Farm, -  Mar 01, 2023

Farm events and residence – Mountains and Waters Alliance – March 5 and later

Here’s a quick note to share some opportunities coming up.

Workdays:

Sunday, March 5, 12-5: coppicing black locusts.

We planted black locust trees in 2015, and it’s time to manage them – cutting back and trimming. Black locust wood is highly valuable as firewood and fence posts; it’s also an invasive species and we’ll probably be managing it forever.

Two or three helpers would be good. The trees have thorns, so heavy leather gloves are a good plan, but I can lend. Skilled or unskilled volunteers are both welcome.

Saturday, March 11, 10-4, maple sugaring.

We’ll gather sap and cook it, from trees already engaged, and tap some additional trees. There will be some tromping in the woods, and there’s a fire to build; dress accordingly. Lunch provided.

For both of these, register by email, and I’ll send a reminder with directions and parking information. Leather gloves and good boots are recommended (ask me about loaners), dress in layers, and there will be hot soup at the end or at a break. Weather looks good.

A note: When we do these projects, we’re asking for gifts from the land. I’ll be talking with the trees in advance, asking their understanding and consent, and we may open our day with such a conversation as well.

Land care retreat:

April 14-16, weekend. There will be meditation, dharma talks, and discussions, with afternoons spent in work-as-spiritual-practice projects. Work details are unknown, but likely may include garden prep work and/or more tree work, coppicing or whatever. There’s a fee, and please register through the website.

Summer work practice:

We’re inviting people to join us to work in garden, farm, and land care, living here for two weeks or more, spring to fall. Meals and housing are provided, private or semi-private room. No money changes hands. If interested, email or call Shodo for more information.

Residence:

We have two spaces for longer-term residents; one opening is now, the other probably October 1. There’s a process for joining that includes discussion and a two-week trial period; you’ll need a part-time job; and I’m hoping for people interested in both Buddhist practice and farm/outdoor work. The website tells you what it’s like. Currently we have three residents, looking to have four.