Emerald Earth, the first week
Living is:
wind, small children well tanned and shy, whole local well cooked simple food, deep sleep, comrades and friends on the crew, clay soil that has almost no rocks, friendly no nonsense women, raw goat milk, daisies, wood fireplace, chilly, motorcycle, sore muscles, open heart, small animal only knows go, home made granola.
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Emerald Earth is a small remote community in Northern California. Its a nice combination of the love of invisible structure of oaec, with the hands on earthy active connected heart aspect of our. I am slowly finding my feet in it all, and I look forward to having a place to put my toothbrush, more shelves in my tent, warmer mornings. I am on a crew of 4 people working on the common house, under the direction of Michael, Tom and Lisa. Compared to last summer, I feel well cared for- there are 3 hot showers, indoor living and eating space, a well stocked kitchen, heated sleeping space if I want it, my own spacious huge tent on a platform, emotionally intelligent logistically capable well communicated leadership. There is not a perfect structure for me to slot into- this is the most number of work traders they have ever had, for the longest amount of time and I can sense the unease and concern around this new summer/structure. But the other work traders seem mature and able to live well in community and for this I am grateful. I shake my head when I look back on last summer- that was crazy. I am never putting myself in such a situation again.
There are rewards- good late night conversations in the sauna, around the fire, warmth in the kitchen and kind faces. There are bumps- it's still cold out at night, and telephone access is very very sketchy, much to my dismay. but these things will change and be overcome.
wind, small children well tanned and shy, whole local well cooked simple food, deep sleep, comrades and friends on the crew, clay soil that has almost no rocks, friendly no nonsense women, raw goat milk, daisies, wood fireplace, chilly, motorcycle, sore muscles, open heart, small animal only knows go, home made granola.
*
Emerald Earth is a small remote community in Northern California. Its a nice combination of the love of invisible structure of oaec, with the hands on earthy active connected heart aspect of our. I am slowly finding my feet in it all, and I look forward to having a place to put my toothbrush, more shelves in my tent, warmer mornings. I am on a crew of 4 people working on the common house, under the direction of Michael, Tom and Lisa. Compared to last summer, I feel well cared for- there are 3 hot showers, indoor living and eating space, a well stocked kitchen, heated sleeping space if I want it, my own spacious huge tent on a platform, emotionally intelligent logistically capable well communicated leadership. There is not a perfect structure for me to slot into- this is the most number of work traders they have ever had, for the longest amount of time and I can sense the unease and concern around this new summer/structure. But the other work traders seem mature and able to live well in community and for this I am grateful. I shake my head when I look back on last summer- that was crazy. I am never putting myself in such a situation again.
There are rewards- good late night conversations in the sauna, around the fire, warmth in the kitchen and kind faces. There are bumps- it's still cold out at night, and telephone access is very very sketchy, much to my dismay. but these things will change and be overcome.