Bye Bye Bunker Silo Blues

On June 23-24 Viv had planned a meticulously timed and full of activities event which was to bring all folks related to Yarrow Ecovillage past, present, and future to a farewell party for the old beloved Bunker Silo.  All the details had been looked after:  the photographer was arranged for the group photos, people were bringing pot luck dinner and bunker silo stories and instruments for the blues party afterwards, there was to be a presentation about the Cohousing Conference recently attended by Natalie and Viv, and everyone who wanted to stay overnight more or less knew where they were staying.

Mama Nature, of course, had different ideas!

A freak thunderstorm blew through, soaking the furniture in the barn.  No photos were taken, at least not as planned, and everyone crowded into Yonas and Julia's place for the delicious pot luck dinner. 

After all the kids (it felt like there were hundreds of kids!) were paraded next door so we could hear, Natalie and Viv gave us a quick summary (with pictures) of the highlights of the conference.  They came back feeling very positive about our village!

Quite a group did eventually gather with instruments in the damp barn, a jam of sorts did happen, and it was pretty amazing considering most of the musicians had never played or sung together before!  It might take a bit of fine tuning, but we could feel that a lot of musical magic was about to take shape at Groundswell! 

Jonathan was on mandolin, Dorothy on flute, Jeannie on fiddle, David on guitar and harmonica, Dave Moss on guitar, Ken on guitar, Camille seemed to play everything but probably only actually played violin and guitar, I heard a few drums in the background, and many fine voices (often searching for the right key).  (Apologies if I have left someone out... it was dark!!)

It felt like this was about the joy of music bringing people together, regardless of level of musicianship,  about sharing, about conversing through a universal language, rather than about individual performances.

Beverly lit some candles, there were a few flashlights and lamps with which to read the words to songs, many words were forgotten, some were made up, a few kids were gathered around, babies somehow slept through it all, and despite the departure from the "planned event", it was a fitting farewell party to the Bunker Silo.  

Soon, we will be welcoming the new common house!

(I didn't have my better camera with me, so these photos aren't great (Alex has much better ones), but you can get the idea. )