Blog Archives

Garden and Community Abundance - by Steven Miller, Garden Intern 2015

9/28/2015

It’s hard to sum up all of the things that have gone on here at Songaia since my last blog post. I’ll just spotlight the most memorable things.

The opening circle at the Permaculture Convergence.

The permaculture convergence: The convergence was an amazing educational, inspirational and all around wonderful event. The people I met were some of the true innovators and leaders of our time in discovering and implementing sustainable community.

While at the convergence, a windstorm rolled through Songaia and blew down and broke many branches. Coming back Laura and I spent an hour figuring out how to get back to the community blocked by fallen trees. All the while the hugelkultur beds benefited and got a little higher.

Wine bottle ready for the ceremony.

Newly cleaned hoop house.

I’ve composted, pulled weeds, pruned lots of fruit trees, picked and preserved even more fruits and veggies and have been working in the woodshop on assembling the roof structure for the soon-to-be cob oven.

Preparing boards for the cob oven roof.

Winter Squash

We had a cob stomp party and did the mud dance, followed by the ceremonial breaking the wine bottle into the base and then we all finished with a meal.

Renee, Patricia and I cleared a hoop house and re-setup the irrigation to a drip system (instead of soaker hoses) to hopefully deter the moles from burrowing under the beds and weakening all of our precious plants we spend so much time nurturing.

Mark and I then went on to install the ends of the hoop houses and patch lots of holes to weatherize it for the coming rains and wind.

Picking pears piggyback.

As the season closes and the summer garden chaos slowly starts to calm there will still be lots of work to do. But when the cooler, fresher air starts blowing in, it doesn’t seem much like work.

Ground Cherries

Rose Hips

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Getting in the Swing of Things - by Renee Ackerman, Garden Intern 2015

9/19/2015

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My first two weeks here at Songaia have flown by. Everyone that I have met in the community have all been so welcoming and kind that it hasn't taken long at all for me to settle in and feel at home here.

It has been a busy couple of weeks, I am not really sure where to begin!

One of many baskets of grapes.

I also got to play in some compost with Patricia and Mark, spent a lot of time harvesting green beans, pears, apples, grapes and potatoes, pruned various fruit trees throughout the property and learned how to make and preserve grape juice.

During our time off, Steven and I were able to go exploring and camping in the surrounding mountains and along the coast. The beauty of the Pacific Northwest will forever amaze me.

Shaping the interior chamber of the cob oven.

I've already met so many amazing and inspiring individuals here at Songaia and I am very excited to see what the next few weeks will bring!

Cob Stomping

So far I have filled my days helping out with the building of the cob oven by stomping and mixing cob.

Steven measuring the wood for the roof of the oven.

I’ve also been working as Steven’s sidekick for the building of the wooden roof structure that will cover and protect the cob oven.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the cob oven and roof structure turn out, hopefully the roof will be erected sometime later this week!

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Reflections of WWoofLady (To those not at the retreat....my other name is Rebecca) - by Rebecca Willmond, Garden Intern

9/12/2015

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Such wonders to see the squash plant encircle me in my sit spot!

In this new chapter of my life, the seed containing my passion, my vision, my hope filled future found such fertile ground to plant myself when I discovered Songaia's permaculture internship, in an intentional community setting, in the area where the Charter of Compassion, Compassionate Cities movement began.

In my two month stay I was gifted with

hands on education regarding permaculture, which I believe, along with re-establishing local urban communities (my passion), is the best hope humanity has of re-establishing a healthy ecosystem with the ability to generate abundance for all creation.
the generosity of community in sharing experience and information which enhanced my knowledge and pointed me in new directions. Such blessings!!
a deeper understanding of some of my physical challenges as well as increasing my strength and endurance via movement. Yeah!!!!! (no longer being glued to a chair at work)
care and concern for my welfare. Thank you.
helping hands. Thank you.
laughter :) :o ^ho ho ha ha^

So sad at the end to find my shaded cherry tree spot so wounded.

song (oops...I forgot, but years ago I wrote two songs, so when I return, I would like to teach and sing them with you)
being a witness (and having much fun movie night) to your community reaching out beyond your physical boundaries to build larger community
healthy fresh food straight from the garden, definitely a labor of love
so often breaking bread together, creating deeper personal connections to each one of you, thereby experiencing a very integral part of strengthening community
intimacy of heart and spirit, so often missing in the outer world
sincere gratitude
appreciation of who I am and in return, who you are.........creating equity, reciprocity, balance. Three very important words in my life.
observing and participating in a community of like mindedness alongside diversity of belief and thought, hopefully without anyone harboring harsh judgements of anothers differences (judgmentalism).

Instead, knowing the communities commitment to finding ways to reconcile molehills (hopefully before they become mountains)with each other (often created by ass-u-m(e)-ptions, misunderstandings or past unresolved personal issues interfering with the present), which fosters through practice......empathy, acceptance and the act of letting go. Three important concepts I work to improve upon. In essence,
the challenge to be and stay OPEN....... to conversations, ideas and personalities, which I see is the only thing that allows us to be FREE....to be, to change and to grow (supporting LIFE) in community.

In essence, you have all been a fountain of life giving water which quenched my thirst for company, for a sense of family again, for community, for meaning, for purpose. Thank you all !!!!!

Keep up the good work. Our world needs your experience and example. You have all blessed me in ways even I am not aware of yet. Still yet, the seeds have been planted.

Here is to you all, until we meet again.

Forever yours, In blessed community,

Rebecca

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Finding Authenticity in a Time of Exploitation by Kainui Rapaport, Garden Intern

9/1/2015

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Tomorrow I'm moving to Finney Farm in Concrete WA, in the foothills of the North Cascade Mountain range, a 100 acre site, and an intentional community, of anarchists. I will be doing a work exchange in their gardens as I follow my quest for authenticity and how to live in abundance through sharing.

Isolated from school and society, I was attracted to the idea of the commune; people sharing a common life. I imagined making food together and living together.

I found something very similar in the intentional community at Songaia. I found inspiration, knowledge, and gratitude. As I began the routine of working in the garden, and trying to aim to eat entirely from the land, I forgot about what makes songaia so special, the community.

At the recent Northwest Permaculture Convergence, one person said, "With 100% self sufficiency, it is not sustainable unless we can work with others". Immersed in community is a practical way of life. When you have a group deciding on things, you could multiple views and can adapt yours based on others and influence other peoples views. The framework of consensus makes all of this possible. The individual is treasured but we try to be humble for a second and consider what is best for the group. From the food program, to the garden program, to the Trust and Communications Committee to the soirées, and to the educational events. I am sure I will return to this community someday, and it will have forever come with me,
changing me for the better.

There are communities like this, groups and individuals who are fighting for a more peaceful world. Together lets take on vulture capitalism and competition obsession that rules our economy and forge a new path, for one of solidarity and cooperation. I have followed various modes of change; permaculture, intentional communities, socialism/anarchism. And my thought is that all are important to guarantee healthy happy living for all and to a better world and allow us to break free from exploitation.

I've had fun, learned more about permaculture and community and met so many inspiring individuals. Thank you Songaia! I am sure we will meet again.

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Garden and Community Abundance - by Steven Miller, Garden Intern 2015

Getting in the Swing of Things - by Renee Ackerman, Garden Intern 2015

Reflections of WWoofLady (To those not at the retreat....my other name is Rebecca) - by Rebecca Willmond, Garden Intern

Finding Authenticity in a Time of Exploitation by Kainui Rapaport, Garden Intern

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