At Common Ground Ecovillage, we have reason to be excited about 2022.  Want to know why?  Read all about here.*   This issue is a year-in-review, with links to stories and photos from each of our fantastic Circles. 

There’s never been a better–or more important–time to join Common Ground Ecovillage.   CGEV aims to a place where people who want to forge a more sustainable, more healthy, more connected path can find a home.  If this sound like you, then we invite you to jump on in and start learning what this vision is all about.  Get to know the people who have put CGEV in a position to realize our dream of a co-operative village and farm.  We’d love to meet you and see how you can fit in this picture. 

It’s a new year.  Time to begin!  We hope to see you soon.

*https://www.commonground.eco/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/January-2022-Calendar.pdf

Birds singing, frogs croaking, water burbling, breezes whispering…  After Winter’s hush, the music of Spring beckons, urging us to join in the dance of life returning and inspiring us to tune into the seeds within that crave tending as the days lengthen.  Chances are you’ll see something in this Calendar of Events* that offers you nourishment, meaning, connection, joy, creativity, learning, and more. 

The vision we are cultivating here matters.  In case you haven’t heard, many CGEV members and friends helped to prevent the Texas company, Buc-ee’s, from developing the largest gas station in the world on a protected watershed in Efland just three miles down the highway from this Ecovillage.   This outcome is a victory for sustainable development in Orange County (though it leaves the call for jobs for local residents and tax revenue for schools and infrastructure unaddressed).  Our voices mattered, and thank you to all who spoke up, sent letters, contributed, or otherwise supported this process and outcome.

So catch the energy of Spring and respond to what calls to you in this Calendar.  We look forward to hearing your song!

*Here’s the link: https://www.commonground.eco/musical-march-2021-calendar-rev/

It’s been a wet, chilly spring but there’s plenty happening on the land.  Hart’s Mill has ten  ecosystems across its 112 acres and each one has its own character and species mix.*  When Margret Mueller and I got together to plan this nature walk, we decided to head  towards the 13-acre splay of streams, trees, and wetlands along our eastern border.  Bloodroot and Spring Beauty have been gracing the brown ground with bright white blossoms since late February.  Flowering Red Maple trees dot the canopy with sprays of magenta.  And with all the rain we’ve been having, the beaver dam displays are numerous and impressive.  

March 16th was a great day to take a nature walk.  The day dawned clear and breezy and seven members met up at the pump house to start heading over to McGowan Creek.  We took a detour to Hart’s Ease, where a Honey Locust festoons itself with fearsome thorns along its trunk and branches, with remnants of foot-long seed pods scattered at its feet.    From there, we headed north towards Cob Haven, pointing out 3 species of conifers nearby: Loblolly Pine, Virginia Pine, and Red Cedar.  At the top of the Far Field, we stopped for a visit with a lone Willow Oak, marveling at its tiny acorn caps and copious branches.  Then we headed into the woods.  

There are 22 species of deciduous trees that I’ve seen on the land so far, but many are immature, unsuccessfully competing with the Loblolly pines planted in the late 1990’s after a clear cut of several large stands.  Not so along McGowan Creek.  Due to the steep slopes and regulations protecting wetlands, this rich strip has gorgeous mixed hardwood trees around 80-100 years old, including magnificent American Beech, Tulip Tree, Red Maple, Oak, and Hickory, while Ironwood and Black Willow proliferate nearer the creek.   

I took this picture a few days later, after a a heavy rain. The dam has been breached. I wonder what it will look like in a few days after the beavers take stock?

Since trees are just starting to bud, the winding wetland expanse is still visible.  McGowan creek, thickly braided with canals and swollen with beaver ponds, is a rich refuge for birds and animals alike.  We walked up to the edge of an impressive beaver dam, the first of many dotting the stream like beads on a string.  Beavers are nocturnal, but the effects of their tireless labors are visible by day in the way that their dams gracefully sculpt the wetland and by the many pointed tree stumps their extraordinary teeth leave behind.  

As for birds, I’ve spied wood ducks, geese, herons (blue and green), and egrets in this area, but they are very skittish and easily spooked.  They steered clear of our group, but I know they’re out there for the quiet seeker.

And speaking of quiet, the wetland is anything but this time of year.  Gazillions of frogs and toads sing their hearts out in a concert that can verge on deafening.  Though they were a bit shy with an audience, we heard spring peepers, bullfrogs, tree frogs and many other amphibious utterances as we strolled down the path.  

Margret, our fungi forager, pointed out Hexagonal Polypore (Neofavolus alveolaris) clustered along a few beech tree branches.  The six-sided pores and golden color evokes a honeycomb.  Some sources say it may be edible but its taste and texture leave a lot to be desired.  Best to consume it in with your eyes only.  

Our group was full of questions, comments, and exclamations of wonder as we wrapped up our walk.  We all felt energized and curiously connected after sharing this attentive conversation with the natural world, together.  

Redbud blossoms

As the Spring unfolds, every precious part of our land will unwrap many flora-and-fauna gifts and surprises.  Each tree, animal, bird, flower, rock, fungus, and soil type has its  story, gifts, lore, and singular beauty, and we’ll be exploring many more as our nature walks continue through the spring and summer.  

Keep an eye out for the next offering in April.  If you have particular knowledge you’d like to share, or something you’d especially like to experience, please be in touch.  We’d love to have you join us!  

*For descriptions, see the excellent Forest Stewardship Plan prepared by the Eno River Association in 2014.

As all assiduous readers of this blog will know, in early September we had a dedicated workday/workshop to raise the slipstraw walls of the pumphouse. Terry, Joe, Randy, Amy, Sean, and me, all of us led by NC’s cob guru and HM advisor, Greg Allen, got ourselves thoroughly clay-covered and all literally had a hand in the building of walls between the frame structure that I have been patiently assembling with the help of others — most recently George. You can see the first steps — some cob beginnings, and some of the forms for the first layer of slipstraw, basically straw coated with a thin film of clay — in the first photo. 

But then did the wall go up! By the end of the day, Greg had begun plastering and the walls were close to the top. Check out the second photo. It’s going to be beautiful! 

We quit just in time for Anthony and Amy to finish packing up before rains came — in fact we just slipped in this workday before a run of rainy days. And then things really got serious, when the forecasts for Hurricane Florence called for possibly 60 mph winds and days and days of heavy rain. What to do? Slipstraw should not get very wet. Normally it’s protected by the plaster that encases it, but we’d just started and the plaster was partial and itself not yet dry. The answer you can see in there third photo: I wrapped the whole thing up and put on a layer of serious tarps, thoroughly strapped down. Greg’s good advice!

In the event, Florence was not so bad. I have been able to take off the tarps and the wrapping, let it start drying out again, and am resuming work again before I head off to join Amy in Chile. In fact if anyone wants to join — helping put on the roof especially — I expect to be at it all weekend (29 and 30 September) and would welcome the help — just let me know. Regardless, though, stop by and have a look next time you are on the land. The stone bench built into the front is meant for sitting — give it a try!

For the emerging farm operation we need water! Accordingly, we drilled a well this spring — 350 feet down — and since then have been assembling the pumping and water storage system and the pumphouse that will house it all and grace our land as well. 

Early on we decided to run the water system entirely on solar panels – we’re an ecovillage, after all – and Jeffry has been hard at work wiring them in and plumbing the water system. As of 4:44 pm on July 20th, the system went live!!! One pump pulls fresh cold pure water out of our 350-ft well and into the storage tank; the other pumps the water from the storage tank into a smaller pressure tank that then feeds the irrigation hoses at the proper pressure. Solar panels run the first pump when the sun’s out and charge the batteries that run the second pump on demand. Sound like complicated wiring? It was! Jeffry claims to be neither electrician or plumber, but you’d never guess from the results. Of course, since then it’s mostly been raining, but still, water is ready to go.

Meanwhile a new pumphouse is taking shape alongside the 1500-gallon water storage tank.  The foundation with its low masonry wall as well as the floor are built entirely out of salvaged chunks of concrete from driveway or sidewalk tear-outs around Durham (lots of heavy lifting!) with some facing stone found in Hart’s Mill’s own fields and woods. I’ve topped off the masonry wall  in front with a nice wide bench for people to sit under the wide-overhanging roof and look out at the land. Come check it out!

Framing has progressed far enough that the outline of the structure has clearly emerged. We’re about to move into slip-straw construction on the rest of the walls — please watch for notices of special workdays and workshops in September as we experiment with this earth-building technique with the help of Greg Allen, our cob guru. Eventually there will also be a produce-washing sink area near the tank, and an outdoor shower around the back – yes, a full-service pumphouse! 

By the way, if anyone has any (or access to any) interesting yard sculpture (big colorful heron statue, say, or a water goddess – donations warmly contemplated), please be in touch with me – I might try one suitable statue for the top of the roof… we’ll see. 

Many hands have pitched in at times: Paul, Virginia, Victoria, Amy, Ruthie, and Kenny. Our intern Jess and an old student and friend of mine, Nate, are shown hard at work in this photo. Randy is donating slip and some roofing left over from Cob Haven. Thanks to you all! Anyone who’d like to join in the building effort, please be in touch -– there’s lots more to do!

“Community is not a place, but a way of life.”  –Herbert Lovett

On June 30, the Membership and Marketing Circle hosted a Last Saturday event to provide an overview of the work of the circle.   We discussed issues in membership, explored our work addressing racism and racial equity, and offered a forum for small-group processing.  We also worked on building collaborative skill and strengthening community bonds.

We began with the question: “What are we doing as a community, and why aren’t we done yet?”  Part of the answer is that we are immersed in a project of Culture Change, and the work of creating Collaborative Culture is never complete.  As we plan and develop an Ecovillage, we seek to deepen our own capacities for cooperation, sustainable living, and social justice.  To support those goals, we have a membership process with multiple levels that provides members and the community opportunities to check how we are doing and how good of a fit we might be together in the journey ahead.

Over the past year, we as a community have learned more about who we are and what we are looking for: we are committed to creating an Ecovillage, and we are looking for people who are willing to work collaboratively, live sustainably, and learn together along the way.  Membership and Marketing has focused on recruiting and supporting members, clarifying policies and levels of membership, and also building skills for collaborative work in the community.  We’ve incorporated “regenerative sustainability” into our mission, which signals a deeper commitment to living sustainability in ways that heal, restore, and enrich the land and the larger ecosystems and social systems in which we live.

During the gathering, we asked those present about their experience in the membership process, whether anything has been holding them back, and what they needed to move forward in membership at Hart’s Mill.  Some folks are moving slowly in membership, while others are just starting out, and some have been advancing at a steady pace.  Creating an Ecovillage requires a lot of work, and some of us occasionally feel daunted at the immensity of the task.  Others are very interested in the community, but have a partner who is not as keen.  Some members spoke of the challenges of balancing work, family, and participation in the community development process.  Others wanted to know more specific details about what the community would look like and how much it would cost to live there before they felt comfortable committing to the membership process.

We also asked for input and suggestions that might aid Hart’s Mill in attracting members more effectively.  Attendees brainstormed a lot of good ideas: community participation in events like the Eno River Festival, finding more places to post flyers, expanding our online and social media presence, looking west of the Triangle towards Burlington and Greensboro for recruiting members, soliciting news and journal articles about the community, nurturing relationships with those who have already shown interest, and crafting our marketing message to clarify who we want to attract and who would be a good fit for our community.  We had a few visitors from other local communities who spoke about how much it has helped their communities to have expert consultants guide them and shape their vision and approach to development.

In the second half of the afternoon, we talked about the community’s commitment to Diversity and Racial Equity.  Why does this matter at Hart’s Mill, and what are we doing?  Amy spoke from the heart about the urgency of addressing racism in our society, our community, and ourselves, and she talked about how this work is needed to address injustices and also heal ourselves and our relationships in the wider world.  While we are still a mostly white community, we are working on understanding racism and striving for racial equity.  Several members have taken the weekend trainings on Anti-Racism work through the Racial Equity Institute, and Hart’s Mill has also co-hosted an educational session with Standing Up for Racial Justice.  Some Hart’s Mill members participated in the Hate Free Schools Coalition, which worked over a year to persuade the Orange County School Board to ban displays of the Confederate Flag in public schools.  In addition to diversifying our membership, our goals include supporting racial equity work in the broader community around us.

Next, we paired up and discussed what the issues of race, racism, and racial equity bring up for us, and also how people are feeling about Hart’s Mill’s approach to racism and racial equity so far.  Members shared their thoughts about both the importance and the challenges of working on racial equity and deepening our awareness of racism in our community, our society, and our everyday lives.

We also asked participants how we as a community can keep fostering racial diversity and racial equity.  Members offered ideas for expanding diversity and equity within Hart’s Mill and also in the broader community.  As a mostly white group, it may be difficult for people of color to join, and yet Hart’s Mill can still work for racial equity and social justice by increasing our own understanding of racism and by cultivating relationships with people and organizations who are working on these issues.  We strongly recommend racial equity trainings for all who are interested in Hart’s Mill.

To prepare for the discussion on racism and racial equity, we recommended a list of short readings.  Please take the time to check these articles out (links provided to pdf files on our website):

• I’m not a Racist but Racism is in Me, by Joe Cole, Communities Magazine #178
• Barriers to Diversity in Community, by Crystal Farmer, Communities Magazine #178  
• Starbucks and the Issue of White Space, by J Cobb, the New Yorker
• Geri’s and Anthony’s blog posts concerning racial equity and Hart’s Mill:  Viewing Racial Equity with New Eyes; What is Hart’s Mill Trying to Become?

We closed the afternoon by distributing commitment cards to invite people to name how they would like to contribute going forward.  Folks volunteered for website maintenance, social media support, distributing materials and flyers, and participating in Membership and Marketing Circle meetings (first Thursday of every month).  After the gathering, a couple of people decided to move up to the next level of membership!

One of our jobs in Membership and Marketing Circle is to nurture community bonds, and we are glad this Last Saturday gathering brought people together to get to know one another and explore the joys and challenges of membership at Hart’s Mill Ecovillage

Please contact us and let us know how you would like to contribute to the growth and development of our membership at Hart’s Mill.   The Membership & Marketing Circle would love to have you come visit!  We meet the first Thursday of every month–check out the monthly calendar for information and to RSVP.  

Baby box turtle, HM wetlands

JUNE 2018 CALENDAR and May Highlights

MAY HIGHLIGHTS
Activity and interest in Hart’s Mill swelled with the rains and burgeoned alongside greening plants and newborn creatures. So much goodness is sprouting, paths converging, relationships strengthening. Here are but a few of the fertile stories from the past month:

• Our development team welcomed Jonathan Lucas of What on Earth Architectureto visit the land and grasp the depth and breadth of the Hart’s Mill vision and aims. We’re now awaiting sketches that will outwork and illuminate our principles and intentions through harmonious home designs.
• The Financial & Legal team intrigued 28 people at Hart’s Nest with an overview of the economic infrastructure needed to undergird our community’s development.           How can we finance the dream of the regenerative, creative community that we’ve been carefully creating for 10 years and that wants to manifest now? We’re so grateful for all who cogently presented and for all who showed up for this crucial conversation. We also made significant progress towards our goal of raising $150K by autumn to complete our pre-development activities. Read a more detailed account with a link to presentation slides in our blog.
• The Governance & Training Circle offered our bi-annual introduction to culture change through cooperative skills development and sociocracy.           It was a powerful experience of building awareness and skills to move from competitive to collaborative community living at Hart’s Mill. SAVE THE DATE for the next training, October 12-13 (Friday evening, Saturday morning). 
• The Cob Haven maven, Greg Allen, welcomed a group of us to visit his Mud Dauber School campus in Snowcamp. We are so fortunate to have a local expert in the science, craft, and art of earthen building. Turns out that there are many methods and options for combining clay under our feet, straw in local fields, wood from forests, and other earth-friendly materials into graceful, lasting, and cozy dwellings of all sorts. We learned a lot and are very grateful to Greg for sharing his time and expertise with us.
• Have you visited the land lately?           So many gifts emerging from the soils, winging through the skies, moving on the ground; nations of wildflowers, abundant crops, verdant pastures, flourishing wetlands, and towering trees await you. Feel free to park at Hart’s Nest and take a stroll—just give Hope or Paul a heads-up.

 JUNE, 2018, CALENDAR
Note: Our Functional Circle ongoing meeting schedule has changed significantly.  Review the calendar carefully.  New members and observers are welcome—please RSVP! 

 JUNE 1-JULY 31
Exhibition of Botanical Art by Margret Mueller
The Museum of Life and Science, Durham
Watercolor paintings by HM member Margret Mueller will be on display during all of June and July in the gallery space at the entrance to the butterfly House. Margret will donate 10% of all sales to the museum.

 SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 3:00-4:30pm
Land Stewardship Circle
Hart’s Nest, 1625 Ben Jones Dr., Mebane, NC 27302 (one-way road; drive SLOWLY)
RSVP Jeffry: seeingstarsfarm@gmail.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 6:30-9:00pm
Membership & Marketing Circle
Amy/Anthony home, 2702 Spencer St., Durham
RSVP Amy: Amy_Halberstadt@ncsu.edu

FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 3:00-5:00pm
Governance & Training Circle
Hart’s Nest, 1625 Ben Jones Dr., Mebane, NC 27302 (one-way road; drive SLOWLY)
RSVP Hope: hopematrix@fastmail.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 7:00-8:30pm
Planning, Design, and Development Circle
Via Zoom Teleconference—RSVP for link
RSVP Anthony: Weston@elon.edu

THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 6:30-9:00pm
Financial & Legal Circle, 6:30-9:00pm
Hart’s Nest, 1625 Ben Jones Dr., Mebane, NC 27302 (one-way road; drive SLOWLY)
RSVP Paul: voss@hawkweed.net

SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 7:00-8:30pm
Planning, Design, and Development Circle
Via Zoom Teleconference—RSVP for link
RSVP Anthony: Weston@elon.edu

THIRD THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 6:00-ish to 9:30-ish pm
*SUMMER SOLSTICE*  Midsummer comedy and frolics at the Nest!
Hart’s Nest, 1625 Ben Jones Dr., Mebane, NC 27302 (one-way road; drive SLOWLY)  RSVP Hope: hopematrix@fastmail.com
Ready for some Midsummer magic?  Come together in the gloaming of this Summer Solstice eve.  In addition to outdoor frolics, we’ll enjoy yummy food followed by a collective reading of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (shortened version) which will last about an hour.  This is an Anthony/Amy household tradition, and it’s a BLAST!  No need to prepare in advance and no talent required; just show up and get ready to spin this enchanting yarn together.  Want to play a role?  Got one in mind?  Let me know with your RSVP.  Invite your family and friends–there are roles for kids.  The more the merrier!
Food/drink: potluck–bring your favorite summer dish (all cuisines welcome) to pass and a beverage of your choice (you can grill something at the fire circle if you wish) 
Frolics: in addition to the play, there’s likely to be badminton and frisbees–also quite possibly juggling! Costumes and fascinators are welcome. 
It’s going to be charming, but only if you are there — see you at the Nest! 

SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 2:00-5:00pm
Training for Our Leaders: Running Effective Meetings
Hart’s Nest, 1625 Ben Jones Dr., Mebane, NC 27302 (one-way road; drive SLOWLY)
This afternoon will include a piece on How to Run an Effective Meeting, which will be aimed at newbies and old-timers alike!
RSVP is critical to Hope: hopematrix@fastmail.com

LAST SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 6:00-8:30pm
Planning, Design, and Development Circle
This is a dinner meeting.  Open to PDD members only. Location TBA
RSVP Anthony: Weston@elon.edu

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 7:00-8:30 pm
Compassionate Connection, presented by HM Member, Marilyn Grubbs, and Farrunnissa Rosa
Unity Center of Peace, 8800 Seawell School Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Education and practice session in the body of work developed by Marshall Rosenberg, originally called Non-violent Communication (NVC).  $10 suggested donation.
RSVP Marilyn: marilyngrubbs@gmail.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 28
General Circle Meeting
Amy/Anthony home, 2702 Spencer St., Durham
Vegetarian potluck: 6:00-ish
Meeting: 7:00-9:30 pm
RSVP Hope: hopematrix@fastmail.com

LAST SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 3:00-6:00PM
Human Community: The Next Frontier
Presented by the Membership & Marketing Circle
Hart’s Nest, 1625 Ben Jones Dr., Mebane, NC 27302 (one-way road; drive SLOWLY)
The vitality and health of a community is nourished by its members.  What are the guideposts we’ve put in place to build a membership in tune with our vision to live in harmony with each other and the land?  How does our commitment to racial and environmental justice and diversity inform who we are and what we do?  What are the challenges and opportunities ahead as we seek to grow to full strength and inhabit the ecovillage?  Come and learn about how the Membership & Marketing Circle is building strong foundations for community sustainability and resilience, and discover how YOU fit in this picture.
RSVP is crucial to Amy: Amy_Halberstadt@NCSU.edu

*SAVE THE DATE* SATURDAY, JULY 8, 2018, 1:00-9:00PM
Hart’s Nest celebrates one year of cultivating community!
We’re throwing a “spa day” to rejuvenate the Nest followed by a party to honor all that she has made possible for our growing community.         Details to follow soon!

LOCAL EVENTS OF INTEREST TO EXPAND YOUR SOCIAL/CULTURAL HORIZONS
You are encouraged to submit events for next month’s update that align with Hart’s Mill’s vision, mission, and aims.  Send them by the 25^th of the month to Hope at hopematrix@fastmail.com.

 RACIAL EQUITY INSTITUTE TRAINING, sponsored by Organizing Against Racism (OAR)
We strongly recommend these 2-day trainings as a way to begin a shared conversation about racism and social/environmental justice at Hart’s Mill.  Click here to read Geri’s post about attending Phase 1 on January 23rd. They fill up fast!  Check the OAR website(OARalliance.org) for details and registration for these upcoming workshops and more:

• June 15-16, Phase 1, Moncure
• June 21-22, Phase 1, Durham

 SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 9:00AM-12:30PM
Earth’s Turn Community Work Day
2119 Doe Run Rd., Mebane
Come out and support our sister community right down the road. Projects include harvesting potatoes, pulling tires and metal out of the woods, and starting a permaculture rain garden.  Come for as short or as long as you like.
Contact Tami at tamitw@earthlink.net, 314-604-5736

SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 10AM-12PM
Maya/Sufi Journey
Hart’s Nest, 1625 Ben Jones Dr., Mebane, NC 27302 (one-way road; drive SLOWLY)
Join Sofianna (Sue-Anne) for a Maya/Sufi journey. You will learn about the Sacred Mayan spiritual calendar, the Tzolkin, and the 20 Nawales, which are the guiding energies for each day, and how to integrate them into your spiritual path. We will also integrate some Sufi wisdom and practices with this Maya wisdom. After the workshop you are free to enjoy the grounds at Hart’s Mill. There is no cost for this, but a donation will be gladly accepted. For more information email Sofianna at beauxzoe1@gmail.com.
RSVP to Hart’s Mill co-sponsor Marilyn Grubbs: marilyngrubbs@gmail.com for directions or information about the venue.

THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 10AM 
Heart-Based Environmental Educators Training
Eco-Institute at Pickards Mountain, 8519 Pickards Meadow Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Does your heart open while you’re outside with children? Would you like to discover how you can follow your heart’s calling to work with children as teacher, parent, or counselor? Do you want to develop the skills to inspire natural curiosity and wonder in the people around you? We have created a 4-day training program to empower you to take the next steps in the heartfelt path of teaching and learning. The Heart-Based Environmental Educators Training also qualifies for 20 hours of Criteria II towards the NC Environmental Education Certification. 
Learn More >>

 FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 6-9pm
Triangle Traditional Music and Dance Retirement Society
Community Church of Chapel Hill
We will be presenting the key elements in our roadmap for the creation of our community.  Info at dancingintoretirementnc.org

TUESDAY, JULY 10, 9AM 
The Elderhood Journey
Eco-Institute at Pickards Mountain, 8519 Pickards Meadow Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
A SERIES GUIDED BY CAROLYN TOBEN & MIKE MCLEOD: Calling Elders, and people of all ages who are interested in the powerful role of elders in community! As a group we will discover new horizons for how to live more aware in the latter third of life. We are reimagining a special role in our community and we are exploring what the inspiration of elderhood is asking of each of us. We each have some of the answers that we need at this time in the world, and through this collective journey, we will bring them together. This is an invitation to participate in an exploration of conscious aging, engage in a community building process, and explore what it means to be an elder.
Learn More >>

DOING OUR OWN WORK: An Anti-Racism Seminar for White People
Resource Center for Women and Ministry in the South
Part 1: September 6, 7, 8, 9 – Pilgrim United Church of Christ, Durham, NC
Part 2: October 11, 12, 13, 14 – Trinity Ave Presbyterian Church, Durham, NC
Thurs. evening, 9-5 on Friday, 9-5 on Saturday, and 1-5:00 Sunday afternoon
Doing Our Own Work is an intensive seminar for white people who seek to deepen their commitment to confronting white privilege and challenging racism in all its forms. Offering more than 40 hours of “class time,” Doing Our Own Work equips participants with the analysis, skills, and tools needed to be more effective anti-racist allies. By limiting enrollment to 16 people, this seminar provides a context for in-depth reflection, learning and dialogue as participants work to deepen their knowledge of systemic racism, offer each other support and accountability, grow beyond shame and guilt, and practice the skills of interrupting racism.
Leader: Melanie Morrison
Cost: $475. Scholarships available. Click HERE to register.
Contact: RCWMS, 919-683-1236, rcwmsnc@aol.com

The previous weekend, Hart’s Mill had a presence at the Emerson Waldorf School’s Children’s Faire and Artisan Marketplace. Christina, Marilyn, Rita, Virginia, Charles, Anthony, and Paul greeted visitors and engaged in conversation about our community.  Christhome.  All agreed that it was a beautiful event.  Thanks to Bailey and Gaius for opening this door for Hart’s Mill.

We began a new tradition of Thanksgiving at Hart’s Nest.  Beautiful weather, amazing food, delightful guests, a lengthy walk on the trails after the main meal followed by fantastic strumming and singing all evening by Tain were enjoyed by all.  It was a wonderful day!  

On Thanksgiving Saturday, Randy, María, and Hope began to walk, assess, and partially clear the North-to-Northeast boundary line as the next phase of preparing for the Land Dome Ceremony. It’s going to be a big and joyful job to clear the entire perimeter and volunteers are very welcome to step up and help!  If you are interested in this service, please contact María at Mariastawsky@gmail.com

Later in the day, on the last Saturday of the month, Our NEW Governance and Training Circle offered the second conversation and learning opportunity related to sociocracy and cooperative skills. With María’s guidance, we had a rich and enlightening discussion of power dynamics in communities in November, followed by a delicious meal with chili made from a home-grown pumpkin and cooked up by Bailey.  In December, we’ll be preparing to greet the New Year with practices for reflective listening.  Let’s begin the year in the spirit of cooperation.

On Thanksgiving Sunday, Randy, Tain, Greg, and Matt worked on building the rocket stove for Cob Haven. Read all about this involved endeavor in the previous post.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this time all about community, gratitude, generosity, and creativity! 

The main emphasis has been on installing a “rocket mass heater”.  It’s the cob enthusiast’s version of an integrated wood heater and furniture dynamic duo.  For a few decades, those interested in this somewhat enigmatic creation turned to Ianto Evans, the founder of Cob Cottage out in Oregon, and a more recent collaboration between Ianto and Laura Jackson.  I went ahead and got the third edition of their book to prepare for this part of the project, which is a worthwhile read.  Greg shortly thereafter passed on “The Rocket Mass Heater Builder’s Guide: Complete Step-by-Step Construction, Maintenance and Troubleshooting” by Erica and Ernie Weisner which was my inspiring evening reading for a week or two, and resulted in a more detailed plan and shopping list and some additional details and practical/expert advice on how to pull this invention off.  I’ll spare you the many details, other than to say assembling the parts and tools is rather more involved than a trip to Lowes or Home Depot (although a few items did come from each).   It also seems that building the RMH requires a decent dose of on-the-fly learning and improvisation.

First up was a couple barrels found on Craigslist.  The barrels basically serve as the shell around the heater, which is made of fire brick.  They need to be free of paint so the paint doesn’t off gas when the heater is fired; a non-trivial amount of head scratching and effort has been pursued in figuring out the best way to achieve this.  As a result, I have less hair, shorter fingernails, and a new torch.  Here they are after their first torching. To date, there have been three torchings and an hour or two of mechanical abrasion, and there is still a bit of paint to remove.  So next up is engulfing the barrels in a bonfire.

This photo shows a mock up of the guts of the mass heater.  The part of the fire brick in front is where small pieces of wood are fed and the tall part in the back is the “heat riser”. The pile of brick and pipe to the left is the beginning of what will be a bench that will provide much of the mass for storing the heat generated.

Here’s what it looks like a bit further along as the combustion unit is being set with clay slip.

A key part of the whole system is called the “manifold” which is the transition between the wood burning part and the mass heater/ furniture part.  Here’s Greg working on the custom fabrication.

Eya took special interest in the lunch part of  the day, but for the most part, saw it as an opportunity for a nice long nap in the sun.

When all is said and done with the mass heater, it will look (and feel) something like this.

Randy, Greg, Matt, and Tain all pitched in this past weekend on to make this happen.  Kudos to all for the many collaborative elements that came together, including good humor, flexibility, masonry and steel cutting expertise, and perseverance, dedication, and willpower.