Nothing is what it seems at Earthaven! For example, once upon a time in this experiment to create a different kind of life, the testing of building styles—which calls for a lot of creativity—was a top priority. “Time is money” was thrown out the window; projects could take years to complete, if at all. This can get pretty frustrating, especially when it comes time to turn a little mud-walled experiment into a useful space, not to mention something it wasn’t intended to be. This is the ballad of the languishing Hamlet Kitchen Annex.

At last, several Earthaven women began to promote the importance of having more indoor space for children. It would be nice for us to have a space right near the Hamlet kitchen, and it might be also attractive to other families with children. If we built some play room, would they find us more child friendly? And come visit more?

The plan was made and approved to let the Three-(or Four-) Women-and-a-Toolbox crew (plus friends) turn the Annex into The Kidspace We’ve Been Waiting For. Once again, building construction seems to be the solution to life’s problems.

Three-Women and their friends can dedicate time to this project because we are all child-free. Four child-free people are creating a place for children, yes, but we’re listening. The moms, and child caregivers, and teachers are in the lead about how the kids’ space will be managed, and we’re looking forward to getting toys, books, and movable furniture in there once the work is done.

If you’d like to contribute to our kids’ fun and games, please consider donations of books, games, or even suggestions of your children’s favorites. Cash contributions also will be well used.

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Many of the women of Earthaven attended the Second Annual Southeast Women’s Herbal Conference held during the Fall Equinox, sponsored by Red Moon Herbs. Starhawk’s presence as this year’s keynote speaker was particularly significant for Earthaveners.

Starhawk is well known as the author of eleven books, including The Spiral Path and The Fifth Sacred Thing. However, it’s her more recent books that specifically and eloquently explain the fundamental values that are at the core of Earthaven’s existence. Webs of Power covers much of the political action spectrum, including the importance of bioregional economic self-sufficiency and its relationship to strategies of political power. The significance of understanding and working with Nature is made abundantly clear in her other recent book, Earth Path.

Starhawk’s focus at the conference was very much about the material in Earth Path. She led the intensive through a series of awareness exercises. The exercises enhance sense awareness, allowing participants to be more receptive to information from Nature. This information is always available to us, if we only give ourselves access to the natural world. A guided meditation followed the exercises. The beauty of guided meditation is that it allows us to screen out ego filters accumulated in the rough-and-tumble world, where abuse and failure can block our vision and limit our options. Then the information we glean from Nature can help us see the steps needed to care for our world and ourselves more skillfully.

Starhawk addressed the feelings of helplessness that come so often to people who are daunted by the enormous tasks before us, of changing consumer culture and cleaning up so much pollution. Hearing from her about advances in the use of bacteria and fungi to clean up pollution were very inspiring. She pointed out that we are part of nature and that nature can use humans to cure the distructiveness of other human actions.

If you would like to learn more about Starhawk’s work, the books mentioned above are a captivating and easy-to-understand resource. You may buy these books at your local bookstore, or through Red Moon Herbs.

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