Finally, the Stove is Back In the House

Living without a hearth, got old really fast. We had a jolly old time the first few nights sitting around a fire, roasting hot dogs and sausages, but the cold food diet gets old rather quickly. The past month or so we had lots of lettuce wrap sandwiches, tuna salad, egg salad, chicken salad and plain old salad. for a fellow whose Paganspace screen name is Saladman, you might expect me to be okay with a diet of nothing but salad. Quite the contrary, other foods have their place, in fact, I love a wide variety of salads, as part of a wider menu. i am looking forward to the baking of gluten free breads, the making of occasional casseroles, stir frying several handfuls of vegetables, etc. The way we positioned the stove in our new kitchen allows the cook to see from down along the river to the street in front of the house. It is now possible to include the chef in the flow of normal conversation throughout the first floor and not ever feel too far away from the warmth of the flame on the burners.

I have written extensively on the cultural aspects of gathering around fire, whether it is for cooking, warmth or ceremony, fire touches us in ways that other elements cannot. The fire in our on-demand water heater is sequestered inside a tiny box smaller than many suitcases, and double insulated from our exes by the appliance shell and a jacket of water inside a thin copper bladder. In the furnace, it is even more remote in that it occurs inside a larger box away from prying eyes under the heat exchanger for the unit. On the stove, below the oven and under the broiler flame, the dancing magic of fire lends a warmth to the home that the others cannot. Heck, I've roasted meat and hot dogs, even made toast directly over the gas flame, much like a primitive crouched above a smoky fire, but without the soot and smoke. What luxury, to have fire at the command of a single knob! They say, the best parties always end up in the kitchen, so we hope to have many wonderful gatherings in the new space that we have created, both for our home and the budding not-for-profit, ECO-Tours of Wisconsin Inc.

Our tiny organization has surpassed the 160,000 tree mark, this year planting for the first time in cooperation with the City of Green Bay Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. The space that we have created has not only benefited our tiny home immensely, but allows for more than a dozen folks to gather comfortably to discuss future plant-ins, educational programs and potluck meetings. If you are near enough to get to green Bay, let us know and we will at least put the tea pot on for you, share a tour or develop a full day program specifically tailored to your interests. As we reach the end of our construction project, we are reminded of the many ways that we are blessed and the many ways we can all give back. Those who are blessed with a hearth can always share the gift of warmth and good cheer around a fire.

We would be honored to share our time with folks who would like to help us plant trees, explore sustainability or just enjoy the natural areas around our place. Even though we would consider ourselves in center city, the corridor of over 110 acres that we live along as well as the Fox, East River System that flows through Green Bay provide ample opportunity for exploration on flat water by canoe, on foot or by bicycle. Blessed are those who give, for without them there would be no receiving. If we know you are coming we might even make a gluten free cake!
 

Welcome Home!

As Rainbow Family of Light and Love folks know, when you come over the last hill into a gathering and hear the words "Welcome Home!", you know you are surrounded by others who, whether they share your values or not will make sure that no harm comes to you, that you will be supported and integrated into their community. From this perspective, abundance is honored and respected, as are the folks sharing their experience with you. Sustainable systems are born of complex logical thought that defies logic. Spirit, alive in the environment guides the hand of experienced practitioners of sustainable landscape management. The very microbes and relationships that exist in permaculturally managed land is Welcomed Home! The relief that is taken off any organism, when it realizes that it is fully supported and integrated is immense. An analogy that a friend once used is lobbing in our "pitches", slow and easy over home plate so Mother Nature always hits one "out of the park".
Achieving ones highest purpose, optimal performance, or some say, soul purpose requires not only the fixed point in one's mind, upon whose axis revolves our direction and sense of calm, but an appreciation of these points in others that allow us to revolve around, and pick up inertia from, upon successful passing. like orbiting planets, our social and familial interactions determine both our own and other's happiness. By what powerful lie do we neglect our fellow man? How can we justify treating others as if they don't matter or have in them the same value and ability to perform miraculously?
The concept of loving one another predates Christ, Buddha, Mohamed, and most certainly the hippies. However you come to it, the meaning is the same. The rest of us are just glad you did! Make sure to let folks know that they are appreciated as integral to your way of life and it will transform them as well as everyone they interact with. Let go of your own narrow vision and groove on the flow involved in working with others, pretty soon you will be performing miracles!