As frost was forecasted for the weekend, the Dandelion Ranch crew got busy yesterday covering frost sensitive plants (tomato, basil, pepper) with row cover (reemay). On Friday night, Giselle even covered some of the plants with her own bed sheets!
Our fairies harvesting tobacco plants, eggplants and peppers,
and Dan praying over the tobacco leaves. Tobacco will be used for special ceremonies.
Thura and Maria gifted our first compost pile to a bucket of red worms. That first pile is 90 days-old with a temperature of 80 degree, thus suitable for worms. Our second pile is almost ready to retire and still "cooking" at 140 degree.
While the crew was gardening, Coleman (13) chopped off a huge pile of old wood for our winter supply (both the yurt and the lower part of the house are heated with wood stoves).
This week, the Dandelion Ranch garden parties were for me extraordinary. What I have been experiencing is a new kind of flow-an ease and pleasure in being, and working, in community. No big agenda except taking care of self and garden. Each day, 15-20 people showed up, with lots of children playing in and around the garden. This 3-months experiment in community gardening is teaching me a lot. It's showing me that all we have to do is offer a place to gather. People come to just say hello, pick a few greens for their dinner, interact with amazing children and adults, and be part of something that's nurturing, fun and flowing. My sense is that we are all drawn to discover a new way of being-with oneself, others and the Earth. The land at Dandelion Ranch spoke to me when I first visited it last year. I clearly saw the farm. Dan and Giselle had similar visions. Together with our community, we are simply responding to the call of that land. All she needed was a little love, a little sweat, a few seeds and some water. And the resulting gifts are stupendous-a garden started a few weeks ago that delights and inspires many. An abundance of food that is shared with everyone visiting. And above all, a place for parents to bring their children to participate in activities that will resonate within them for the rest of their lives.
I feel like a happy man this morning. I have longed for community all my life and helped create many remarkable projects and communities. However, for some odd reasons, I always felt separate, too busy and responsible for my heart to open to what community can yield in one's evolution and healing. After a year of full time community gardening and farming in Santa Fe and Mexico (
El Jardin de Guadalupe, San Pancho), I am beginning to soften and enjoy my role in weaving community. I am starting to understand the ingredients necessary to build healthy community ; clear intentions, elders, loving parents, playful children, sweet animals and healthy soil. Dandelion Ranch is off to a great start. Every single person who comes to that place brings something unique. My hope is that every person who comes also leaves with a gift- a bag of delicious greens, a new idea inspired by a conversation, a new friend and a piece of healing in their heart for being part of something beautiful, simple and life affirming. I am very grateful to Dan and Giselle for saying yes to creating the garden, and for Juaquin for being such a playful, loving and inspiring force in guiding our efforts.
Next Garden Party
Wed. Oct 12
3:00-6:00pm
