Open House and Radio Show a HIT!

I can't tell you how good it felt to sit around an old radio with my neighbours to listen to Behind the Beaded curtain on CBC Radio One. Of course you know I'll try.

We had an amazing day. Myself and so many neighbours were up early in anticipation of the Open House. We set up tables and tents in case of rain. We put out flags and parking signs and garage sale items. People cleaned things and opened doors in anticipation of friendly faces that might come to see what we're about.

And they came! I think I can safely say we had over two hundred people through over the course of the day. There were farm tours, and home tours. For my kids a highlight was the treasure hunt hosted by one of the Dads. People had yummy smokies and Hot dogs from the deli. Every where you looked people were happy and relaxed. I was supposed to be at the Garage Sale table all day- but I got tied up in so many great conversations with fantastic people who really get what it is we're about.

I had to laugh at times as I answered questions I once asked myself. "Is this a Commune?" (no.) "Do you have to work on the farm?" (no.) "Is there some sort of religious affiliation?" (no.) "Can you own your own home?" (yes.) "Do you like it here?" (yes!) All good questions. Important things for people to figure out if they are looking for something they've never really seen before. That was my husband and I but a short year ago. It seems silly to me now to think I'd have asked these questions. We haven't even managed to move here yet (my house is next in the pipeline) but it feels so much like home here now that I can't imagine living anywhere else.

And then the day was nearly done when the radio came out. As people finished up with their clean up they slowly gathered in the bunker silo we use as a temporary Community Building. Tea in hand, we sat and listened. There were laughs, and knowing smiles while the (amazing) Hostess of the show Willow Yamauchi wove her magic. In the end we were proud. Shayne and Joel did an amazing job representing who we are; normal people from all walks of life who are willing to really know their neighbours.

If you've landed on this site because of the Open House- thanks so much for coming out! If you've come because you heard about us on CBC- I really hope you'll swing by and meet some of my neighbours! I have to say they're really great people, and an even better group.

I'll do my best to get the Radio Show link up soon and pictures will follow!

This is Vivian playing a balloon game with feisty ecovillage kids at the Open house. The game was supposed to involve carrying the balloons between their knees back and forth through an obstacle course. The funny thing about free range kids is that they have their own ideas about what fun is and aren't scared to share them. After a round or two of putting up with the obstacle course the kids quickly changed the rules of the game until every balloon had been played with, sat on and squished. Popping balloons makes kids giggle. What can I tell you?

Open House May 23 10am to 3pm

Be sure to come to our OPEN HOUSE this Monday 10am- 3pm
Rain or shine there's lots to see and do! Tour houses, farm and creek.
Refreshments served. Garage and plant sales too! Fun for kids!

and listen to CBC Radio One on Monday 4pm to 6 pm to hear some of our voices on a fun programme about new back-to-the-land community life-styles, We're in the last half hour.