Nutshell Niblets #32 December

Nutshells and Niblets Community BULLETIN # 32
Ann's personal and highly biased view of the village... HIJACKED lovingly by Vivian....!

Season’s Greetings to our friends and neighbors-in-waiting all around the world!

I imagine you must be wondering where Ann is? Was she kidnapped? Did this Vivian person actually tie her up and steal her Niblets?

Nope!
Ann, as well as the rest of us in the village, have been totally focused, full of piss and vinegar, and doing some needed house-cleaning in the village. Sleeves rolled up, and nose to the grindstone. And WOW have we accomplished a lot, to get us all ready for the next building phase. We’re a spanking clean and ready to go. Ann is finishing up her appointed tasks and will be back to writing to you in the new year. ( I know she really misses it!) And in the meantime, I’m jumping into Ann’s boots.

I have so much to tell you!
The most important news is that we’re now ready and determined to find all our new villagers and finish the village --- all in one go.
If you have ever considered trying us out, January will be the time to reconnect.

We’re launching our campaign in January, with a series of events to welcome our old friends back - and new ones, too- for a look at the units we have available ( 14 remaining )
Shhhh! Don’t tell anyone I said this … If you’d like a sneak peek of our plans, write back to me with the password ‘excitement’ in the subject line and I’ll give you the inside poop! I know we've a lot of interested people who've been waiting for this stage.... a nailed-down timeline- the Commonhouse and the last of the homes.

Okay! I’m ready to crack some nuts!


Half Way There!

For a year and a half Paul and I wrestled the realities and the dreams. Wanting to come but ... What were we? ...Scared? ...Tethered? ... I'll never know really. I can tell you that one night early November Paul and I just sort of... Jumped. Maybe it was the first time we jumped together. It resulted in the fastest move to the West you have ever seen. We arrived for the Chuck Workshop November 13 with our first load of worldly goods. We went back for the kids, and slept in our new home November 20th.

And our move is significant because we are officially the half way point! We have 16 households living here! Imagine how much fun we're having! (and with two more pre-sold, that leaves 14 to go. Where's all these people come from all of a sudden? Come visit and we'll let them tell you!)

Ladies and Gentlemen... Mark your Calendars! We're making it easy for you to reconnect with the village this January. We are busy planning three big ones! (Four if you count the consensus training workshop that will be announced for February!)

Jan 20th- Cohousing presentation Chuck durrett is back for a presentation and we're going to pack the house. He'll be doing his slide show presentation based on his book ?............... If you haven't seen it yet be sure to mark the date and join us. If you have seen it why not bring a friend or two and help us fill the room? We only have fourteen units left to sell and we want to sell one to you! let's face it. We've got you on this special list because we are hopeful that you might be one of our neighbors. We don't want to be pushy. No one can decide to move you here but you. But we're hopeful. Does that make sense? I hope so.

Jan 21st- Chuck Workshop "prioritization" if you have any desire to live in the village now or down the road I highly reccommend you come out for this day with chuck. The opportunities for your input in the final design are drawing near to a close. This is one of the last chances to meet and work with chuck, with us. There will always be opportunities for changes and input along the way, but there is something special about the way the chuck workshops transpire that you might enjoy being a part of.

Jan 28th Ten Mile Tasty Tour. Volunteers needed! Now I know you have already had your tour so you might not want another one. This day we are trying something new. Well be selling tickets to a ten mile feast featuring our own farmers and other producers around yarrow. The meal will include a tour of the farms, the homes, and an overview of how we've managed to get here. You probably know al of that. But the food sounds good doesn't it? Well if you don't mind volunteering to help us clean, chop, and smile at new people I can sneak you in for a free lunch! What a good deal for me! A chance to spend more time with you and free labour for the price of babette's fest! Did I hook you? If so give a me shout back and I'll get you on my V.A.P. List. (volunteers and other appreciated people list).

Stork Sightings! Did you know we have two new babies in the village? TWO. Sloan arrived to Linda and Jamie after a very hot summer, and Roman joined the Jongkind's shortly after in October. Babies love to be held. Just stop by and hold a ball of pure love any time. Both mother's appreciate the stolen moments of peace as much as we appreciate the chance to give it.

Strata- final stages. Maureen and Linda are scanning with loving and brutal eyes all of the documents we require to create the strata your new home will one day be a part of. This means that you, and all of us, will be able to legally own our homes, get a conventional mortgage, all those other things people need before they make such a large investment.

The farms. It seems quiet out there these days, but I had delicious greens for dinner last night from Om organic farms. Nevin had picked them earlier that day and showed up on my door step with a basket full of goodies for me to choose from. I chose a pound of thick flavourful greens and another of sweet cabbage leaves. I think I'll make cabbage rolls one night this week. It will have to be Friday because we have community dinners Tuesday through Thursday. What a hard life I have! See my recipe below. (I made them and ate them before I finished writing to you! They were very good!)

The front two forum. You may have heard that the front two acres of the property have been held for our dreams of a mixed use commercial sort of thing. (picture it! People walking to work, picking up fresh loaves of bread, markets all week long!) As we've reached the half way point in Groundswell Cohousing, we've realized we need to pay attention to how we are going to get there. We each know what we want to live next to, but we aren't certain exactly how we can get there. As a community there have been confusions and concerns that we just haven't had time to address. This is where Ann went. Ann and Alan have spent the last four months helping the village find a way to discuss the front two acres. All it's complexities and confusions. More and more every day we begin to walk in stride about this important challenge that lies ahead. It has taken hours and hours to get here. Many people have pressed themselves, and challenged themselves to listen, and speak. As an away neighbor, it was very stressful to watch. Now that we live here it inspires me to see the group work together to be the best we all can be.

The Deli. The Deli held a presentation for the community. It tasted great! We got an overview of the history of The Deli, we got a glimpse of where they want to go next. It is a lofty goal. I picture a buyers coop, with a variety of produce and a cafe where I can meet people, and sit for hours watching the world go by. I am impressed by the energy and the love these people have for their vision, and I believe they'll get there. I can't wait to watch them succeed! I hope they make scads of money. I hope they enjoy every second of the journey. Try the Angel Kiss Belgian White Chocolate Cranberry Spice Fudge. On sale thursday, a perfect stocking stuffer! (My stocking is on the left!)

Christmas. need I say more? The lights are going up, trees are being trimmed. Doors will soon be decorated for unsuspecting neighbours by eager Groundswell children. (Shhh! It's a surprise!). My family is heading back for a third load of worldly goods (and to say good bye to friends we literally abandoned in the middle of the night) so I haven't got much in the way of Christmas going on at my house. You know? I don't miss it. Christmas is all around us. We get to look at Ken's lit house and we helped decorate the Jongkind's tree. Every time I pop in to neighbors I am regaled by stories of what Christmas traditions they keep and dreams for traditions we can start one day together for our Commonhouse. Best of all? With no tree to knock over, I have high hopes for my own stress-free Christmas. One way or another, I'll enjoy the break, the food, and my friends old and new.

Whatever Christmas means for you and yours, may it be a merry one. And let's get together in January. See you then?

Over and out. (That's Ken House all lit up!)

Vivian's multigrain cabbage rolls with curry sauce

Leaves of fresh cabbage grown with love
1cup brown rice cooked
1cup lentils cooked
1 cup red rice cooked
1 cup black beans cooked

(The above are cooked measurements, but I just cook them all together. If you end up with four cups of any mixture of grains and lentils you'll enjoy the finished product.)

1pm ground meat if you'd like

Sauce-

Dice an onion, three tomatoes, some garlic, ginger, and haram masala
Fry into a slop in oil.
Add fresh chopped cilantro and a can of crushed tomatoes.
Simmer while you make the rolls up. Before you begin placing the rolls in the casserole splash some into the bottom.

Steam the cabbage leaves until you can easily bend them.
Dump them in a pot of ice water and salt.
Mix the above lentils and grains with salt, pepper, cumin, and turmeric to taste
Place a leaf in front of you on a cutting board.
Add a scoop of lentil mixture
Fold in edges first, then roll.
Place in a greased casserole dish with a small amount of the curry sauce in the bottom
Every time you complete a layer of rolls, ad more sauce to the casserole

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Enjoy

Merry Christmas!

Bedtime Story by Ben

"Mommy," says the four year old boy from under his Grandma made dinosaur quilt.

"Yes Ben?" I'm already working on the presentation I have to give tomorrow in my head as I cuddle my kids goodnight.

"Now I want to tell YOU a bedtime story. From my head."

All I feel is lucky. Lucky and a little bit guilty that I'm working in my head instead of being in the moment. I snap back into place, "Oh! Good! I can't wait." I close my eyes and really listen.

"Once upon a time... In a land all the way on the other side of this planet... there was a village. And it had many many... zoos. And many many transformers. And many many dinosaurs that were mostly longnecks."

As he tells the story he begins to sit up until he is towering above me with a sparkle in his eyes. I just watch him with a smile on my face while he continues, "and they all had lot's and lot's of community dinners! Every night!"

"And was there a circus Ben?" my six year old asks from the other side of me. Each in their own bed, but sharing a room.

"Yeah!" Ben's eyes gleam, "A circus comes... every twenty days! And they come to community dinner too."

It's quiet for a bit. Ben settles back down in his covers.

"You forgot to say The End Ben." Sophie reminds him with her big sister voice.

"Oh Yeah. Right. The End."

I'd like to tell you that they then drifted off to sleep while I sang their favorite lullaby. The reality is they asked for water, got up to go to the bathroom, begged for a lullaby, argued over the lyrics, and I ended up counting to three and removing myself from the room with the threat of my return for a time out.

Not every moment in parenting is bliss. I guess that's why the part of the story where everyone from the land on the other side of the planet get to go to community dinners was such a wonderful treat for me. It was a little clue from my son that he is happy here. Long necks, transformers, impatient moms, and all.

That's all I have. Back to that presentation for tomorrow's meeting!

Sweet Dreams...

Published in Communities Magazine

Today was a really great day. The weather was nice, and the meeting was short! Good things got done and we left in good spirits. At the end of the meeting Linda brought to our attention the article I wrote that was recently published in the Communities magazine. It is funny how these things work out. It was actually published in the September Edition, but I've been so busy that I haven't really shown it to anyone. The message after the meeting today seems especially relevant, even to me. A nice reminder, I suppose, of why we're really here.

Article text below has been taken from my computer. I have fought with the scans of the article long enough! I'm off to make popcorn with my husband. Enjoy!

How Recreational Therapy Helps Fun Happen

Vivian Vaillant

---

One of the greatest truths that I realized about joining cohousing came too late. Thank God.

"Let's just go." I remember saying. Still in my jammies while laying, exhausted, cuddling my oldest who was sedated by the TV, "I'm so sick of racing around to get nowhere. There has to be a better way. I'm so done with the rat race."

"Okay. Email them." My husband was bouncing the baby on one knee and my son on the other with his eyes closed. He was trying to nap. The clean laundry from last week piled beside him on the coffee table, yet to be folded.

I think I'd expected some sort of fight. Some sort of anchor from my conventional husband to stop me from firing off the email that changed everything. The truth is that if I was tired of Paul working all the time- he was more tired. We both craved a simpler life. We wanted to have energy for the fun parts of life. We were sick to death of working all the time. A handful of emails and some heart to heart conversations and we found ourselves in Yarrow for Yarrow Days, and the first of a series of workshops which eventually lead to us buying into our new neighbourhood; Groundswell Cohousing at Yarrow Ecovillage. (near Chiliwack, British Columbia)

The Yarrow Ecovillage, our answer for a simpler life, turns out to be far from simple itself. The Ecovillage Society has done a nice job of structuring itself as the umbrella organization that oversees three primary responsibilities; supporting organic farming, fostering cohousing communities, and building a commercial district to enable people to work close to home. The wonderous variety of people we have attracted have mixed interest in these three parts. Some are farmers leasing land, others run businesses waiting for new commercial space to rent. Most of us live, or will live in either the multigenerational Groundswell, or the yet to be named Senior's Cohousing planned for the near future. We feel blessed that we've come on board in time to help build and grow our little village. While we're all so different, we share a common thread. We came to the village to enjoy a simpler, fuller life, and we're working hard to get there.

And let me assure you there is always work to be done. Certainly it has been more fun working with our new neighbours than it ever was on our own, however here comes the great truth. Are you ready?

Living in Cohousing will not make me less busy. If I'm not careful I will be more busy than I ever was. And here is the kicker. It's up to me to make sure it stays fun.



Enter Kara Cooper; Recreational Therapist.

About three years ago I met this "mom friend". We started hanging out when our daughters were two. I learned very quickly that Kara was special. Specifically I learned never to say "We should do that!" about anything I didn't actually have the energy to do or I'd find myself a short week later in the throws of whatever activity I'd laid claim to. Kara never understood that "We should do that!" in the normal world really means, "I'd love to do that but the truth is I'm too tired and disorganized to bother trying.” It was with Kara that I found myself on a two week camping trip with four kids two and under. Within a week of me expressing interest, the site was booked, the car was packed, and we were off. It was one of the best trip of my life, and some how I came back refreshed and ready to take on the world.

I can't begin to relay the number of amazing days Kara has planned for us. Things that might feel like work become events, rainy days are opportunities for blanket fort cities and garden work becomes time for wheel barrow obstacle courses for giggling kids. The work still gets done but noone seems to notice how.

When you comment, and people always do, Kara attributes her success in activity planning to her carreer in Recreational Therapy. According to the Canadian Recreational Therapy Accociation, Therapeutic Recreation is a profession which recognizes leisure, recreation and play as integral components of quality of life. Service is provided to individuals who have physical, mental, social or emotional limitations which impact their ability to engage in meaningful leisure experiences.

Very soon after Kara began to show me how recreation is key to my existance I began to remember times in my life where a good night out dancing left me more invigurated than a twelve hour sleep. Gone are the days of spontaneous frivolity. The kids took well care of that. Now it seems like a struggle to get anything onto the calandar that we all have energy for. But I know deep inside it does us all good to get out of our daily routines. Oh but the exhaustion!

I know I'm not alone. Now that we have a village to build it seems like every spare moment needs to be multi-tasked. Everything has to be about the village. Work parties allow socialisation- but the projects have to get done. Meals allow social activity- but you still have to eat. Very soon you can find yourself completely surrounded by have to's, instead of want to's.

So how do you consciously keep a community from drowning in meetings and work parties? I find that every one needs at least one truly frivolous experience a week to keep going. For some people that can be board games and beer, others might need to get out into nature. I also find it very useful to drag community members out of the village for off-site activity. Truth be told there are so many ways to have fun and so many people who need to have fun we all need to work together to provide each other with mulitple outlets from which we can pick and choose. It doesn't always happen easily. Sometimes we have to very consciously create fun in our lives- the same way we have to make time to weed gardens and get laundry done. With time and practice everyone can become an event planner for their own community.

In Recreational Therapy there are three ways a person is thought to get somthing out of the experience of an event; looking forward to, participating in, and looking back on the experience. Each of these can allow people to get the most out the events you plan.

Don't know where to start? I have some sugestions inspired by my personal Recreational Therapist for you here. Not every community is lucky enough to have a professional Rec Therapist on hand, but we can all learn to incorporate these simple behaviors into our own lives in order to intentionally provide more fun in our lives.

Jump to the pump. The next time people are sitting around talking about how great it would be to do something, be the person to pull out the calandar and book it! Don't worry about the greater community just yet. Try and find a date that works for those of you in the initial discussion.

Record great ideas. If no date can be found, stick the idea into a “Fun Day Jar”. While we still await our common house, one of my great plans for the mail room is an easy to access jar with an attached pen and index cards. When an idea comes that we can use right away we can flesh out as much of the idea as possible on a card and stick it in the jar. Even as I write this I wonder if we'll ever use the ideas we collect, but it will give us a place to store our passionate ideas, and remind us to take a break. It will also be a great tool for our Social team.



Branch out. Once a date for the event has been planned, invite as many people as you can think of. It's in our nature to assume other people are too busy to come out and play. I've found that it never hurts to try. Email is not nearly as effective as in person. An announcment at a community meeting or on a billboard helps, but a knock on the door ensures more people will take time to come out. Another thing we all do is accidentally write people off before we've asked. If a family has never participated before, invite them anyways. One day they may surprise you and themselves.

Speak often about the event in positive light. Remind people that it is coming and discuss the parts you are most looking forward to. Try not to dwell on the work that it will take to make it happen, but rather the joy it will bring when the day arrives.

Let it be simple for your guests. If you are planning an event, people will naturally feel they should help. If someone has a specific contribution they would like to ad, welcome it and say thankyou- but otherwise be okay to answer the question “What can I do to help?” with, “Just come and have fun!”. Take joy from the fact that you are treating your neighbours to a work-free night.

Don't let busy people discourage you. Okay. You may not get the turn out you'd like. And some events like a thrift shopping trip may be designed for a small and specific group. The size of the group matters less than the fun the group has. If you have ten people interested and three people show up GO ANYWAY! Have fun and talk about it with others. Soon enough people will get the bigger picture and be more willing to drop the work and have a little fun.

Go the extra mile. Instead of just making Sushi, find some Japanese music and supply an oragami craft aswell. On a thrift shopping trip for the moms insist on starting with diner out and have a contest for the tackiest find. Try to have something for each of the fives senses; taste, sight, smell, touch, sound. While not every event will allow you to think this way it helps to start somewhere.

Take and post pictures. The internet has been a double edged sword for this step. In some ways it has made it so much easier to share photos with friends and family but it depersonalizes the experience. The best luck I've seen for this step is the old fashioned bill board. Take pictures, choose a handful and print them. Print doubles and give copies to the people in the photos. Kara has been doing this for me for years. I have so many of them I have taken to taping them into the insides of my cupboard doors. When I go to put things away- there we are smiling out from our adventures. It makes us remember to plan more.

Go to events planned by others. Say Thank you. I know more than once I would have preferred to stay home from any one of Kara's events. I go becuase I know she's worked hard to plan it. And you know? I always end up having much more fun with her than I would snuggling my remote control.

If meetings are the only way to get people's attention right now try having a guest speaker in for a quick ten minute participation session. Some great topics for this is Laughter Yoga, Belly Dancing, a synopsis of really cool seminar a community member took. Chances are that a number of people may enjoy themselves so much they'll respond when you invite them to a longer class.

Vivian Vaillant is a neighbour in waiting at The Yarrow Ecovillage, meaning she is an active member of the community still waiting for her home to be built. Vivian enjoys the one mile living aspect of the Ecovillage and expects her green-built home will be ready for occupancy January 1, 2012. www.yarrowecovillage.ca

Ask Five Ecovillagers Question 1

Hello out there! I greet you from my comfortable Poang Chair from Ikea. A cup of tea is getting cold beside me as I get a few things sorted out online. I've done all my work for the night and so I get to do something I have been waiting to do for a very long time...

Introducing my very own "Blog Segment". The idea of this Blog was that it would be a mixture of several voices. Ann, the first blogger wanted to engage many people from Groundswell Cohousing to write about their different lives here. The thought was that we could show the world how many different people live here. The truth of the matter is that my neighbours are all pretty busy planning and enjoying our community. While they'd like to write regular Blog posts they don't have time. And so I thought it would be nice to give people an easier way to have a voice here.

Ask Five Ecovillagers will run a random question that I've personally been asked past five random neighbours. Here's hoping you'll enjoy the responses. And hey! If you have a question you'd like asked please send it in. Just use the contact us button and forward the question ATTENTION VIVIAN.

Drum roll please....

Five Random Ecovillagers were asked;

How are you schooling your Children?

1. I don't have school age children however I am a supporter of the public school system.

2. I am homeschooling. I had been working as a teacher and enjoy being with children a lot. When my son indicated that he was not ready to go to school, we decided to teach him at home. It has been going well for us. Our younger children have also enjoyed the educational exposure.

3. My 6 year old is goes to Yarrow Elementary School. It is a nice little school, and I love that we can walk there each morning. It is nice to feel that we are getting to know some of our neighbours who don't live at the ecovillage, too.

4. No Kidlets... yet :)

5. I like the idea of home schooling but I have no patience for it; I'd end up eating my young.

If you have a question you would like us to ask five random ecovillagers please email it through our contact us button and stay tuned!

A break in the rain

Does Consensus Make Sense?

Yep... We use Consensus to build our Ecovillage. We don't vote on things. We don't leave the powers that be alone in a room to make up their minds. We use this confusing, bizarre, admittedly-difficult-to-understand-at-first system they introduced to my husband and I as "Consensus".

We were given a ten page excerpt from a book to read by Diana Leaf Christian. I now know that she is the author of two amazing books; "Finding Community" and "Creating a Life Together". At the time I remember wondering how any of this mumbo jumbo could actually work. It seemed very unusual and (okay I admit it!) flaky. No one is the leader? Every one is the leader! Everyone will agree in the end?...! Sound powerful? Sound EFFECTIVE?????

Some days I have my doubts. Sometimes I think we're all sunk. We're regularly dealing with issues that have multi-facited points of view. No single answer ever satisfies everyone. We all admit wholeheartedly that we need to get better at Consensus. Hey! This is the first ecovillage any of us have ever built right? And aren't we all human? So I offer an insight into what Consensus can be when it is used with skill and passion.

I (my husband found it!) bumped into this video on the Wonderfully Wide Web and I realized that we aren't yet perfect... but our system sure might be. We all just need to learn more every day about how to use the darn thing, and we all need to remember that none of us have it all figured out yet. Being new at something isn't always my forte... But after seeing this video I'm a willing student!

My friends, and friends to be... I give you Consensus in a large scale setting.

December Rental is rented!

This home has been rented! We look forward to getting to know our new- potential neighbours very soon!

For Rent December 2011

Wondering what it is like to live at the Yarrow Ecovillage? Here is an opportunity to rent a home at the Ecovillage for your winter holidays!

· Short-term rental only (for the entire or partial month of December).

· $1000/month includes all utilities/internet.

· Beautiful timber frame home with a gorgeous view of the farmland and Vedder Mountain.

· Fully furnished, 3 bedrooms, sleeps up to 7.

· Suitable for singles to families (includes toys for the kids).

Contact Tamara or Joel at 778 374-0321 or tamara.bonnemaison@gmail.com

NutShell Niblets #31- September 21, 2011

Ann's very personal, highly biased and incomplete guide to the ecovillage ... in a nutshell, and with only a little, a lot of no hyperbole.

It’s ages since I wrote a newsletter from Yarrow Ecovillage. It’s about time, I would say! How are you going to know what’s going on here, unless someone tells you?? And I like it to be me, because that way I can say whatever I like (… and you can delete it, if that suits.)

New neighbors moving in--- Oh, frabjous day!

Our two latest buildings are finished and five families are moving into their very own spiffy, new homes. And beautiful they are! As well, some have moved out of temporary quarters, and others have moved into those vacated spaces. The intricacy of these maneuverings could look daunting to the uninitiated. I heard one child ask his mum which home he’d left his shoes in--- # 4, his old home? or #12, the Quad -his temporary home? or #2 , his new one? I’m not downplaying the disruption that has been happening for many families as they settle in here. But it is also true that the nature of cohousing means that no-one bears the stress and pain of moving here, without the support and care of their neighbours.

The kids are scampering in and out of each other’s homes as much as they ever did. There’re always willing hands ready to lift heavy boxes. And neighbours who will clean and sweep at the drop of a hat.

I love to look out my windows at night and see the new houses lit with families for the first time. Figures moving around in rooms full of piled boxes. I see Linda unpacking, putting glasses? mugs? into kitchen cupboards.

My new neighbours, my new friends, already so dear and familiar, they seem like old ones, too.

Our two farms – Ohm and Osprey Organics --Both farms report great successes this year.

I pop down to the gardens see for myself, what’s doing today. Nevin is weeding pathways with a wheel hoe. We stand together in the sun, warm by the greenhouse and looking over the rows of vegetables, still going strong. White cabbage moths flit and land, disappearing into the white arugula flowers to become them, for a moment.

Nevin’s face beams with pride when he tells me what’s gone so well this year---- Having happy customers who’ve shared this year’s vegies with friends and family, and now those folks too, wanting to sign up for their own vegetable box programme. It’ll have to be next year’s, now. He reaches into the arugula to pull out a seedpod and strokes and opens it with his thumb, to show me the seeds inside. “I hope for some dry weather to finish these off. “ he says.

He and the other farmers are expanding into bigger fields on the other side of the creek; it’s already plowed and ready for cover-crops. Nevin tells me that he designs it all on the computer… 128 small beds are plotted Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough; GM Hopkins with soil conditions noted, succession crops planned, successes and failures recorded. With my own new expertise on the computer, I’m guessing all he has to do to expand his operations from his current ½ acre to next year’s 2 ½ acres, is push the keyboard buttons ‘zoom’ and ‘save’. Farming has become so much easier now, farmers hardly have to go outside :>)

Nevin finishes me off, by taking me into the greenhouse for a gourmet cherry tomato taste-testing. Hmmm! Which are the best? The ‘Black Cherry’ are sweet, juicy bursting nuggets of flavour… the next, ‘Solid Gold’ yellow grape tomatoes are too… and little red ‘Apero’, as well.

That was easy!

So, all is well on the farm, and will be better even, next year.

Waste Water treatment --- Let’s all flush!

I could tell you a lot about the inner workings of our wastewater treatment system. I know details of the new tanks, pumps and pipes. I know how magnificently it’ll serve the village--- for a total of 50 households, and more shops than we have room for. And I could describe the current ugliness, noise and odour of the tanks … soon to be landscaped with bushes and little boys playing, sound-proofed and with the smell buried and eliminated.

But really, I couldn’t care less--- I just want to flush.

Hang on! The constructed marsh we’ll have next summer in the back pasture… there’s the exception to my lack of septic-enthusiasm. Finishing off our wastewater in natural-looking pond with bulrushes, reeds and ducks. It won’t be perfect. That really does make my heart sing!

Eating Together

Whatever else is happening, there is a happy coming-together on the evenings when we break bread and have dinner as a group. We’re dying for our common house, but lacking one, doesn’t stop us from creating that same sense of place and belonging in other manifestations. If anyone had told me ahead, that some of my best community sharing times would be in a building called the ‘bunker silo’ I’d have been amazed. It was used to store haybales in the hay-heyday of the old dairy farm. Now it is humble, (clean), and has a warmth of charm you’ll have to come and experience for yourself. Come soon for dinner! In the cooler, wetter weather we’ll move into homes for smaller gatherings. But either way, you’re just as welcome.

Compassionate Communication Workshop and the Return of Chuck- our cohousing guru

If you’re a friend of the ecovillage, or a warm acquaintance, you’re invited to learn Non-Violent Communication ( NVC) along with us at a workshop spanning two Sundays --- Oct 16^th and 23^rd , taught by Raj Gill from SFU.

Some of us are practiced at NVC and others are total beginners, but for all of us, it is our commitment to better communication. It works in all sorts of aspects in life, not just intentional community life. (I’m planning to inflict it on both my mother and my daughters… check in with me later to see how I’m improving :>). Perhaps I need to rethink the word ‘inflict’?

And Chuck Durrett is coming back in November for another of his workshops to get us ship-shape and tuned up for the next building phase. You could come to that, too. We’re nothing if not welcoming and open. All you need is time (a rare commodity, that’s true!) But a well-functioning ecovillage with room to grow, is rare too! Think about that!

Write back for more details.

Stewart Creek

Earlier this year, we embarked on a rehabilitation project with the Dept. of Fisheries and other willing partners, to remove blackberries and restore native habitat along the north side of the creek. And it’s working just fine … as long as you remember there’re canes coming back, that‘ll need removing. (We can do that… softer ground after rain, will help.)

In a conspiracy of good fortune, the City of Chilliwack has also stepped in (literally, stepped into the creek). The verges along the creek have been trimmed and cleared. And the water course has been mucked out, to clear the central channel, freeing it of choking canary grass.

It was interesting how they did the muck-raking. I stopped the workers and asked them. They cleared all the water creatures bigger than my little fingernail, out of a stretch of creek, using two electrically-charged paddles. The paddles started together, and then as they moved apart, they herded the creatures out of that section of creek. Then the digger pulled out the mud and beer bottles in a long strip, but leaving an untouched strip too, so that when the fish and critters were released back in there, there would be food and hiding habitat for them.

One of the workers showed me a picture on his phone of a cutthroat trout he’d netted, hanging head and tail over two palms held side by side. Precious beauty, held. I can’t decide whether I’d be pleased if, after it’s happy return to the creek, our resident herons caught it for dinner, or I’d be upset. What’s to be done with inconsistent and conflicting values? Sit on the bridge to dangle one’s legs and consider them, I suppose.

Snakes in the Village --- (every village has ‘em) (the snakes and ladders of outrageous fortune)

Internet Explanation: From Hamlet -"The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" and it just means all the stuff life has to throw at you.

(I actually like snakes and their use for metaphors is legion.)

Snakes are the worries and concerns we all have, that live and hide in holes and slither out at night, only to be gone in the morning. But you know they’re still there. The worries I’m referring to, are about financial security, the (un)predictability of outcomes, conflicts of fairness and a possible inability to connect and be heard, when it would seem to be most important.

We don’t kid ourselves that we don’t have snakes in this village. And I know you don’t kid yourselves that there’s any other place you can go to be guaranteed safe from them, either. We live in a world that seems more fraught with uncertainty than ever. And we are human. And a developing village has extra uncertainties than your average suburb does, until it settles down.

And that is happening. These new neighbours arriving now, are the settling forces. They bring strengths and talents and renewing energy. And with that support, we’re now able to turn our attention and care to the specific concerns we’ve been harbouring, in unintended secrecy, that somehow this village won’t be able to hold all together and progress onwards, in a shared vision of an eco-community.

In recent constructive times of building and moving in, we’ve focused necessary attention on ‘getting it built’. We’ve made lots of decisions in a rapid, progressive, but sometimes confusing way.

Right now, we are going through a deliberate exercise of exorcising. Slowing down. Paying careful attention. Pulling out those confusions and uncertainties in order to examine, understand, honour and then diminish them. Revisiting our agreements from the past- how to reinforce their strength? Poring through financial statements --- what do choices do they offer us? Hearing the stories of those who came before- what can we learn? Making space for newcomers – how do we best incorporate their capacities? Listening to those we’ve been closed to- gaining new appreciation and insight.

It’s hard to do, but harder not to. It’s like the creek-clearing. The muck from the bottom is piled along the banks … it’s rich and dark and full of nutrients and goodness. The creek needs the clearing and the new trees need the fertilising.

There’s an inherent irony … it takes a certain base of security from which to examine and draw out the forces of insecurity. And I believe that courage to live in uncertainty builds trust, and that allows beauty, and beauty is the door to mindfulness, which brings peace and security.

That’s what I believe. And a light is shining.

There’s lots of welcome for you here, should you like to visit. We won’t be trying to convince you of anything.

Poem(s) of the Day – I’m sharing you favourites , this time.

Choshu

The moon in the water;

Broken and broken again,

Still it is there.

A Warning to My Readers

Wendell Berry

Do not think me gentle

because I speak in praise

of gentleness,

or elegant

because I honour the grace

that keeps this world. I am

a man as crude as any,

gross of speech, intolerant,

stubborn, angry, full

of fits, and furies. That I

may have spoken well,

at times, is not natural.

A wonder is what it is.

What is cohousing anyways?

So what is Cohousing anyways?

Good Question. Cohousing is kind of a funny word isn't it? I thought so the first time I heard it. I knew what I was looking for, but had written off this funny term "cohousing" as perhaps being too extreme for me. Images of communes and sharing my paycheque stopped me from checking it out.

What I wanted?

When I was twenty, a group of us in University dreamed about buying an old three story walk up apartment in the down town area. Our thought was that we'd each get our own unit on one of the upper levels, and then all of the lower level suites would be reconfigured into a large common area. The idea back then was to have a big pool table, BIG screen TV, craft and study space, a little bar (it was University after all) and a nice kitchen for preparing one big meal together instead of 20 lonely ones. We all wanted to have more private space than being room mates allowed, but none of us really wanted to live alone. This seemed to be the perfect fit.

Years Later

Needless to say as a bunch of twenty-year old students we were limited to dreaming by our extreme lack of funds. Years later, with three kids and a husband, I found myself eating one of 70,000 lonely suppers in the little town we were in demanding more out of my life. In the end I found cohousing.

Cohousing is a resident designed community that balances private ownership and thriving public spaces. Most include a resident designed "common house" with features they as a community decide they will make the most use of. Most have a community hall feel with guest room space and an awesome children's play area. It is through the process of building the community together that what would be just neighbours next door become well known friends. It is through thoughtful design that the buildings support both the private family time and ongoing, enriched connection within the surrounding neighbourhood. One thing is certain. While we all will bump into pockets of community throughout our lives (hockey teams, the five years you lived in that great cul de sac, a good book club that you used to find time for), a really tightly knit community is something you have to plan for and commit to.

Things we've done to support community and private life:

-Front porches allow people to sit and visit where people walk by. They are an excellent community building tool. (When not overshadowed by a giant garage!) Back porches and small private yards give you a place to sit without the whole community showing up to join you.

-Parking near the Common house instead of in a private driveway means you have to walk past the "Hub" before going home. This might mean you'll get roped into a fun project later on in the evening, or at least say hi a few times on your way home. The "Hub" gives people a place to be when they want to be around people, so your private home does little to no large group entertaining. Perhaps a pot of tea shared with a good friend, or dinner with visitors from afar, but there is no need to have 12 neighbours in your home at a time.

-Kitchen Windows facing the front of the home allows people to see people passing when their up and about. No one feels like popping their head out to chat half way through a good TV show. We put the living rooms near the back.

- Gardens all placed together help bring people together over a common passion. It also makes it easier to get garden-sitting services while you're away camping.

-A great shared indoor and outdoor play space gives kids and cooped up moms an easy place to pop out and find other kids to play with. Gone are the days of planning and driving for a playdate, though you'll always have friends in the rest of the city you'll still have to plan and drive to see.

Our Cohousing Projects are designed by Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett who will one day be known as the parents of cohousing in North America. Together with their team of careful architects they have taken our wishes and dreams about how we want to live together and turned them into a reality one group workshop at a time. While we still have about a zillion decisions to make, we know we're building something we'll love to live in.

And the cohousing is only one part of our project. We're doing our best to create one mile living by providing farm land and work spaces for families who want to come here. Combine that with the walkability and resources of greater Yarrow and this eclectic mix of farm life and city is truly heaven on earth. (and I get to live here! Tee Hee!)

Below is a link to Tocoma Village's website. They highlight what is called "The elevator speech" It's a pretty great way to explain cohousing to newcomers.

http://www.takomavillage.org/wordpress/cohousing/what-is-cohousing-the-elevator-speech/

Introducing Ingrid!

We've been somewhat hit and miss in remembering to welcome our newest neighbours on the blog as they come. As it goes in real life, we're pretty busy around here. I'm going to share with you the story of one of our newest members now, and hopefully get the opportunity to tell other stories over time.

Ingrid's story makes me laugh. Mostly because of how graceful her landing has been. Before finding Groundswell cohousing I imagine Ingrid lived in a pretty normal (even beautiful judging by her tastes!) home. She probably had a lot of time to herself, and more than enough personal space. I think she was probably a very typical single empty nester. Working days, enjoying her grandchildren, and such. Life was probably very peaceful before us- but I think we win for joyful chaos.

The first time I met Ingrid was at the community garage sale back in May. She had been around the ecovillage a few times before that, but being that I live in Edmonton, it was my first chance to meet her. She arrived with a van full of beautiful things ready for her garage sale table. She was neat and clean, and kind. I liked her instantly. By the end of the day she had decided she wanted to move here, and I don't think a week went by before her things were moved into the smallest unit available in what we call the "Quad". She will live there until her two bedroom unit is ready for her.

That was fast. I should mention that most people don't move this quickly. For some people, including my family, the decision to jump into cohousing takes longer than that. Wrapping one's head around real community, the joys, and possible pains that come with it takes time. It also usually takes time for a unit to be built, or come available, so Ingrid's story is already quite unique.

And with such grace did Ingrid leap! First, let me tell you about the Quad. We built the Quad a year ago, and to our knowledge it is a new feature for cohousing. The quad is a Strata in itself, meaning each person owns their own unit. Two upper units that are about 650 sq ft (Correct me folks, is that right?) and two lower units measuring 400 sq ft. Each unit has a private bathroom, bedroom, and living quarters, but share a kitchen, dining room, and living room. On top of that, the residents of the quad can also access the main common house and the rest of the common facilities in the neighbourhood. Mini cohousing within cohousing so to speak. It was designed for people that would normally not be able to get into the housing market, and also for people who want to have the enjoyment of room mates while still have enough private space. Let me tell you this; the quad is a special place. It is full of energy and life. People come and go, probably more than Quad livers might like for the moment. There is almost always something cooking in their kitchen, and a large amount of laughter that floats out the windows. Ingrid went from living on her own, to sharing a house with three other people who would have seemed unlikely room mates in any other place. Okay- one part of the Quad is being used as office space right now- but they're still room mates, and that's a story for another day.

So my story continues. I arrived back at the village at the end of July. Ingrid has been settled in for a couple months at this point.

The first day after my arrival Ingrid has already offered her tiny but gorgeously kept home for children to bathe and play in. Right away I note that her bookshelf houses nearly every great book ever written about cohousing. She's done her research.

The second day one of the other mother's and I decide we'll go berry picking. We plan on taking a third mom's children with us while she works on installing her floors with her husband. Hoping to even out the adult to child ratio a bit, we invite Ingrid, who jumps right in. Literally. She ends up sitting between two car seats and the smile never leaves her face. She helps pick berries amongst the chaos of 8 children and at the end of it tells us how well behaved our kids are! Music to every mother's ears!

The third day a group of us plan to meet about our "marketing strategy". Ingrid tags along and takes notes.

The fourth day I find her and another room mate up late making gourmet popcorn. 2:00 am would seem late anywhere but the quad, but not for Ingrid! She's busily transcribing the notes from the day before while laughing and drinking wine.

Not a week later Ingrid averts a near melt-down for me and my kids. My husband has now flown home and I'm on my last straw. We're in her home for bath time and I catch her snuggled up with my three rug rats reading stories. She buys me enough time to actually have my own shower AND a cup of tea. My children finish up a story about the little engine that could and then choo! choo! all the way back to our tent trailer.

Ingrid and several other neighbours show up in the barn for an impromptu dinner with some potential new comers. She delights us all with a story about her day that begins with, "Let me tell you all what an amazing place we live!" She regales us with stories about all her errands throughout the day and how people kept giving her free gourmet delights. She is gleeful.

My daughter falls in love with Ingrid's sweet little doll's house. Ingrid shares it with her openly. Sophie sits for hours playing on Ingrid's floor. Ingrid also gets roped in to performing and song and dance with my daughter. Over the next week I see her perform the routine on three separate occasions. Sophie adores her for this.

Ingrid's daughter comes to visit. She has been away in Bhutan amongst other places. Her, her daughter, and some of her daughter's friends show up around the campfire one night with ice cream and organic blueberries. We invent a new tasty treat now known as the full moon. A full moon is when you stuff blueberries and ice cream into the center of a roasted marshmellow and stuff it in your mouth. You really ought to try one. It'll make you howl, or really fat. not sure which.

Another near melt down. Ingrid joins me and my three overheated children at the spray deck where she leaves me in a spot of shade while she entertains my children on the swings and in the water for over an hour.

Ingrid's Granddaughter visits. Ingrid helps a gaggle of children "surprise the grown ups" by making us lunch, and insists on cleaning up too!




Throughout all of this Ingrid comes and goes. She has other friends and family in the area that keep her busy. One can't be certain if Ingrid will be home or not- but when she's home, she's all in. No matter what we throw at her.

Welcome Ingrid! It's a pleasure to know you!

Camping Updates from lollybloggers

Hello World!

There is a term out there in the "Blog" world called lollyblogging. It's used to describe people who only occasionally take the time to blog.

I think that might be me! It might well be all of us at the ecovillage that blog. I popped in to see where we were at for website hits after our SECOND airing of the "Behind the Beaded Curtain" radio show on CBC and am not at all surprised to see that our last post was July 25th. Our apologies- it's just way too much fun to live here to always get online to brag about it!

Truthfully we're all enjoying our summer right now. I am only a neighbour-in-waiting (waiting for my home to be built) and my normal home is still in Edmonton but I'm here camping for three weeks with my three kids. So let me tell you what has been going on around here!

Let's Move!

Five (count them FIVE) families are in the final stages of moving into their homes. Beverly and Mathew have been installing flooring, Yonas and Julia have been seen packing. Maureen and Ken carried ceiling fans into their place the other day. Beverly made a great analogy last week... She's 9 months pregnant with her house! So ready to move in- but not quite there yet and sick of everyone asking when it will happen.

Speaking of babies,

Linda and Jamie are now officially past their due date and ... no news yet.

Tent City Weekend

We had an amazingly fun camping trip with neighbours in waiting, neighbours considering, and residents. Even some of the people with houses onsight surprised me by setting up tents and sleeping in them. Next year if that happens I'm going to sneak into their houses and sleep in their empty beds!

Camping highlights include;

-Every Meal we had.
-Midnight Laughter coming from the group playing adult pictionary over beers. (The boys lost and still owe the Women a dip in the creek!)
-The night the kids got to make supper- stone soup cooked over the camp fire and then served to the adults as though they were in a restaurant
-Leo's birthday party, which took place in the air conditioned gym at the community school
-Jumbo Marshmellows on the camp fire
-The kids playing the Red Paper Clip game; each started with a gold pin and traded for hours until we were all trading random things from our houses.
-Quiet cups of tea and lemonade in our makeshift barn kitchen.

Potential New Neighbours:

We've been giving very successful tours lately. It seems that the radio program was well heard this time by people who really understand what we're doing. I had the extreme pleasure of touring two of the families myself. (Families with little girls my own daughters age! YAY!) and I enjoyed them both. How much fun I have walking through the farm, telling the stories of this place, showing the floorplans and introducing neighbours.

I love being the one to answer the question I once came here with. "We have normal jobs is that okay?" (yes.) "Do we have to farm" (no.) "Is there a religious affiliation?" (no- but most of us believe in something.) "Can we own our home?" (yes.) "Can I dry my clothes outside on a clothes line" (sure can!) "I still want to be able to shop at Superstore would that be okay?" (yes) I see in the people that come here the same awe and excitement Paul and I had when we realized that this place was real. Real and normal people just like us who wanted a better sense of community and a lighter footprint when possible. I would say both families I toured around would be a great fit here. I'm excited by their excitement all over again!

I'm here until August 20th. I'd love to tour you around too. After that I'll hand the tours back to Ann and Beverly and drive sadly back to Edmonton until my house is finished.

Fav-ulous Fire

Steamed fava beans taste a lot like edamame...but with more scope for bad puns. Sharing food and music around the fire is what I think we humans are meant to do.

Slow Food Cycle Tour

It was a (the?) beautiful sunny day: spending it at the Blue Heron Reserve with hundreds of organic-farm-loving cyclists was perfect!

Muddy Buddies

Our mud-buddies, Tamara and Shauna, are working away at finishing the garden tool shed with a natural building technique that seems to include straw, clay, kids spraying each other with hoses, everyone getting elbow deep in mud and laughing a lot.  I think it's the last three activities that make this 'natural building'.   And these two gals , with their arms around each other? ( Tam's hands are too muddy to touch Shauna, but Tam's shirt is dirty enough and Shauna's hands clean enough to touch her :>) )  .... they are from two of the farming families here who produce so many vegetables my fridge door won't shut properly anymore without squishing the bags of green goodness  therein. They've been friends since grade eight in a small interior BC town.  Usually they're hauling bales, washing and bagging salad mix, or hand-tilling the weeds between the rows.  But in this moment, they turned to each other and said "  When we were in high school, did we have any idea that we end up here together???"
They look happy. 

I don't know exactly which day this is. It's hard to tell one great campfire experience from another. We like to hang around the fire roasting marshmallows, wieners and corn. We like singing around fires, and we like gazing into them. Life is pretty good here!

Wwoof!

Alex is a wwoofer working on the farm . Wwoofers are willing workers on organic farms, exchanging learning and room-and-board for hands-on help to farmers.
Speaking of hands, Alex has cold hands from washing the radishes, but her smile is warm and bright! We're very pleased to have her here for two weeks while she and Garrett learn more about organic farming and share ecovillage life with us.

http://www.wwoof.ca/

See OHM Organic Farm at the Abbotsford Farmers Market

Watch Shauna and Nevin showing off their farm wares at the Abbotsford Saturday market on this link: .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJxn32Thzqg

We're starting here ourselves with an Artisan's Market that we hope to grow into a comprehensive market like Abbotsford's. We're planting our seeds here .... Come to Yarrow Ecovillage on this Friday 4pm to 9pm for food, family fun and homemade and grown goodies of all sorts! And mark your calendars for July 29th for the next one.

Look what I got in my vegie box from the farmers this week!

Ann

If you've been here to visit, you've seen this scene. This is Ann at home. Many a cup of tea has been enjoyed at this table.

Living, Loving, and Eating Whole Heartedly

News Flash!

It is perfectly okay to eat Mr. Noodles at an ecovillage. One might think- from the outside- as I once did that people who live in ecovillages could somehow resist the delicious twists and turns of a Mr. Noodle as it slips into your mouth from a bowl full of MSG. After several horror stories of University students having balls of wax removed from their stomachs after years of Mr. Noodles, and weight loss regimes giving little respect to the simple carbohydrate I had basically sworn off the beloved Mr. Noodle.

Osprey Organic farmers prepare for the East side Saturday market in Vancouver

Tam and Joel are a husband and wife team who lease farm land, and live here. They run Osprey Organic farms from our little Village and can be seen out on the land with their big beautiful dog Joey, and two great kids Noah and Eli. Not only do they grow great veggies, but they make great peach daquaris around campfires.

Those big bags of yummy fresh greens ended up in our CSA baskets. Yes folks. Begin drooling now. These farmers, along with Ohm Farms, give me a giant Rubbermaid full of veggies every friday in exchange for a mere $30.00. It's the cheapest way to hire a personal gardener that I know of. Combine this with great lettuce with some of the Hollyhock salad dressing we've all become addicted to here and voila! Simple one mile living at it's best!

Find Hollyhock dressing here:

Projects in the bunker silo

Cheryl and Ann work on artisan market fare while bikes are fixed in the background.

Garage sale proceeds to Hope International

Our Garage Sale raised more than $300 for Hope International. We are a third of the way towards a well for a village in Cambodia.
Thank you to all donors and buyers. Items not sold were taken to our local MCC Thrift Shop to raise funds for their good work. If you hurry, you may still be able to buy your favourites back so you can sell them in our next garage sale. :>)

An observation about the world of real estate and real estates

No doubt you have noted that when you go to buy a house, the realtor very carefully shows you all the wonderful features of the home and garden, makes note of the local school and bus stop locations and advises that you should hire an home inspector to let you know if there are problems hidden in the walls or foundation. And it's rare if ever, that you are introduced to the people who can make living there heaven or hell... the neighbours.

Around here, it's totally the other way around. Meeting the neighbours is the very first thing you do.
Neighbours are the people you can turn to ask about house financing, whether the gutters overflow in the rain, canoe storage and where you can let your dog off-leash.

And we'll tell all we know about living here--- the rough and the smooth. We're the folks who will bring you dinner on the day you move in ... we'll lend a dolly if you need one and keep an eye on the kids while you empty boxes. All of us will smile and greet you, and some of us will become your best friends ... or your kids' best friends. Imagine this different way. Welcome!

NutShell Niblets #30- May 30, 2011

Ann's very personal, highly biased and incomplete guide to the ecovillage ... in a nutshell, and with only a little no hyperbole.

Distracted by Cows

There’s been a lot going on around here recently. It’s spring, after all, and vigourous house construction and accompanying interest from ecovillage-wannabees has kept me on the hop*. I have hardly any time for writing :>(

It’s been intense in a wonderfully productive way. But this morning, with my mind completely focused on all the important doings and what I was going to be doing about the most crucial of them, I marched the black dog smartly down our lane to pastures at the back for some good uninterrupted thinking time. Our neighbours on the other side of the creek are cows – five brown and white adults and one calf, - free and carefree in the long grass, with nothing to do all day. And darned if they didn’t notice me as I was concentrating. And they came closer and kept staring at me. For the longest time, gazing at me as I gazed back. . Thank goodness I’d already written the following news to share with you or this would have been a very short report from the ecovillage indeed!.

* hop –see haiku contest.

Organic Farm News- vegetables growing, grant granted

The farmers are growing vegetables as fast as they can. Ohm sells at the Saturday market in Abbotsford and Osprey at both East Vancouver and Kitsilano markets --- swapping between them on Saturdays and Sundays.

Frontpage super models!

Maureen alerted us to our most recent appearance: the front cover of the Real Estate Weekly. Rumour has it that some realtors regard cohousing as the future of housing. If I can find a realtor to comment on this, I'll share.

It was quite a surprise to Maureen to find her half-built house (and Linda's and Cheryl's) on the cover when she got to that section of her local paper!

Open publication - Free publishing - More abbotsford