yet, and no doubt to what appeared to be the most cob applied in a single day so far-even surpassing the day with mortar mixer assistance. Headers were put in over the windows and door, along with wine bottle windows. 
Anyone who has been to visit the Hart’s Mill property has surely been struck by the wondrous white oak near our pavilion. Estimated to be 80-85 years old, she has a beautiful symmetry that begs to be photographed. Recently she has acquired a bluebird box and a swing.
It does not seem wise to build our community around a giant that could lose its crown within five years. The Land Stewardship Circle has accepted Jake’s diagnosis and agrees to be proactive, though the time-line and details have yet to be decided upon. Hart’s Mill-ers have proven to be a resilient and creative bunch and have come up with some ideas for moving forward. One plan is to have the wood evaluated at take-down to see if it has enough sale value to defray some of the removal costs. We all would like at least some of the salvaged wood to be made into memorial sculptures, benches, counter-tops, and the like. There are quite a few young white oak scions around that could be dug and replanted–the tree’s children, so to speak. The 
cutting can also be accompanied by some sort of commemoration ceremony. Other ideas are welcome!
The Second Annual Memorial Day Weekend Work Camp had a lovely mix of good work — trail maintenance and building, and cobbing, mostly — with lots of great 4-year-old energy (Gaius), thunderstorms going right over our intrepid Saturday night campers, shared food (watermelon! cherry pie!), our very first on-site Farm Market, and to top it all off, a community tour of soon-to-be Hart’s Nest, now linked to the rest of the land by our first “Hartery” (artery between two Harts, Hart’s 
Mill and Hart’s Nest. Jeffry and Margret flayed buckwheat, harvested new potatoes and Yukon Golds, and planted 300 sweet potatoes while Paul mowed and others tended to their raised beds.
post entitled “Good Boots and a Hat), a partially marked and mowed route for the planned main village path (this will continue), lots of excitement for Hart’s Nest, and overall a still stronger sense of shared commitment to and enjoyment of each other and the land. Many thanks to everyone! 
The whirlwind of April activity has resulted in the little cob and straw bale building emerging from the ground. 
To date, 16 people have helped out with a total of 296 hours of on the land effort. HUGE SHOUT OUT!!!!
A lovely mid-Spring afternoon welcomed an even more lovely and energetic group of workers and tour-ers for our April workday. After a potluck lunch at the Cedar Pavilion, a crew led by Paul and Donna and anchored by six (!) Witchgers with partners, along with others, pulled out the piping to the garden, got it un-kinked and into place, as well as helping clear better tractor access to the shed.
again at the garden as well as Jeffry’s and Margret’s new field. Meanwhile, with a strong head start from Jeffrey and then Anthony on Big Red, and with Margret, Debby, and others clearing at the edges, we got nearly the whole West Meadow mowed in anticipation of producing a good crop of hay as we bring the land into agricultural use.
Rita and Mir began marking trail hazards in preparation for clearing work and to make them safer for walkers and runners. Charles and Christina got a lovely swing mounted on our grand central tree. Some of us ended the day with a cooking fire and camp out, with Jupiter and even Saturn and Moon viewing at 3:00am! (Sunset photo by Joe Cole)
ce), Amantha (special thanks for traveling the farthest), Steve, Geri, Abraham (special thanks for supplying 500 watt solar generator, and amazing baked goods), Chris, Jeremy, Paul (special thanks for hauling straw bales), and Ginny. 
