Page 6 RAIN June 1 1976 Earth Cyders Rt. 1 Edwall, WA 99008 A building bee,is an .old idea in these parts, although it is a rare thing nowadays. We had about 25 people this week who helped us get a good start on a solar heated methane garage. I think everybody had a good time digging, mixing cement, preparing and eating food, making music and visiting. A major objec.tive of our building bee was to let all the people who have applied for apprenticeship to try it out, but actually the people who came were from other collectives (the Wallowa Tribe and Tolstoy Farm) who came to help, visit .and learn about alternative .energy ideas. It looks like the energy project will be worked on all summer, so people who want to know about solar, wind and methane for small farms will be encouraged to come and work on it. We are also heavily into farming work, right now preparing the fields and garden for seeding. We are trying to develop better ways of producing more protein and oil on margina1 land without being dependent on petroleum. This summer, in addition to the renewable energy project, whi'ch is designed to provide water for irrigation, as well as us and the livestock, electricity for the house and laundry house power arid hot water for washing machine and perhaps a flour mill, we are testing various methods of growiryg wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, peas, native black beans, fava beans, rape (for oil), sunflowers, .Indian corn, melons,· pumpkins, squash, potatoes and raspberries. We raise cows and are experimenting with training and using oxen and with •crossbreeding w1th buffalo and other breeds, using artificial insemination. Tom Begnal, our newest member, is caring for the goats, learning to spin, weave, knot, dye, etc. and plans to start a sheep flock this summer. Doni is compiling and testing information on using wheatwith a-n emphasis o·n sprouting, malting and combining to increase foo,d value, for a booklet to be published soon. We are looking·for, and keeping a file of, people and groups interested in sharing as an economic system. •Jaybird's card deck has been very useful for storing and finding information for seed and food sources. The Hunger Action grant has been very helpful in funding the renewable energy project and the apprentice pro-· gram even though the paperwork and correspondence is an energy drain. We hope to be mostly self-supporting from now on. We expect the money we need for land and machinery payments, farm expenses an.d living expenses to come fro111 selling the cattle increase-organic beef, mutton, wool, oxen. The wheat and other crops are for sharing, bartering ansf home consumption. Thes~ practices have already significantly reduced our monetary needs. We plan to start building a solar , HOMESTEADING CLASSES Glen Simmons Portland Community College A grand old man who knows just about e.verything you'll ever need to know about homesteading. You cou1dn't do better'. (See page 4) Cold Spring . c/o· Hank Patton Sacajawea Elementary School 4800 N.E. 47th , Portland, OR There's much to be le'arned at Cold Spring-bees, -gardening, greenhouses , and building in this newly-established experimental farm/community. Greenpeace Experimental Farm R.R.1 1 Denman Island, BC They have a summer work-study program- free as long as you provide your own necessities (foo,d, transport,, tent). Also seminars and workshops on small scale a.t., realities of alternate life styles, basic applied ecology, and more. One day $40, weekend $100. All kinds of options available for individual needs, so write for details. Outback Program Fairhave·n College Western Washington State College Bellinghai;n, WA 98225 206/676-4860, -3600, -3680 -Tom Thornton, Jim Hildt Energy, food and shelter self-reliance education, conferences are conducted in this special program. Windmills, Pelton wheels, pigs, chickens, the car- 'pentry of recycling old barns, extensive practical experience in gardening. powered airship next year fot the Sharing Network. We plan to develop an extended family farm here that will be a nice place to live·for countless generations as well as producing a surplus of good food to share with ~imilar and different tribes all over the planet. We have been eating lots of sprouts and whole grain breads and cereals _ lately. • • Looking for techniques and tools to make our own cement, housepaint, and a_solar powered tractor. We have a big sky here and se.e much beauty _in it day and night. Saw intersecting giant rainbow rings in the ciouds the other day with our friends from Wallowa County. • I hope this is of some u~e to you and I hope you will be able to come by _ sometime, work, eh and play with us to really ,find out what we are up to. . (Piper) Red Barn Program Eastern Washington State College Cheney, WA 99004 H. R. Simms, Program Coordinator 359-2867 They're offering a nice-sounding collection of courses in edible wild plants, fibers, alternative energy, welding, organic gardening, history of American wilderness, and--11utrition for personal use. They're presently building a new wind-powered electric generator so they'll be able to have D.C. lighting 1n part of the barn. Also planning to install a root cellar, ice h·ouse and sunken solar • greenhouse. Rural Skills Workshops P.O. Box 6093 Seattle, WN 98188 , Short workshop program in shelter, energy systems, spring planting, etc. Contact: Bill O'Neill. School of Country Living c/o Carla Emry • Kendrick, ID 83537 This summer courses in tanning; weaving, beekeeping, h,:imessing and working with horses. Carla is the one who put together a rather incredible and highly successful Old Fashionrd Recipe Book (much more·than just cooking) which h-as just been ·sold to a publisher for a fabulous sum. (LdeM)
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