The bee is more honoured than other animals, not because she labours, but because she labours for others

On a Thursday, a hot July afternoon, we turned off our computers, we tucked our office chairs in at our desks, we gathered each other, jars of water, work gloves and towels and we made our way to the woods outside Florenceville to a wood fired kiln, a jumble of kindling and broken pottery, mud puddles from the rain and the shade and cool smell of spruce and moss. Yolande fed us fresh things; Mexican fare, cherries and beer to inspire enthusiasm for the job ahead of us. We worked together until the sun went down.

Along with Lee and a very pregnant Yolande we stacked and chopped and loaded and unloaded, strung tarps and cleaned out the kiln. Three interns, four neighbours, five children, a dog. After such success we swam in the river, The Presque Ile, now just a trickle in the summer heat, but cool and wet on our sweaty faces, we laughed and asked to come back next week and every week until the end of the firing. So on Wednesday with another crowd of eager bees we did the same and on Thursday the twenty-second we plan to help again.

Lee and Yolande Clark are preparing to fire their anagama kiln. A 28 foot cave of brick and mortar dug into the ground and emerging in gentle curves and steep chimneys on their land between the overpasses of the new Trans Canada highway and the sprawling lawns and bulky houses of the suburbs west of the mighty Saint John River. Four cords of Tamarack and Pine split into narrow kindle will stoke a flame reaching 1300 degrees day and night for more than a week. Between now and then they will work clay into astonishing shapes; figures and vessels that seem to emerge from the earth, they, with our help and the help of other friends will carry and stack wood, load the kiln, stoke the fire, and wait for their art to change by the ash and heat and magic of the woods and time and patience and sincerity of purpose.

These Early summer days have been long and humid in the offices and fields at Falls Brook and in the evening when work is done and there seem to be only a few hours to eat and play and prepare for the next day the selflessness and strength of those who have given up their night is appreciated so much more. The objectives of the Work Bee program: volunteerism, cooperation and community support, the exchange of ideas, skills and assistance have certainly been fulfilled in these two initial gatherings.

Tomorrow, Saturday the seventeenth, we’ll gather again with the same intentions and many hands to raise the walls of a blacksmith work shop. This time Dana Kittilsen will lead us in sawing, hammering and constructing using recycled materials from an eighty-year-old barn.

See you all tomorrow on the Land Trust on Simms Road in Knowlesville, hammers in hands.

Emily

Falls Brook Centre Work Bees

For more information, to register or become involved

please write to Emily at education@fallsbrookcentre.com

To read Yolande’s words about the work-party and her life, her family and her work:

http://burntnormal.blogspot.com/2010/07/work-party-party.html

Calling All Dreamers!

The Falls Brook Centre invites you to Knowlesville on 24 and 25 July for the 2010 Free School

We all know that our community is a watershed of knowledge. Classrooms, books and internet are not the only way to gain wisdom. Interacting with people allows us to learn various skills and knowledge. Unfortunately, a significant part of the knowledge is not properly passed on, especially between generations.

Falls Brook Centre Free School will give us the opportunity to gather and share what we know. Everybody knows something special and we can always learn. When we break out of the box and redefine education, the opportunities are enormous! A free school can open up a wide variety of discussion groups, seminars, ‘’educational’’ movies and hands-on workshops. So, we invite you to consider sharing your skills, knowledge, or ideas- and tell your friends too!

Coming to the 2010 Free School doesn’t mean you will be sitting all day listening and taking notes. No! Learners will be asked to roll up their sleeves and get into action. You will also get an opportunity to explore our 400 acres of farm and forest land, enjoy live, local music, dance at an off-grid dj party and surely make connections with people who have a stunningly diverse array of skills and talents to share.

We hope to have a hundred participants coming to this event. If you want to join, please register before July 19 by sending an email to community@fallsbrookcentre.ca

If you want to learn more about this event and the others activities held at the centre, check out our website: www.fallsbrookcentre.ca

South Knowlesville Community Land Trust Meeting

This weekend (20-21st of February), the burgeoning young land trust will be holding a founding meeting for the three households living on the land trust and any prospective members who have expressed an interest. It is time to move forward with the incorporation and bylaws to take this dream and make it a municipally recognized reality.

Over the course of two days, we will explore what others have done and build together our foundation documents. This inaugural meeting will bring together key people from the surrounding community as well as current residents and potential new residents.

Date: Saturday, February 20th & Sunday February 22st

Cost: $10/adult + potluck contribution for Saturday night

Pre-registration: Please either speak, call (375-8623) or email Tegan (tegan@back2land.ca) if you plan to attend. We will be preparing materials and food for the Sunday meeting and need to know what numbers to expect. Kids are welcome.

Tentative Agenda:

Saturday, February 20th

2pm Meet at the Knowlesville Art and Nature Centre, on Simms Road for snowshoe/walk

4pm Gathering at Leland & Tegan's home for potluck

6pm Introductions/Visioning/Update of where we are at

Sunday, February 21st

8am Breakfast at Leland & Tegan's for those visiting from away

10am Introduction to Land Trusts/Land Co-ops/ Communities of interest - examples to explore

11am Review of Incorporation Documents for the South Knowlesville Community Land Trust

12pm Lunch

1pm Creating the framework: membership, sevurity of ownership of all capital

improvements, long-term leaseholds, shared assets (roads, wells, power systems, community centre)

3-4pm Action Plan & Closing