April 21-28 2013, LaFayette, Northwest Georgia, Rivercane Rendezvous.
My second primitive skills gathering this year, and the second most magical experience this year :) For a brief week in Spring and Fall, a community comes together to share skills, songs, and meals. It feels like coming home. You can learn basics of primitive skills: how to make fire, cord with natural fibers, and nap flint tools. I chose to take workshops in basket weaving. I made a black ash hexagonal weave pack basket and a hemp twined water bottle holder. Very practical. I also attended plant walks where we talked to trees and flowers. More practical for a shaman. My favorite skill share was making flower essence out of may apple blossoms. The may apple wants to teach us to come into our calling, both as individual self fulfillment and community service. It helps stimulate and balance inner and outward expansion. Looking forward to Falling Leaves Rendezvous October 1-6 2013. http://www.primitiveskills.org/
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North Fort Meyers, Florida. Alex Howe, a new friend I met at the Earth Skills Gathering, invited the Earthskills Family to stay on his land in southwest Florida until the Florida Herbalism Conference starts on 2/15/13. At Finca Mycol, I really enjoyed being part of the intergenerational knowledge sharing community that forms around primitive living. A group was caravaning South, so I decided to continue my journey and check out a more tropical climate while Winter wails her wrath through February. Once here, we continued sharing our skills and I'm passing on what I learned with my heart Family on this blog: Medicinal Tincture and Recreational Mead :) First, we walked the property with some botany experts and identified the local plants. There was a bounty of Gotu Kola growing wild. I am familiar with this plant from Indian Ayurveda; we harvested bunches. Then we visited the neighbor who collects Saw Palmetto and Black Mangrove honey, which we acquired by the quart. This particular neighborhood was also fortunate to be home of ECHO, a global food project to end hunger, and also an amazingly lush edible jungle that fueled my passion for tropical living. This demonstration farm is a must-see if you find yourself in south west Florida. http://www.echonet.org/ Here's me as I am, after one-week of sleeping outside and living at Finca Mycol during the Florida Earth Skills Gathering. My skin is tanning nicely, more freckles appearing, new necklaces from trade circle, and braids that have been in my hair for days. This week of primitive living and skill sharing has radically transformed my being. I am awake to my skill of healing touch. My passion is the evolution of human consciousness. I have found my tribe. Everyone I met at the gathering is acutely focused on healing themselves and the land by living in community with all of our plant and animal families in the forest. I can't go back to the city. There is more love and abundance in the forest. In the woods, my goddess energy shines. Humble yourself, lay down in the wild. My Earth Skills Gathering Each morning began with the bell ringing calls to communal hot breakfast. Huge kettles of coffee and tea are warmed over the fire. Once everyone's bowls are filled, we circle for morning announcements. Teachers introduce themselves for the day's workshops. I learned about Herbalism in Florida, wool felting, finding drinking water, zone 1 Permaculture, Thai Massage, Palm Thatch Cordage, Hoop Drum Making, and random bits as I wove among the camp. The blow of a conch closes sessions and new bells announce lunch and dinner. Evening entertainment was storytelling, folk music, drum circles and dancing! One night we even made natural costumes and body paint as we honored our ancestors in rhythm and spirit. The best part was warm smiles everywhere in recognition that we are all of the same Earth Family. There was a strong emphasis on community and non-violent communication. These annual festivals happen all over. Check out these in the southeast: Florida: http://floridaearthskills.blogspot.com/ Georgia: http://www.primitiveskills.org/ North Carolina: http://www.fireflygathering.org/ Maryland: http://www.ancestralknowledge.org/maps-meet/ |
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