Reflections of the Dance in the Valley

I have been reflecting on what I've learned and how I've been touched by our 3 month stay with Leon, Geni and Kayla on Full Circle Family Farm and Meditation Center, Black Mountain, North Carolina. 

A deeper appreciation of nature and the land is just one of many feelings I have received from our time there.

The people who are living there are doing a dance with the earth, the seasons and the universe. As I watched I saw the timing of the daily tasks that needed to be done.

Everything has it's season. This winter cutting down of the trees in their non-growth stage was important. They will be used for lumber, growing mushrooms and firewood. The new cleared area will be used for the saw mill and the chickens will clean up the under growth and fertilize the soil.

The breeding of the one group of goats for the birth of new ones in six months. We missed the birth of 8 baby goats.

February is the time to planting seeds for the coming this years crop of vegetables. In the outdoors beds that had cover crops on them for the past few months onions and leeks have been transplanted.

A winter crop of lettuce and kale has been growing in the larger green house.

The feeding of the bees of sugar water.

The making bio-char to mixing it into the compost. Here is what bio char can do for the growth of corn!

The rhythm to the winter season is now going into spring.

I have been touched by the friendliness of the people of The Eco Village of Earthaven. Many have been drawn to this community, looking for a place to live and call home. They all are down-to-earth, quiet, simple living people young and old.

A February Day in the Life of Farmer Leon

Every minute of the day is accounted for on Full Circle Family Farm, Black Mountain NC.

Starting with early morning goat milking.  One day the breeding of a couple of the goats took place. This is done every six months so a baby goats arrive at intervals during the year.  The chickens are well fed with corn grown on the farm. 

Then off to clear a few trees off a piece of land. Once the trees are cut he trim off the branches and piles them up, ready for Bio-Char burning on a rainy day. Leon says that it is the best time to burn as the flames will not spread and are easy to be controlled. After an hour's or so work Leon is soaked to the bone and dirty from the soot. It is then put on the old Ranger truck and hauled to the compost area. Preparing the compost needs turning The cut logs are then stacked in different piles, for milling into lumber, for fire wood and for growing shiitake and reishi mushrooms.

The bees are fed sugar water. This keeps them until the weather warms up and they came find flowers.

By the time 6:00pm comes the goat need milking again and the chickens are closed up in their roosting house.

All through the day Leon can find time to talk to any one who walks by or needs advise by phone. No wonder he is ready for bed at 8:00pm!!!!

The “38 Club”

There are two interesting, well educated, women who are renting a house on Full Circle Family Farm . Carole (Carley) and Ohbeeb, were born the year I was, 1938. I'd say this would makes us “kindred spirits” and now we are members of the “38 Club”

Carley is a Massage Therapist and also study Perm-culture. She and her husband had worked for the Marriott Hotel. She travelled in Europe about the same time I did and still does allot of travelling.

Ohbeeb is involved with an organization call “Balanced View. Her sister lives in Calgary and has travelled in Canada.

I booked a Massage with Carole. On arrival to her home she invited me to have a warm tub bath. Now that was a great opportunity, as a shower is the only bathing method that is available to me. So to soak hot water, with Epsom salt, was welcoming.

Carley worked on me for 2 hours! I was not in any discomfort when I arrived, but the type of massage she does touched areas that had been forgotten and were very tense. The method she uses is called SOMA and Rolfing massage. It was a different type of massage from others I have experienced. She massaged my face, neck, feet, hands, and as well as the rest of my body. She comes highly recommended indeed as she has over 30 years experience.

She suggested a “must see” place on the rugged coast of California along Highway #1, 90 miles south of Carmel, CA, called Big Sur-Eastern Institute. The Spa there is situated on a cliff along the ocean and the massages area is enhanced by the sounds of the waves hitting the shore.

Here are comments that they wrote in our guest book when they stopped by our RV:

“Welcome to the ongoing world of endless journeys! Enjoy every moment,

Carley, 25 Full Circle Trail, Black Mountain NC”

“Dearest new friends and neighbours, here in NC, Calgary and the world! Yes, adventuring in the greatest pleasure, growing our gusto and sharing the gift of ourselves. What fun!! What great benefits , my passion” Love Ohbeeb 25 Full Circle Trail, Black Mountain NC

EARTHAVEN ECOVILLAGE

Geni 

Children with Kayla

Recently I attended Bizarre Bazaar (Christmas trade fair and entertainment) event held at Earthaven Ecovillage Council Hall. There many exhibitors selling their handcrafted wares and home made food. The children participated by making a paper chain that was decorated around the hall. Local customers enjoyed the friendship, sharing ideas, food, drinks and music.

I bought a pair of handcrafted ear rings from Seed and Sky  made by Kelcey Loomer, a young lady who is a phenomenal artist.

 Earthaven Ecovillage is a 10 minute walk from Full Circle Family Farm.  It was founded in 1994 and is emerging as a major centre for lifestyle advancement in Western North Carolina. With 320 acres in the beautiful, rugged Blue Ridge Mountains, 39 miles from Ashville. Earthaven 's development mirrors a world movement towards sustainability, planetary responsibility and human evolution. They offer tours; classes and workshops in ecovillage life skills; extended visits and camping; Internships and work-exchange opportunities; special events and a range of membership options.

I also enjoy attending the coffee hour at Earthaven every Wednesday morning with Geni and Kayla. There is so much to learn from the members, young and old.

Until next time

Discover it Live it

Would you like a Goat for a Pet?

A popular animal that is raised on Full Circle Family Farm are Nigerian Dwarf goats. The are easy to take care of, produce milk and are real pets.  

Once consisted at risk, they have been benefited from increase in their popularity as a dairy goat. The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy now designated Nigerian as recovering on their Conservation Priority List. The original Nigerian-type goats from Africa were were black but cross-breeding established the breed and gave a variety of colours. When they were first registered as a dairy goat in 1981 they were considered solely as a pet breed . They enjoy people and can become attached to their owner. Because of their small size Nigerians are a favourite with 4-H families.

Kayla has been the main trainer for the Nigerian goats on Full Circle Family Farm. Her love for them show by their attachment to her as she takes them for walks twice a day and has bottle feds them from birth. They were named Missy (tan), Hoagie (white) and Reuben (black & white)

While Kayla was away for a few days, she gave me instructions how to take them for a walk. When I took them out of they pen and called them to follow me as I ran down onto the road, they remained near the pen and just played. No way were they going to follow me, a stranger!!

These goats have a strong desire to stay near their pen and will not wander far. They are bottled fed the first few weeks and are weaned after 16 weeks, then they are ready to be sold. With this training, behaviour, and dairy qualities, they make good pets and are a favourite for families around this area.

Until next time Happy Framing!!!

Unplugged

This past month has been a new experience for me.

We have been in North Carolina since November 15^th where we have set up our Open Range Travel Trailer. We are living off-grid on the Full Circle Family Farm, owned and operated by my son, Leon, his wife, Geni, and daughter, Kayla.

It is situated in a valley in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains. To get to the farm one has to travel on I-40 to Black Mountain, west of Ashville, NC, onto a very winding, narrow mountainous road. These roads are not on the general map so a more detailed one is needed. A GPS is a most!

There is plenty to do here as the farm is one of sustainability and environmental renewal, with recycling and composting; organically grown gardens and fruit trees. The farm animals consist of Nigerian dwarf goats, chickens and bees. Solar and Hydro power is the main source of energy.

Along with the farm, there is a ZEN Meditation Centre, to enrich the inner soul. Nature is really felt because of the necessity of being out doors, getting from place to place or taking walks in the forested hills around the farm.  The Zendo is now open to everyone in the area, if they wish to partake during the early morning sessions.

Since coming, I have just walked a short distance to the well- built and inviting Zendo near by. I have felt then benefits of the hour there as well as the volunteer silent-work period during the day.

On Sunday Geni took Kayla and I toGreat Tree Women's Temple near Alexander on the north side of Ashville, an hour's drive from Full Circle Trail Family Farm. The session is for mothers and their family. It is facilitated by Rev Teijo Munnich,  with the youth participating in the Tea Ceremony and the guests acting out a brief story of Buddha's Enlightenment. The Centre is in a quiet hilly area with a view of a valley.

 They offer a full meditation retreats and self-awareness programs.

The Ashville area of North Carolina is known for it's educational studies and alternatives therapies. Esther and Jerry Hick did one of their Abraham talks here in 2006.

Good Things Always Appear

Wow, where has the month gone? And we woke up to snow this morning so a bowl of oatmeal porridge for breakfast was in order. We are all set to go tomorrow morning to the US.

Things have rolled along so quickly for Randal & I as we camped out in Cochrane AB. We certainly feel we are on the wave of our goals and adventure of travelling. We have become very clear with life together.Many  things have showed up in our life that has steered us in that direction.

We viewed  Food Matters which gave us an insight of the importance of good diet and maintaining our health. We also viewed The Living Matrix Movie This is a full length film on The New Science of Healing, which featured some top practitioners and researchers who reveals the scientific theories behind alternative healing and offer their perspectives on how these new concepts may shift the future of healthcare.

Our visits to Calgary were always busy with appointments, suppers with the family, walks, attending volleyball games and violin lessons.

















The Hilderman household is a well scheduled one and now that Kaney has her driver's licence the pressure is taken off Kerry and Lynne with getting everyone at the right place at the right time.