Tuesday, April 17, 2012

hostel in the forest

hostel in the forest was mentioned to me a couple times on my way east fro new orleans, and since i had a couple extra days before the vipassana course i decided to go the extra miles it required. the decision came easily when i looked at their website and found the description of their vision so strongly resonating with my own. when i arrived i felt like i'd entered a vortex of positive, creative energy. as i was given the tour i kept thinking things like, 'that's exactly how i already do things!' for example, the instructions to pee pretty much anywhere, EXCEPT in the composting toilets!

the hula hoops were leaning in bundles against the wall of the cob kitchen. i was thrilled to make a blessed batch of sourdough bread in the oven on the first day there. the hoops just sat there still most of the time, but i played with one for a few minutes and placed the largest one in the center of the library dome for song circles.

each evening we all gather in a circle before dinner to share what we are grateful for and bless the meal. each person in the circle is given time to say what they need to say. i sang 'for the golden corn...', a blessing song my family sings, on the second night. many people expressed thanks for the fire flies, which i certainly enjoyed too. i have not seen them since i was young, in michigan. one of the many radical things about this hostel is that they compost all the humanure! this is the cutting edge of sustainable living! amazingly i did not make time to inspect their bin system. it was described to me as pallet bins where the manure is mixed with straw and allowed to compost and age thoroughly. it is not mixed with food scraps, which are deposited in a separate double-bin system at the vegetable garden site. i did see these piles and noticed they could use a good stomping and more water. too large of air spaces and not enough moisture will slow down decomposition dramatically. the vegetable garden had a great vibe and was fairly tidy. one bed was planted densely with the three sisters. we ate lots of collards from one small, but abundant bed. here in the south i have eaten more collards than any other green. the lake there was a very refreshing and tranquil place where i spent a little time in the middle of each day. clothing is optional. i did some naked yoga on the floating platform. there is a nice little sweat lodge site where they have ceremonies every full moon.

one singing circle i'd called was led by izzy of the 'dharma bums' collective, who just showed up serendipitous to help make it amazing! he carries xeroxed song books to make it easier for everyone to sing along with these songs he has selected. i requested 'if i had a hammer' which is one i used to sing with my dad as a child. towards the end i had a great result sharing the song 'rainbow warriors' that i made up. some folks played rhythm or sang along!
next night i sang alone, or chanted, which made for a very powerful song circle experience. since nobody else showed up, i was given the chance to meditate in solitude, as was my need.

i donated the little pile of gloves that i had found along the way. also i donated a gallon ziplock bag full of crimson clover seeds to the garden. i had gathered these the second day after tallahassee, as i noticed there was an abundant supply of this beneficial and beautiful cover crop gone to seed along the side of the road. it was planted for erosion control there it seems, as i've seen in many places. to the new gardening boy there, E-more, i gave a 'dirt knife' i found in the shoulder and a piece of plastic-coated wire for binding purposes. the dirt knife is just a short, serrated, stainless steel blade that had lost its handle. it is useful for cutting through the roots of weeds. i like using this tool for detailed weeding around rows of young vegetables, when the hoe feels too clumsy.

this place was one of the most vibrant examples of the community in action that i want to live in. there were still many imperfect aspects that i could see would challenge my tolerance, but there were so many ways that i felt affinity for the people and place. on the last morning i shared a short yoga practice with the manager, tess, and the new cook, katie in the glass house. this is a wonderful structure devoted to healing spiritual practices that is secluded from the rest of the compound. what a wonderful way to end this restorative visit!

thank you forest people! blessings!

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