PROJECT · cooperative. Wet, raining days have caused some cancellations of certain planned events...
Transcript of PROJECT · cooperative. Wet, raining days have caused some cancellations of certain planned events...
THE
MANITOUPROJECT
NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS & FRIENDS • August 2006
Founder’s Reflections
Recently we’ve changed the wording of our
Manitou Mission Statement – for various good
reasons, but chiefly because it became clear that the
word ‘sanctuary’ held different meanings for different
Manitou Council members. As Manitou founder and
designated ‘vision keeper,’ I’ve needed to reflect on
this. What was the vision in the beginning – nearly
thirty years ago when David and I bought the first
portion of the land? At first, it was simply in order to
protect it, become familiar with its inhabitants, and
learn what we could about responsible land
ownership.
Although sensitive conservation has always been
our primary commitment, over the years a particular
sort of education has become central as well.
Originally named ‘eco-psychology,’ then ‘eco-
spirituality,’ it is now widely known as Deep Ecology.
Our specific intention, as the Manitou organization
came into being, was to model Deep Ecology
principles – which meant honoring the
interconnectedness of all life by teaching and enabling
a harmonious relationship between human activity and
the natural environment. We understand this to be a
two-way exchange: we human members of Manitou
doing what we can to enable ongoing communication
between human seekers and the non-human beings
who dwell on and within the land.
We discovered from our own experience that this
exchange can be profoundly healing. We began to use
the word ‘sanctuary’ to describe Manitou- a place
dedicated to the sort of healing which is possible for
people who open themselves to it. Thus a third vision
was added to our overall educational purpose: 1)
‘ w i s e c o n s e r v a t i o n ’ . . . 2 ) ‘ i n t e r a c t i v e
communication’...and now 3) ‘healing.’
Of course as humans we can’t be sure what
constitutes true ‘sanctuary’ for the non-humans. In
fact one of our emerging envisionings has to do with
exploring precisely that. What might such a non-
human sanctuary look like?
Meanwhile, we’ve composed a new Mission
Statement circling in closer to the original intention of
the Manitou Land.
–Pam Mayer
Revised Mission Statement: July 2006
The Manitou Project celebrates the sacred interdependence of humans and nature. Throughexperiential education and mindful land conservation, Manitou integrates spiritual and practicalecological awareness. Manitou seeks to awaken its members to new ways of being inrelationship with the land, its inhabitants, each other, and the wider community.
q Printed on Recycled Paper
From the President
The last few months at Manitou have shown how
much can be accomplished working with a small
group of dedicated people. One prime example is the
John Seed event that Manitou sponsored at the Hooker
Dunham Theater in May. It was a great success bearly
filling the theater during this event. Attendees were
feted to song, poems, and inspirational stories that
delved into the notion of deep ecology as activism. I
cherished the time listening to one man’s soul-felt
journey that has been warmed by deep commitment
and compassion – a compassion that simply melted
away many difficult social, financial, and political
obstacles that were placed in his expanding path.
Truly amazing! The evening was followed by a day-
long workshop on the Manitou Land attended by 18
people. Another amazing turnout, especially for a
weekday program.
We are now well into our summer program
calendar of events. For us and the rest of the country
it seems, the weather has not been terribly
cooperative. Wet, raining days have caused some
cancellations of certain planned events – we hope to
reschedule these. Others, though, have persevered to
appreciative and steadfast participants in spite of
drippy conditions. On one relatively nice day, a
beautiful sweat lodge was built in the Manitou woods.
It lies just opposite the Labyrinth. Please feel free to
check it out. (The Program Cluster is currently
considering schedules and guidelines for member use.)
For the first time in the history of Manitou, we
have stewardship volunteers assigned to all of the
mapped trails on the land! Everyone at Manitou,
especially Pam, gratefully thanks those folks who have
stepped forward to assist with the never-ceasing
stewardship duties required to care for the land. We
have also formed a Gardening sub-cluster intent on
enhancing and beautifying the welcome area at the
entrance to the Manitou woods. They are working to
caretake in a conscious way native plant species and
educate members and visitors about the native plants
that live at Manitou. Their next steps include an
educational garden area near the Manitou Entrance
and investigating permaculture for long-term projects.
As a new addition to our scheduled summer
programs, we have, coming up the end of August, a
mural art camp taught by Karen Becker, local artist
and well-known muralist. Under Karen’s thoughtful
direction and instruction, the campers will celebrate
the flora and fauna of Manitou by painting large
permanent murals – one of which will become part of
a kiosk at our welcoming area. The Camp will run for
four days just before school jumps into session. (See
enclosed flyer for more details). And these are just a
smattering of new things that are happening at
Manitou!
We’ve discovered that the land speaks in many
ways to many hearts; come hear what it has to say to
you. We invite you to experience Manitou!
--Em Richards
Participants with John Seed at Manitou during “Earth, Spirit,
Action” Daylong workshop. May 24, 2006
Possible blurb on John Seed workshop:Submissions anyone??? With some editingand moving around, there will/can be morespace for the article.
Stewardship Cluster:The Manitou garden group formed this season. Members include Amy
Hyatt, Claudia Diperi, Frances Herbert-Poma, Jeanette Pfeifer, Judy
Agule, Nancy Compton, Reeve Gutsell, and Tara Gordon.
Four areas have been designated for growing and weeding. At
Manitou’s entrance a stone planter has been built. This container will be
planted with showy ethically propagated sun-loving wildflowers, which
can be found on Manitou’s land. Slightly further near the entrance to the
parking area we will construct a fenced off area. Here the native plants
and wildflowers growing will be identified. Near the picnic area an arc
bed has been made. Ethically propagated woodland wildflowers, which
are found on the land, will be planted.
Claudia, Tara and Fred Taylor are currently compiling a list of
wildflowers they have observed growing at Manitou. Em Richards has
offered her GPS for the mapping of their location.
Amy and Reeve are gardening in beds around the house. Additionally
they are maintaining a meadow habitat for wildlife and medicinal plants.
We are also exploring the possibility of working with United Plant Savers
and propagating endangered plants.
We invite you to visit the areas as our plans come to fruition. We also
welcome your participation. Please call Jeanette at 802-387-2487 if you
are interested.
Member Benefits: Manitou LibraryDid you know that Manitou has a small library of books in the
basement of the Manitou house for the use of members? We recently justadded Dave Jacke’s Edible Forest Gardens: Ecological Design andPractice for Temperate Climate Permaculture Volumes 1 & 2. As newadditions for use by the garden cluster, you can browse these books at theManitou Library. The rest of the collection is available for check outincluding such titles as the “Healing Wisdom of Africa” by MalidomaSome and “Dharma Gaia” edited by Allan Hunt Badiner. You can signthem out yourself. If you have any books that you would like to donate,please contact Claudia 254-8834 or [email protected].
Listening to the Land:(Resident Observations 2006) April. 14 : Wood Thrushes return..th
April 21 :: Hairy Woodpeckers arest
courting. The older Beech trees areleafing out. Red Maples areflowering.May 19 : Ovenbirds andt h
Hummingbirds have returned. TheHummingbirds are feeding on theblooming fruit tree in the caretaker’shouse yard. Goldthread blooming..May 26 : Hear a Veery for the firstth
time at Manitou. Rose-breastedGrosbeak and Red-eyed Vireo havereturned the past week along withEvening Grosbeaks. Mosquitoes alsoback in force.June 4 : Three Pink Lady’s-Slippersth
blooming. Scarlet Tanager andVeery marking territories with song..June 13 : Baby Toads abound.th
Buttercups, Raspberries, Cinquefoiland Red Clover are all blooming..July 1 : Found a spring peeper at thest
edge of the Manitou woods. Alsofresh deer scat.July 8 : Deer browsing at edge ofth
the woods in the morning. Thirdsighting in as many weeks. Lilliesblooming. Broadwinged Hawk isactive in the area. Mosquito activityhas died down a bit.July 11 : Observe two deer movingth
up from the stream and past theLabyrinth. July 13 : Young ravens hanging outth
in groups at Manitou. Very raucousearly in the morning and throughoutthe day.
Butterflies & Flowers blooming in June.
Council and Cluster Contact People:StewardshipPam Mayer, 603-643-4034Development & OfficeAmy Hyatt, 802-257-1832, [email protected] Diperi, 802-254-8834, [email protected] Taylor, 802-387-2681, [email protected]
Manitou CouncilEm Richards, 802-387-4286, [email protected]
Words from the Beltane Celebration
We had a really nice turn out for our Beltane Celebration on Saturday, May 6 led by Fred Taylor & Benjaminth
Robin. We celebrated the season of sprouting, budding, and flowering, midway between the Spring Equinox andSummer Solstice. Our ceremony included a meditative wildflower walk from the Labyrinth to High Point.
Participants were invited to write “question poems” inspired by Pablo Neruda's "Book of Questions." Here onsome of the poems inspired:
When the trees bend lowand whisper to each otherof the coming stormDoes the earth hear?Or did She already know?
–Chandra
How long does it take the wind tosweep clear the sky?Do you think the spring beautylaughs as it shimmers in the breeze?Solomon's seal, so slow andpatient. Do you ever get tired of waiting?Could it be that the ferns unfurlfrom an inner spiral?What flowers are about to bloom inthe labyrinth of my heart?
–Fred Taylor
Tree makes itself heardAs it falls: speaks by falling.Rock sits in water now,Shining brightly in the flow of life.I keep wanting to move on;Tree and Rock lie quietly still.
--BenjaminRobin, Beltane 2006