The Village Tales

Words from the Wise

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 08:07:00 +0000

From the book of Tao #80

If a country is governed wisely,
its inhabitants will be content.
They enjoy the labor of their hands
and don't waste time inventing
labor-saving machines.
Since they dearly love their homes,
they aren't interested in travel.
There may be a few wagons and boats,
but these don't go anywhere.
There may be an arsenal of weapons,
but nobody ever uses them.
People enjoy their food,
take pleasure in being with their families,
spend weekends working in their gardens,
delight in the doings of the neighborhood.
And even though the next country is so close
that people can hear its roosters crowing and its dogs barking,
they are content to die of old age
without ever having gone to see it.

This is how I feel about the Village. We dialogued the other night about how easy it is to get so lost in the joys (and the work) of the Ecovillage that you forget your life from before... It isn't on purpose. It is just so full here that one needs very little from the rest of the world. It feels good to feel home.

FAQ. Questions I get a lot.

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:16:00 +0000

When fielding email questions and answers there are some questions we get a lot! I suppose its time to answer out loud?

Introducing FAQ .... Questions I get alot.

Today I address the air quality question with a delightful emailer from Pender.

I only have one question at this time, it is the pollution in the Fraser Valley, I had heard that it is bad, especially in the summer, what are your thought about this point?

I used to live in Chilliwack, my doctor told me many of his patients with repertory issues had to leave the area because of pollution coming up the valley from Vancouver, this was 20 years ago, maybe it has changed?

Your thoughts?

I can answer that. I spent a year and a half looking into this area for all its qualities, good and bad. We read random studies, looked at weather patterns, read old new articles. We're a little bit on the "control life" side of the scale... you know? Of course I laugh about it now- but we did take it very seriously.

I think it comes down to this... Every where in the world there will be things that are good, and things that are bad. You can live on and Earthquake fault, or a flood plain, or somewhere safe like Edmonton and still get the odd tornado. The benefits of living at the ecovillage for my family far out way all the other things I used to try and control about selecting a place to live. Does that make sense?

The short answer is I just moved here from Edmonton with a daughter with Asthma. We don't notice a difference in her. Occasionally we smell manure in the air, that stinks a bit- but I take it over the brewery smell that wafted through Edmonton every month or so!

I've got three new families coming for a community meeting today. All three are in their final phases of buying so I'll be with them most of today but tomorrow would be a good day to catch me!

Viv

Valentine's Day Ecovillage Style

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:37:00 +0000

I've never really believed in Valentine's Day. The "Hallmark Day"... No point really, when you live "out there". Sure, Paul and I would "try". It never ended well. One way or another the expectation of a perfect romantic day would always crumble into either a screaming match- or a crying match... Or a scream and cry match.

The restaurants are full, the flowers are expensive, and the expectation is huge of that ONE significant other. Try as they might, you'll be let down.

So we had given up on Valentine's Day. I think a lot of realists and visionaries do. Apart from the continuous freak out about hand made cards for school parties, we've given up entirely.

Until today.

Today, every time I opened my front door, a new goodie had appeared! Today neighbours young and old brought my family chocolates, notes of appreciation, thank you cards, cookies, a hand-made door knocker, gourmet Angel Kiss.

Every hour or so I was delighted with appreciation from my neighbours. So much so that we just had to share in the joy of giving. My children and I set out to decorate organic lollipops I bought from Winners last week with paper cut out hearts.

They were filled with GLEE to take them door to door.

Then, I went for a walk with my two year old through the town of Yarrow. What I saw made me run home for my camera...

Even Hank, the barber in Yarrow for 68 years, was amazed....

Someone had Art Attacked Yarrow!
Hank's Wooly Heart door....

He though it was for his birthday!

Outside the Vedder Grill it was written in Chalk "Yummy Fries!"

Rain Proof Shiny Hearts hung all over Yarrow Central Road...

I recognize the door knocker.... I got the same one, But from who????? This was not an ecovillage initiative!

What is "Greenall"? A calling card?

MCC ladies were gleeful at the decorated store front. One shouted "We should call The Progress!"

This proves the attack was well thought out.
My two year old was in awe... pulling at the hearts in flower pots... excited by every out of place piece!

Post Office Mobile blowing in the wind.

This says it all!

The Park Monument looked like a chocolate shop!

The trees in the park.
This gives you an idea...
Wow! What a place to live. The magic of such inspiration makes it easy to want to give back. I think today built on itself. One inspiration after another. Living somewhere where people give a tiny bit of their very best does two things; it tells you that a little bit is enough, and it makes you willing to give. Simple.

Not all of today was awesome. In fact parts were really hard. I- being human- really screwed up. (More than once.) I got to a point where I just couldn't smile anymore, and I fought with a neighbour. It was the first time I have even been really angry here. I yelled. People don't often yell here. I saw red. I was horrible to my neighbour about something that seems very small now. I'm embarrassed that I yelled. Truth be told I couldn't hold it in anymore. Sometimes living here gets the best of you. Sometimes living here makes you be someone you don't like to be. Truth be told we're still human.

At the end of the day. My neighbour (that I foolishly yelled at) and I will be okay. We may even be better off. At the end of the day, the most special thing about being here is that the people around me forgive my human-ness. And because of that, I hopefully grow.

So, sometimes it is really good to live here. And minutes later it can really suck. And minutes after that it can be really good to live here all over again. The key is a willingness to be whole- hearted. It sure beats Grey's Anatomy!

So Thank you Groundswell. Thanks for reviving my belief in a day for love and hearts. Thanks to Greater Yarrow for filling my day with smiles. Thanks to my husband for the surprise chocolates on my pillow. If the point of Valentine's Day is Love... We got the message loud and clear today.

Happy Valentine's Day!

An offer that might be right for you...

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:22:00 +0000

I got this email from a Friend of The Yarrow Ecovillage. It might appeal to one of our readers...

Greetings,

We are a quiet middle aged couple with a few cats and a friendly large dog who live on a very beautiful 10 acre farm near Creston BC. We also have ducks and will soon have chickens and have raised 3 heritage pigs and some rabbits too.

We just bought the farm last April and have done a ton of repairs and setting up infastructure...the idea is to be food self sufficient, to have enough and enough to share. and maybe turn into a business or two...we are very interested in aquaculture. Our land offers a lot of potential for young farmer want a bees who have some building and gardening skills so we are hoping along the way to meet up with such a couple. We realize we do not have enough time or energy to do it all alone.

For now we are just seeking folks who have some building skills or gardening skills and would love to have a working holiday. We would provide food and a place to lay their heads (though they could also camp on the land) in exchange for about 20 hr total of work per day. That leaves lots of time to go fishing in our rivers or just up the road at Kootenay or Duck lake...or borrowing our kayaks or biking or hiking or whatever they feel like.

So much more could be said..this place is so amazing...and we feel very blessed to be here and are willing to share its goodness..we have a list of projects for this upcoming year...microhydro, maybe a strawbale guest house, a green house or two...electric fencing around our old orchard...and on and on.

So if people want to come for a few weeks or months we can work around that...just send us an Email to connect and then hopefully we will meet one day soon. We are totally into the permaculture mind set....

Ellen and Mike

snowpeach (at) mail (big old dot) com

Nutshells and Niblets Community Bulletin # 33 February 2012 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:56:00 +0000

Nutshells and Niblets Community BULLETIN # 33 January 2012
Ann's personal and highly biased view of the village... HIJACKED lovingly by Vivian....!

ANN. I HavE Your NUTSHELLS. SEND ONE PIE DOWNSTAIRS IF YOU WANT IT BACK!

What can I tell you? I like writing the newsletter!

And We've had quite a month here, so much I won't be able to tell you everything. You'll have to come for tea if you want the whole scoop!

Welcome to Lea and Greg.

Lea and Greg started coming around last year. Lea would come out and garden, or offer to drive someone somewhere. Greg would come ask hard questions about the legal structure around here... that sort of stuff. Just after New Year's Eve, Lea and Greg called and asked if they could bring over a cheque. After completing all of the steps to come here, they've decided to call Groundswell home. (Extra exciting for me because they'll be in my building!)

More welcomes to come. Several neighbours are very close to completing their process. And it takes time to come here. We like to get to know you. We like to help you feel comfy here.

Last Chance to make Changes

February 25th from 4:00 until the bonfire starts we've invited anyone (you too!) who is seriously considering purchasing a home in Grounsdwell cohousing to have final input in the direction of the next phase of building. Do we build everything out at once? Or do we finish one building at a time? What about the customizations? They cost money- is it worth it? Which units do people really want? This is it folks. I can tell you the end is near.... The biggest decision to follow will be what colour my hammock should be! If you'd like to come, just RSVP here http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JG52X72

Ten Mile Tasty Tour!

What a success!

Shauna ran a kitchen team that helped chop and stir an amazing Ten Mile Lunch.

Ingrid and her daughter Natalie headed up the location logistics for setting the tables and running a smooth show.

We had Neighbours in Waiting, and even Neighbours in Limbo come out to set up and serve food.

In the end, about 50 of us sat down to a quiet, heavenly lunch. In January! A week after a snow storm! We FEASTED on roasted squash soup, eggs from Highland Hens (a neighbour donated 20 dozen eggs to our event!) made the base for two quiche cakes.

The highlight for me was the green salad. Nevin was able to harvest more than enough greens for the feast! Imagine! Fresh Organic Greens picked that janary morning!

The Not-Ready-To-Be-Seniors are Ready to Meet!

They tell me I have to be at least 50 to join in. If I put baby powder in my hair do you think they'll let me? Ingrid Jones here at the village will be hosting a Seniors Study Group. But. I'm assured. They aren't really seniors... yet.

So who are these folks? Older than me, but not OLD. Ready to age, but not

AGE-ED. We talk about how to talk about this study group an awful lot. My best description is that it is a group of people looking forward the golden years with a deep respect for the fact that they may not be able to halt aging, but they can set themselves up for success. Many of them have watched their own parents go through their golden years and want to make changes to their own experience of aging. What is the right word? Graceful aging? Assertive Aging? If you have ideas please let me know! And if you'd like to join the study group and really look at your own future in a safe and supportive environment please join in! We always have room for one more. (Unless you have three kids under six. Apparently I have to wait a few years!) Ten Weeks Starting Feb 8th. $100.00 per person.

CHUCK HAS PRIORITIZED THE BUILDING

We get Grass Paving! And Solar Hot Water in the common house! Path Lighting and so many other goodies. We can share them with you when you next come for tea! What I want to tell you about mostly was the process by which we effectively made the decisions as a group. In was sort of like a game on The Price Is Right. Chuck would hold up two cards with different features on them. Together we'd discuss the merits of each, at which point we'd choose one over the other. Then the next card would be introduced, and we'd have to decide how far up the list we wanted to move that new item. As we went through our pile of cards it became apparent which items mattered to the whole, and which items we'd have to let go of. So much thought and soul went into each of our choices. We'd get especially serious every time a feature threatened to over take the Hot Tub on the features list. In the end, the Hot Tub was number 7. Some things made it over because they have to be done during development, other things are just important to us. The list? I've put it up in our new showroom for you to come and see!

What was your Name again?

There is a funny thing going on as our village fills. We seem to be collecting two of every name! We have two Eli's, two Paul's, two Sophia's, three Alan's... many names are similar enough that they sound the same when said quickly like Cheryl and Cher... Or Julia and Julian. Regardless. We all still need our own name tags. And consensus cards for meetings. It has occurred to Ann and Cheryl that they did too nice a job on the first set that they made last year because now they'll be busy making more for all these new people who've been joining us!

Fresh Organic Veggies for 20.00 per week all summer long?

The Yarrow Ecovillage farmers are pleased to have their CSA ready to go. We love CSA pick up day. Not only because of the rubbermaid full of fresh veggies, but also because of the smiling faces that come down our long drive to say hi. If you are interested please take a look: http://yecfarm.blogspot.com/

Events Coming to an Ecovillage near you!

We have a lot of fun around here, and we'd like to invite you to join us. We're busily working out a schedule for some fun things this summer. Check the events listings on our website in the next couple weeks for all sorts of workshops and open houses for you to come out and enjoy!

Poem:

I don't have a poem,

and so I'll make up one.

'bout a pretty little place to live that

is so full of fun.

But work we must- and work I do

happy as a peach.

For in the kind of work leaves little left to reach.

Okay... Ann's poems were much better!

Over and ... out!

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:25:00 +0000

Tonight's Community supper was a treat!

We usually all crowd into our makeshift community dining hall. We've got some heaters and lights and enough chairs and table to 'almost' have enough room. To be honest, it gets a little loud and cold in there. I think it's on purpose so we don't loose our motivation to get our common house built.

Tonight we did something different. Some of us cooked, and some of us were guests. The idea is used in communities quite often to encourage more one on one time with community members that wouldn't normally get a chance to see each other. With my husband out of town and three young kids I wasn't fussed about going out tonight- so I said I'd host.

As supper time arrived I found myself wondering who was cooking and thinking about the barn, and the rain. Suddenly I remembered I was cooking! In a mad scramble I got the kitchen under 'somewhat' control and fished around in the fridge.

It turned out to be take out. On my way home from picking my son up, we stopped for two pies... chees for the kids, and garlic vegetarian for me and my surprise guest.

We got home to Cheryl! Sitting on our couch waiting for us. (The coordinator of the evening had passed her the message that I was running late.) We experimented with children's manors which my children seem to have lost somewhere) and we even had HALLOWEEN CANDY for desert.

Cheryl helped with dishes, we played a racing game to clean up the toys, and as I type this Cheryl is enjoying my kids whilst reading the bedtime stories. a treat for both of us.

After a five day spurt of having my husband away I feel so lucky to be here. My day began at 6:45 when the toilet backed up. From there the following:

1. Joel stopped by to help with the toilet.

2.Ingrid popped by to drop off some paperwork and the giant coffee maker.

3. I bumped into Dorothy in the parking lot who offered to pick Paul up at the airport.

4. I borrowed Meg's printer, she poured me a splash of coffee

5. Joe decided he'd join me on a trip to Save on Foods in Abbottsford

6. A Chat with Maureen on the way home.

7. Met with Shayne and Cher for coffee while kids played

8. Shauna came over to discuss the Ten Mile Tour (almost sold out by the way!)

9. Dahlia stopped by to give a toy she was done with to by two year old (awwwww!)

10. Spoke with Julia about our sinlge mom week traumas

11. Had pizza with Cheryl... and my kids are getting stories.

In my previous life, I wonder how many people I would have seen in a day if Paul were away. My mom, maybe a car trip to a play park. Possibly one neighbour? One thing is for sure, I would have eaten supper alone with the kids. While that's nice sometimes too- options are really wonderful.

Thanks Cheryl!

Dear new neighbours

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:55:00 +0000

Dear new Neighbours,

I know I haven't met you yet. Or maybe I have. I just wanted to welcome you to your new home. I can't wait to meet you. Truthfully? We can't wait to build your house so we can start to stop this whole "construction phase".

Life here is great. I imagine it will only get better when you get here. We'll have the common house, we'll have the landscaping, and best of all? We'll have you.

My kids are in bed now. Have been for a while. They played with two different sets of kids today, and were asleep as their heads hit the pillow.

I'm still up. I'm wracking my brain trying to find a way to find you. Life here is so good, so sweet, so ... common sense... that I can't imagine living anywhere else. But we're still waiting for you. Waiting to meet the last of the new neighbours who will;

- cook the odd meal... share in many cooked for them.

- enjoy children who play outside in gaggles of giggles

- most likely garden, or want to learn how.

- you probably like people- though you may actually be an introvert like many others here

- you could be single, or married. Either way you know what it means to love with your whole heart.

- you are your own person- but you like to be a part of something bigger than just you.

- you might be lonely right now... looking for a place where you can belong.

- maybe you've heard about cohousing, or maybe you're still scared it means something bigger than it does. Maybe you need to visit so we can sort all that out.

- you probably love great food...

- you definitely love great people.

Dear new neighbour, find us soon? I just can't wait to share a cup of tea, or a walk through the farm. I want to know your kids. Or have you know mine. I want to ask how you are, when I know you aren't well. I want to help. I want to be helped by you.

I want meet you. Please come soon.

Braved the Snow.

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:23:00 +0000

It was a tough day for those of us who'd worked so hard to bring together the Chuck presentation on cohousing. All week people assured me (from Edmonton originally) that the snow would melt. Only on thursday when they called another snow day for the schools did panic set in.

And of course, the disappointment. I'm speaking personally now, but the village as a whole was disappointed. All week long we received emails, phone calls and even the odd person who drove down the driveway looking for something they longed for. Don't get me wrong, I know the people who will end up here will find us on their own. I suppose what I wanted was the room full of people with a common vision. I wanted to see people smiling and excited all in one room together. I wanted to feel the success of the media attention we've been getting lately.

Silly really. But it was a lot of work. In the end the village was split. Some wanted to brave the snow and would not be deterred. Others were more sane, and cautious. We set out in two cars expecting that no one would be there. We were wrong.

The presentation went on. The room was not packed, but full enough to make me proud of our work. The roads held up for us, and we drove safely there and back without so much as a slippery spot.

And now ... The snow has almost melted away. Gone faster than it came.

At least now I can harvest my rosemary for the Ten Mile Lunch....

Snow Day Friday 11:00am Update

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:18:00 +0000

SNOW DAY BACK UP PLAN IS IN EFFECT

(snow sucks, by the way)

For all the curious people who are planning to come to the Chuck presentation we at the ecovillage are dismayed by this weather. Some of us spent a good deal of time this morning trying to decide what to do. Cancel? Postpone? What about people who may show up anyways? We've come up with a couple solutions:

One way or another we'd like to thank you all for your interest. In the past week we've seen the website traffic QUADRUPLE, Our email box has been inundated with curious minds looking for new homes, We've had people who were once interested show renewed interest. Even if we can't pack the house for a big awsome presentation this time, I feel like we've achieved success!

For those comfortable with driving:

Chuck will still do the presentation! The new location is very near campus at Central Heights Church Click below for map.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Central+Heights+Church&ll=49.032593,-122.293453&spn=0.007864,0.019162&client=safari&oe=UTF-8&fb=1&gl=ca&hq=Central+Heights+Church&hnear=0x54843f9d75e9f3a7:0x1d49386fd2f9a230,Chilliwack,+BC&cid=0,0,9911024603444751659&t=h&z=16&vpsrc=0&iwloc=A

be warm, drive safe. We'll see you there.

For those who'd like to take a pass:

1. Two more events happen this week that we'd love to invite you out to! Information below

2. Email us at welcome@yarrowecovillage.ca and we will put you on a special notification list for our next presentation date and other events you might enjoy.

January 24 The "Not ready to be Seniors" Cohousing Presentation

Will cover alot of similar information, but will specifically focus on seniors issues. Families still welcome.

7:00 pm

Clearbrook Library

32320 George Ferguson Way, Abbottsford

January 28th Ten Mile Tasty Tour and Lunch

we'll tour The Yarrow Ecovillage in the morning, and then we'll make our way to the community school for a lunch featuring the ecovillage's fine organic produce and made entirely with local ingredients. In the afternoon we'll also share the slideshow presentation. Tickets are 20.00 for the tour and lunch. If you'd like to join us for the slideshow only portion only please contact us so we can arrange that.

SNOW DAY BACK UP PLAN

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:14:00 +0000

SNOW DAY BACK UP PLAN for Cohousing Presentation:

Wow. This weather is sure crazy!

Thanks for your interest in cohousing and our sweet ecovillage. People around here are dismayed by the weather, and we don't know what we'll do about the presentation friday night.

If you are interested, but don't want to drive, we get it. Please send us an email through our contact button and let us know that. We'll find another way to do this presentation another time.

If you are interested, and still want to come out, please check here regularly for updates about our event location.

Sad but true... we may yet be snowed out. But we hope we'll hear from you anyway!

More to come Friday AM.

Whimsy from Janice

noreply@blogger.com (Beverly) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:28:00 +0000

Janice should blog. She sent this through Beverly, who shared it with me. I'm putting it up here because I think it highlights our community joy beautifully. Thanks Janice!

"There's a soft hush outside due to the thick blanket of snow outside my doors. The juncos, sparrows and finches are feasting at the feeder my husband made out of wood scraps from the barn, and their merry chatter and swift movement charm both me and the cat. Just now, a beautiful young, male, Northern Flicker perched on my upended outdoor table leg. His roseate cheeks gleaming against the mocha of his cheeks, his tufted head looking rakish in the wind, he peers around him, making sure its safe. I wouldn’t have known he was there but for his peculiar keening, whistle of a cry, telling his mate the mother lode was there on my back porch - a pile of wild bird seed, theirs for the taking.

He continues to perch, not feeding, while he awaits her, his cries plaintive and entreating. The wind continues to ruffle his dark back, showing the creamy fluffy underfeathers, increasing his size even more. He puffs himself out, disguising his usually sleek body, to increase his chances of warmth. He turns to peer in my window, straining to see danger beyond the glass if it’s there. His V shaped swath of soft black on his throat looks like some diplomat’s sash, a signal of office. His speckled breast, dark brown against creamy taupe, looks fresh and vivid against the white landscape behind him.

Good morning village life. This is one reason (of the many) I moved here. For the quiet, the birds, the lovely youngsters next door who brushed the foot of snow off my wood benches ‘so Bill and Janice can sit there’, the galumphing stride of mine and the neighbors dog as they wade and leap through the snow, having fun while taking care of morning needs. The mountains stand like friendly sentinels, a deep note of green, the wind blows its melody over the snow swathed gardens and fields, the birds‘ song the woodwinds and pipes. It’s an ecovillage symphony, and right now, it’s all mine to enjoy."

CBC.ca | The Early Edition | Pinched: Neighbour$

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:48:00 +0000

CBC.ca | The Early Edition | Pinched: Neighbour$

The Chilliwack Progress! Hot off the Press!

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:56:00 +0000

Wow! Check this article out! Thanks so much to Jennifer Feinburg for her talent and support!

Yarrow Ecovillage reaches the halfway point

SHARE THIS STORY

Is your behaviour hurting your children?

Don’t jump to conclusions

Come to love our country

Yukon: Making music in the Land of the Midnight Sun

First step on road to healthy living

By Jennifer Feinberg - Chilliwack Progress
Published: January 11, 2012 3:00 PM
Updated: January 11, 2012 4:24 PM

The members of the Yarrow Ecovillage see themselves as "ordinary people" building an "extraordinary" neighbourhood on the western fringe of Chilliwack.

Ecovillage members Nevin Gavigan, Vivian Vaillant and Linda Jones took the Progress news team on a recent tour of the site, located just off Yarrow Central Road.

Resident Vivian Vaillant said moving in was the "best thing" her family of five has ever done.

"I've never felt more at home," she said. "There's always someone around with what you need, whether it's an onion or the time to watch your kids for a minute while you dash out to get something."

Phase 3 of the co-housing construction is now underway, with two- to four-bedroom units on offer.

The community is about half full now, with 50 residents in the ecovillage so far, of which 17 are children.

It's not a commune or a housing co-op, they hasten to add, nor are they affiliated with any particular religion.

The Yarrow Ecovillage is an intentional community, and its members do share a desire to live in a more sustainable way, and one that's more connected and engaged.

The Vaillant family arrived in November, with plans to rent one of the units until theirs is built and their other house is sold. Vivian immediately took over the ecovillage blog at www.yarrowecovillage.ca to give the world an online window into their lives, and share some of the enthusiasm she feels for the project.

"We didn't want to move into a normal, vinyl-sided neighbourhood," she said. "I had that back in Edmonton. It took me five years to get to know any of my neighbours."

They started attending workshops and got to know some of the ecovillage members before they even moved in.

"What we found were some of the nicest, coolest, most sound-minded people you'd want to anywhere.

"And they all want to know their neighbours," she said.

The co-housing project has been underway in Yarrow since 2006, when Chilliwack city council approved an "ecovillage" rezoning designation for the 22-acre site, one of the first of its kind in Canada.

Several components make up the ecovillage from the Groundswell co-housing units, to certified organic farming operations, and future plans for mixed commercial/residential development on the two acres closest to the road.

Ecovillagers use consensus decision-making to get things done, and have built their homes in such a way that they bump into their neighbours frequently, to catch up and share what's going on.

Nevin Gavigan and his wife, Shauna, moved to Yarrow specifically to join the organic farming movement in the Fraser Valley, and to help it thrive.

This summer they'll be running a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Harvest box program again, supplying fresh organic produce to fellow ecovillagers, and the surrounding communities of Chilliwack and Abbotsford.

The couple had been researching intentional communities for several years before settling on the ecovillage, in part because it was still in its infancy, seeking new energies to help it grow.

"What I wanted to do was to come here and farm and supply produce to the village," Gavigan said.

"It's seen as a cherished resource, and it's been great for us."

He figures it would have been otherwise impossible for someone his age to purchase farmable land, and is thrilled with the opportunity.

"There's been so much support and it's unlike farming anywhere else. Just look at the beautiful backdrop we have," he said, gesturing toward Vedder Mountain.

The co-housing research and planning has been intense.

"This project is based on some very successful co-housing models from around the world," he said.

Many of the ecovillage residents are also foodies, who deeply appreciate having fresh, organic produce grown right outside their doors, said ecovillage member Linda Jones.

They often share and rotate the chores of cooking, and cleanup.

"Having the garden and farmers on-site gives us both sustenance and security," Jones said.

She also appreciates the environmentally friendly aspects incorporated into the design of the ecovillage.

"We built our housing in a way that leaves the smallest footprint possible," she said.

There are plans to build a new common house in 2012, where community meals can be shared and other activities.

"What we're building here is so cutting-edge and yet old-fashioned at the same time," said Vaillant.

She appreciates the farm "being right there" and the proximity to the little creek, the local library and Yarrow community school.

"It's cutting-edge because we're actually in control of the design of it, but it's also old-fashioned in the sense of what we have let get away on us, which is the sense of people first. Here it is people first.

"It's not utopia, and we're still going to have to work on things when we have conflicts, but we're armed for that."

To learn more about cohousing, there is an upcoming talk by co-housing expert and architect Chuck Durrett. Attendees can meet some people who have actually succeeded in building their own custom-designed neighbourhood. Chuck Durrett, Jan. 20, 7 p.m. UFV Abbotsford Campus Room B101 (Main lecture Hall). Refreshments.

jfeinberg@theprogress.com

twitter.com/CHWKjourno

Newest member Contributes Talents from afar!

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:36:00 +0000

Hello to Janet everybody!

Janet hasn't moved here yet. In fact, her first trip out will be for the Chuck Presentation and Workshop January 20-21. I've had the pleasure of speaking with her over the phone and I have a feeling we'll be neighbours one day.

My first clue was when she offered to contribute how she could to the Chuck presentation. Janet happens to be a graphic artist. Right before Christmas when we are all so very busy she rolled up her sleeves to make us a beautiful poster for the upcoming event!

Check it our people! My first reaction was... "Oh! I want to live there" followed shortly thereafter with "OH!!! I DO LIVE HERE!!!" and then I laughed out loud for a bit.

Thank you Janice! See you soon.

Ask Five Ecovillagers Question 2

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:48:00 +0000

What is your New Years Resolution?

As we settle into January I'm keen to make my resolution. One New Year's Resolution that I can keep. I would love to say I'll drink less red wine, or eat less chocolate, but the reality is I won't. I can't possibly bother trying to loose any weight because that won't happen either. I guess it will be the Blog itself. I think I'll resolve to make two posts a week on this blog.

Don't hold your breath though. Now that I live here I'm amazed at how much of my time flies by every day because I've bumped into a neighbour, or I've found something interesting to do.... Like walk around asking my neighbours what their New Years Resolution is!

These are five random answers...

1. I resolve to join the Hammock committee here at the ecovillage. I will see to it that Hammocks get hung and sat in all over the entire site. I personally will sit in more hammocks this year.

2. I don't have a New Year's Resolution. I don't like feeling like a failure- so I find it easier not to resolve things. Instead I take it day by day and go with the flow.

3. I resolve to spend more time making connections with people. The problem with the village is it is easy to feel like you have enough going on here to be bothered with the rest of Chilliwack. I like the greater community of Yarrow. There are great people here and I'd like to spend more time getting to know them.

4. I have the same resolutions every year. They involve becoming a better person, practising being the person I want to be. Sometimes it feels easy, sometimes it can be tough- but I resolve to continue to work at it.

5. I'm going to try and spend more time reading to my kids. We all enjoy it so much when we just sit for hours reading but with their interest in screen and all the outdoor play they do it isn't an activity we get enough time for.

There you have it folks. One post down, one to go.... I'm just glad none else at the ecovillage plans on giving up chocolate!

Nutshell Niblets #32 December

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:53:00 +0000

Nutshells and Niblets Community BULLETIN # 32
Ann's personal and highly biased view of the village... HIJACKED lovingly by Vivian....!

Season’s Greetings to our friends and neighbors-in-waiting all around the world!

I imagine you must be wondering where Ann is? Was she kidnapped? Did this Vivian person actually tie her up and steal her Niblets?

Nope!
Ann, as well as the rest of us in the village, have been totally focused, full of piss and vinegar, and doing some needed house-cleaning in the village. Sleeves rolled up, and nose to the grindstone. And WOW have we accomplished a lot, to get us all ready for the next building phase. We’re a spanking clean and ready to go. Ann is finishing up her appointed tasks and will be back to writing to you in the new year. ( I know she really misses it!) And in the meantime, I’m jumping into Ann’s boots.

I have so much to tell you!
The most important news is that we’re now ready and determined to find all our new villagers and finish the village --- all in one go.
If you have ever considered trying us out, January will be the time to reconnect.

We’re launching our campaign in January, with a series of events to welcome our old friends back - and new ones, too- for a look at the units we have available ( 14 remaining )
Shhhh! Don’t tell anyone I said this … If you’d like a sneak peek of our plans, write back to me with the password ‘excitement’ in the subject line and I’ll give you the inside poop! I know we've a lot of interested people who've been waiting for this stage.... a nailed-down timeline- the Commonhouse and the last of the homes.

Okay! I’m ready to crack some nuts!

Half Way There!

For a year and a half Paul and I wrestled the realities and the dreams. Wanting to come but ... What were we? ...Scared? ...Tethered? ... I'll never know really. I can tell you that one night early November Paul and I just sort of... Jumped. Maybe it was the first time we jumped together. It resulted in the fastest move to the West you have ever seen. We arrived for the Chuck Workshop November 13 with our first load of worldly goods. We went back for the kids, and slept in our new home November 20th.

And our move is significant because we are officially the half way point! We have 16 households living here! Imagine how much fun we're having! (and with two more pre-sold, that leaves 14 to go. Where's all these people come from all of a sudden? Come visit and we'll let them tell you!)

Ladies and Gentlemen... Mark your Calendars! We're making it easy for you to reconnect with the village this January. We are busy planning three big ones! (Four if you count the consensus training workshop that will be announced for February!)

Jan 20th- Cohousing presentation Chuck durrett is back for a presentation and we're going to pack the house. He'll be doing his slide show presentation based on his book ?............... If you haven't seen it yet be sure to mark the date and join us. If you have seen it why not bring a friend or two and help us fill the room? We only have fourteen units left to sell and we want to sell one to you! let's face it. We've got you on this special list because we are hopeful that you might be one of our neighbors. We don't want to be pushy. No one can decide to move you here but you. But we're hopeful. Does that make sense? I hope so.

Jan 21st- Chuck Workshop "prioritization" if you have any desire to live in the village now or down the road I highly reccommend you come out for this day with chuck. The opportunities for your input in the final design are drawing near to a close. This is one of the last chances to meet and work with chuck, with us. There will always be opportunities for changes and input along the way, but there is something special about the way the chuck workshops transpire that you might enjoy being a part of.

Jan 28th Ten Mile Tasty Tour. Volunteers needed! Now I know you have already had your tour so you might not want another one. This day we are trying something new. Well be selling tickets to a ten mile feast featuring our own farmers and other producers around yarrow. The meal will include a tour of the farms, the homes, and an overview of how we've managed to get here. You probably know al of that. But the food sounds good doesn't it? Well if you don't mind volunteering to help us clean, chop, and smile at new people I can sneak you in for a free lunch! What a good deal for me! A chance to spend more time with you and free labour for the price of babette's fest! Did I hook you? If so give a me shout back and I'll get you on my V.A.P. List. (volunteers and other appreciated people list).

Stork Sightings! Did you know we have two new babies in the village? TWO. Sloan arrived to Linda and Jamie after a very hot summer, and Roman joined the Jongkind's shortly after in October. Babies love to be held. Just stop by and hold a ball of pure love any time. Both mother's appreciate the stolen moments of peace as much as we appreciate the chance to give it.

Strata- final stages. Maureen and Linda are scanning with loving and brutal eyes all of the documents we require to create the strata your new home will one day be a part of. This means that you, and all of us, will be able to legally own our homes, get a conventional mortgage, all those other things people need before they make such a large investment.

The farms. It seems quiet out there these days, but I had delicious greens for dinner last night from Om organic farms. Nevin had picked them earlier that day and showed up on my door step with a basket full of goodies for me to choose from. I chose a pound of thick flavourful greens and another of sweet cabbage leaves. I think I'll make cabbage rolls one night this week. It will have to be Friday because we have community dinners Tuesday through Thursday. What a hard life I have! See my recipe below. (I made them and ate them before I finished writing to you! They were very good!)

The front two forum. You may have heard that the front two acres of the property have been held for our dreams of a mixed use commercial sort of thing. (picture it! People walking to work, picking up fresh loaves of bread, markets all week long!) As we've reached the half way point in Groundswell Cohousing, we've realized we need to pay attention to how we are going to get there. We each know what we want to live next to, but we aren't certain exactly how we can get there. As a community there have been confusions and concerns that we just haven't had time to address. This is where Ann went. Ann and Alan have spent the last four months helping the village find a way to discuss the front two acres. All it's complexities and confusions. More and more every day we begin to walk in stride about this important challenge that lies ahead. It has taken hours and hours to get here. Many people have pressed themselves, and challenged themselves to listen, and speak. As an away neighbor, it was very stressful to watch. Now that we live here it inspires me to see the group work together to be the best we all can be.

The Deli. The Deli held a presentation for the community. It tasted great! We got an overview of the history of The Deli, we got a glimpse of where they want to go next. It is a lofty goal. I picture a buyers coop, with a variety of produce and a cafe where I can meet people, and sit for hours watching the world go by. I am impressed by the energy and the love these people have for their vision, and I believe they'll get there. I can't wait to watch them succeed! I hope they make scads of money. I hope they enjoy every second of the journey. Try the Angel Kiss Belgian White Chocolate Cranberry Spice Fudge. On sale thursday, a perfect stocking stuffer! (My stocking is on the left!)

Christmas. need I say more? The lights are going up, trees are being trimmed. Doors will soon be decorated for unsuspecting neighbours by eager Groundswell children. (Shhh! It's a surprise!). My family is heading back for a third load of worldly goods (and to say good bye to friends we literally abandoned in the middle of the night) so I haven't got much in the way of Christmas going on at my house. You know? I don't miss it. Christmas is all around us. We get to look at Ken's lit house and we helped decorate the Jongkind's tree. Every time I pop in to neighbors I am regaled by stories of what Christmas traditions they keep and dreams for traditions we can start one day together for our Commonhouse. Best of all? With no tree to knock over, I have high hopes for my own stress-free Christmas. One way or another, I'll enjoy the break, the food, and my friends old and new.

Whatever Christmas means for you and yours, may it be a merry one. And let's get together in January. See you then?

Over and out. (That's Ken House all lit up!)

Vivian's multigrain cabbage rolls with curry sauce

Leaves of fresh cabbage grown with love
1cup brown rice cooked
1cup lentils cooked
1 cup red rice cooked
1 cup black beans cooked

(The above are cooked measurements, but I just cook them all together. If you end up with four cups of any mixture of grains and lentils you'll enjoy the finished product.)

1pm ground meat if you'd like

Sauce-

Dice an onion, three tomatoes, some garlic, ginger, and haram masala
Fry into a slop in oil.
Add fresh chopped cilantro and a can of crushed tomatoes.
Simmer while you make the rolls up. Before you begin placing the rolls in the casserole splash some into the bottom.

Steam the cabbage leaves until you can easily bend them.
Dump them in a pot of ice water and salt.
Mix the above lentils and grains with salt, pepper, cumin, and turmeric to taste
Place a leaf in front of you on a cutting board.
Add a scoop of lentil mixture
Fold in edges first, then roll.
Place in a greased casserole dish with a small amount of the curry sauce in the bottom
Every time you complete a layer of rolls, ad more sauce to the casserole

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Enjoy

Merry Christmas!

Bedtime Story by Ben

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 07:38:00 +0000

"Mommy," says the four year old boy from under his Grandma made dinosaur quilt.

"Yes Ben?" I'm already working on the presentation I have to give tomorrow in my head as I cuddle my kids goodnight.

"Now I want to tell YOU a bedtime story. From my head."

All I feel is lucky. Lucky and a little bit guilty that I'm working in my head instead of being in the moment. I snap back into place, "Oh! Good! I can't wait." I close my eyes and really listen.

"Once upon a time... In a land all the way on the other side of this planet... there was a village. And it had many many... zoos. And many many transformers. And many many dinosaurs that were mostly longnecks."

As he tells the story he begins to sit up until he is towering above me with a sparkle in his eyes. I just watch him with a smile on my face while he continues, "and they all had lot's and lot's of community dinners! Every night!"

"And was there a circus Ben?" my six year old asks from the other side of me. Each in their own bed, but sharing a room.

"Yeah!" Ben's eyes gleam, "A circus comes... every twenty days! And they come to community dinner too."

It's quiet for a bit. Ben settles back down in his covers.

"You forgot to say The End Ben." Sophie reminds him with her big sister voice.

"Oh Yeah. Right. The End."

I'd like to tell you that they then drifted off to sleep while I sang their favorite lullaby. The reality is they asked for water, got up to go to the bathroom, begged for a lullaby, argued over the lyrics, and I ended up counting to three and removing myself from the room with the threat of my return for a time out.

Not every moment in parenting is bliss. I guess that's why the part of the story where everyone from the land on the other side of the planet get to go to community dinners was such a wonderful treat for me. It was a little clue from my son that he is happy here. Long necks, transformers, impatient moms, and all.

That's all I have. Back to that presentation for tomorrow's meeting!

Sweet Dreams...

Published in Communities Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:46:00 +0000

Today was a really great day. The weather was nice, and the meeting was short! Good things got done and we left in good spirits. At the end of the meeting Linda brought to our attention the article I wrote that was recently published in the Communities magazine. It is funny how these things work out. It was actually published in the September Edition, but I've been so busy that I haven't really shown it to anyone. The message after the meeting today seems especially relevant, even to me. A nice reminder, I suppose, of why we're really here.

Article text below has been taken from my computer. I have fought with the scans of the article long enough! I'm off to make popcorn with my husband. Enjoy!

How Recreational Therapy Helps Fun Happen

Vivian Vaillant

One of the greatest truths that I realized about joining cohousing came too late. Thank God.

"Let's just go." I remember saying. Still in my jammies while laying, exhausted, cuddling my oldest who was sedated by the TV, "I'm so sick of racing around to get nowhere. There has to be a better way. I'm so done with the rat race."

"Okay. Email them." My husband was bouncing the baby on one knee and my son on the other with his eyes closed. He was trying to nap. The clean laundry from last week piled beside him on the coffee table, yet to be folded.

I think I'd expected some sort of fight. Some sort of anchor from my conventional husband to stop me from firing off the email that changed everything. The truth is that if I was tired of Paul working all the time- he was more tired. We both craved a simpler life. We wanted to have energy for the fun parts of life. We were sick to death of working all the time. A handful of emails and some heart to heart conversations and we found ourselves in Yarrow for Yarrow Days, and the first of a series of workshops which eventually lead to us buying into our new neighbourhood; Groundswell Cohousing at Yarrow Ecovillage. (near Chiliwack, British Columbia)

The Yarrow Ecovillage, our answer for a simpler life, turns out to be far from simple itself. The Ecovillage Society has done a nice job of structuring itself as the umbrella organization that oversees three primary responsibilities; supporting organic farming, fostering cohousing communities, and building a commercial district to enable people to work close to home. The wonderous variety of people we have attracted have mixed interest in these three parts. Some are farmers leasing land, others run businesses waiting for new commercial space to rent. Most of us live, or will live in either the multigenerational Groundswell, or the yet to be named Senior's Cohousing planned for the near future. We feel blessed that we've come on board in time to help build and grow our little village. While we're all so different, we share a common thread. We came to the village to enjoy a simpler, fuller life, and we're working hard to get there.

And let me assure you there is always work to be done. Certainly it has been more fun working with our new neighbours than it ever was on our own, however here comes the great truth. Are you ready?

Living in Cohousing will not make me less busy. If I'm not careful I will be more busy than I ever was. And here is the kicker. It's up to me to make sure it stays fun.

Enter Kara Cooper; Recreational Therapist.

About three years ago I met this "mom friend". We started hanging out when our daughters were two. I learned very quickly that Kara was special. Specifically I learned never to say "We should do that!" about anything I didn't actually have the energy to do or I'd find myself a short week later in the throws of whatever activity I'd laid claim to. Kara never understood that "We should do that!" in the normal world really means, "I'd love to do that but the truth is I'm too tired and disorganized to bother trying.” It was with Kara that I found myself on a two week camping trip with four kids two and under. Within a week of me expressing interest, the site was booked, the car was packed, and we were off. It was one of the best trip of my life, and some how I came back refreshed and ready to take on the world.

I can't begin to relay the number of amazing days Kara has planned for us. Things that might feel like work become events, rainy days are opportunities for blanket fort cities and garden work becomes time for wheel barrow obstacle courses for giggling kids. The work still gets done but noone seems to notice how.

When you comment, and people always do, Kara attributes her success in activity planning to her carreer in Recreational Therapy. According to the Canadian Recreational Therapy Accociation, Therapeutic Recreation is a profession which recognizes leisure, recreation and play as integral components of quality of life. Service is provided to individuals who have physical, mental, social or emotional limitations which impact their ability to engage in meaningful leisure experiences.

Very soon after Kara began to show me how recreation is key to my existance I began to remember times in my life where a good night out dancing left me more invigurated than a twelve hour sleep. Gone are the days of spontaneous frivolity. The kids took well care of that. Now it seems like a struggle to get anything onto the calandar that we all have energy for. But I know deep inside it does us all good to get out of our daily routines. Oh but the exhaustion!

I know I'm not alone. Now that we have a village to build it seems like every spare moment needs to be multi-tasked. Everything has to be about the village. Work parties allow socialisation- but the projects have to get done. Meals allow social activity- but you still have to eat. Very soon you can find yourself completely surrounded by have to's, instead of want to's.

So how do you consciously keep a community from drowning in meetings and work parties? I find that every one needs at least one truly frivolous experience a week to keep going. For some people that can be board games and beer, others might need to get out into nature. I also find it very useful to drag community members out of the village for off-site activity. Truth be told there are so many ways to have fun and so many people who need to have fun we all need to work together to provide each other with mulitple outlets from which we can pick and choose. It doesn't always happen easily. Sometimes we have to very consciously create fun in our lives- the same way we have to make time to weed gardens and get laundry done. With time and practice everyone can become an event planner for their own community.

In Recreational Therapy there are three ways a person is thought to get somthing out of the experience of an event; looking forward to, participating in, and looking back on the experience. Each of these can allow people to get the most out the events you plan.

Don't know where to start? I have some sugestions inspired by my personal Recreational Therapist for you here. Not every community is lucky enough to have a professional Rec Therapist on hand, but we can all learn to incorporate these simple behaviors into our own lives in order to intentionally provide more fun in our lives.

Jump to the pump. The next time people are sitting around talking about how great it would be to do something, be the person to pull out the calandar and book it! Don't worry about the greater community just yet. Try and find a date that works for those of you in the initial discussion.

Record great ideas. If no date can be found, stick the idea into a “Fun Day Jar”. While we still await our common house, one of my great plans for the mail room is an easy to access jar with an attached pen and index cards. When an idea comes that we can use right away we can flesh out as much of the idea as possible on a card and stick it in the jar. Even as I write this I wonder if we'll ever use the ideas we collect, but it will give us a place to store our passionate ideas, and remind us to take a break. It will also be a great tool for our Social team.

Branch out. Once a date for the event has been planned, invite as many people as you can think of. It's in our nature to assume other people are too busy to come out and play. I've found that it never hurts to try. Email is not nearly as effective as in person. An announcment at a community meeting or on a billboard helps, but a knock on the door ensures more people will take time to come out. Another thing we all do is accidentally write people off before we've asked. If a family has never participated before, invite them anyways. One day they may surprise you and themselves.

Speak often about the event in positive light. Remind people that it is coming and discuss the parts you are most looking forward to. Try not to dwell on the work that it will take to make it happen, but rather the joy it will bring when the day arrives.

Let it be simple for your guests. If you are planning an event, people will naturally feel they should help. If someone has a specific contribution they would like to ad, welcome it and say thankyou- but otherwise be okay to answer the question “What can I do to help?” with, “Just come and have fun!”. Take joy from the fact that you are treating your neighbours to a work-free night.

Don't let busy people discourage you. Okay. You may not get the turn out you'd like. And some events like a thrift shopping trip may be designed for a small and specific group. The size of the group matters less than the fun the group has. If you have ten people interested and three people show up GO ANYWAY! Have fun and talk about it with others. Soon enough people will get the bigger picture and be more willing to drop the work and have a little fun.

Go the extra mile. Instead of just making Sushi, find some Japanese music and supply an oragami craft aswell. On a thrift shopping trip for the moms insist on starting with diner out and have a contest for the tackiest find. Try to have something for each of the fives senses; taste, sight, smell, touch, sound. While not every event will allow you to think this way it helps to start somewhere.

Take and post pictures. The internet has been a double edged sword for this step. In some ways it has made it so much easier to share photos with friends and family but it depersonalizes the experience. The best luck I've seen for this step is the old fashioned bill board. Take pictures, choose a handful and print them. Print doubles and give copies to the people in the photos. Kara has been doing this for me for years. I have so many of them I have taken to taping them into the insides of my cupboard doors. When I go to put things away- there we are smiling out from our adventures. It makes us remember to plan more.

Go to events planned by others. Say Thank you. I know more than once I would have preferred to stay home from any one of Kara's events. I go becuase I know she's worked hard to plan it. And you know? I always end up having much more fun with her than I would snuggling my remote control.

If meetings are the only way to get people's attention right now try having a guest speaker in for a quick ten minute participation session. Some great topics for this is Laughter Yoga, Belly Dancing, a synopsis of really cool seminar a community member took. Chances are that a number of people may enjoy themselves so much they'll respond when you invite them to a longer class.

Vivian Vaillant is a neighbour in waiting at The Yarrow Ecovillage, meaning she is an active member of the community still waiting for her home to be built. Vivian enjoys the one mile living aspect of the Ecovillage and expects her green-built home will be ready for occupancy January 1, 2012. www.yarrowecovillage.ca

Ask Five Ecovillagers Question 1

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 05:40:00 +0000

Hello out there! I greet you from my comfortable Poang Chair from Ikea. A cup of tea is getting cold beside me as I get a few things sorted out online. I've done all my work for the night and so I get to do something I have been waiting to do for a very long time...

Introducing my very own "Blog Segment". The idea of this Blog was that it would be a mixture of several voices. Ann, the first blogger wanted to engage many people from Groundswell Cohousing to write about their different lives here. The thought was that we could show the world how many different people live here. The truth of the matter is that my neighbours are all pretty busy planning and enjoying our community. While they'd like to write regular Blog posts they don't have time. And so I thought it would be nice to give people an easier way to have a voice here.

Ask Five Ecovillagers will run a random question that I've personally been asked past five random neighbours. Here's hoping you'll enjoy the responses. And hey! If you have a question you'd like asked please send it in. Just use the contact us button and forward the question ATTENTION VIVIAN.

Drum roll please....

Five Random Ecovillagers were asked;

How are you schooling your Children?

1. I don't have school age children however I am a supporter of the public school system.

2. I am homeschooling. I had been working as a teacher and enjoy being with children a lot. When my son indicated that he was not ready to go to school, we decided to teach him at home. It has been going well for us. Our younger children have also enjoyed the educational exposure.

3. My 6 year old is goes to Yarrow Elementary School. It is a nice little school, and I love that we can walk there each morning. It is nice to feel that we are getting to know some of our neighbours who don't live at the ecovillage, too.

4. No Kidlets... yet :)

5. I like the idea of home schooling but I have no patience for it; I'd end up eating my young.

If you have a question you would like us to ask five random ecovillagers please email it through our contact us button and stay tuned!

A break in the rain

noreply@blogger.com (Beverly) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:07:00 +0000

Does Consensus Make Sense?

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:18:00 +0000

Yep... We use Consensus to build our Ecovillage. We don't vote on things. We don't leave the powers that be alone in a room to make up their minds. We use this confusing, bizarre, admittedly-difficult-to-understand-at-first system they introduced to my husband and I as "Consensus".

We were given a ten page excerpt from a book to read by Diana Leaf Christian. I now know that she is the author of two amazing books; "Finding Community" and "Creating a Life Together". At the time I remember wondering how any of this mumbo jumbo could actually work. It seemed very unusual and (okay I admit it!) flaky. No one is the leader? Every one is the leader! Everyone will agree in the end?...! Sound powerful? Sound EFFECTIVE?????

Some days I have my doubts. Sometimes I think we're all sunk. We're regularly dealing with issues that have multi-facited points of view. No single answer ever satisfies everyone. We all admit wholeheartedly that we need to get better at Consensus. Hey! This is the first ecovillage any of us have ever built right? And aren't we all human? So I offer an insight into what Consensus can be when it is used with skill and passion.

I (my husband found it!) bumped into this video on the Wonderfully Wide Web and I realized that we aren't yet perfect... but our system sure might be. We all just need to learn more every day about how to use the darn thing, and we all need to remember that none of us have it all figured out yet. Being new at something isn't always my forte... But after seeing this video I'm a willing student!

My friends, and friends to be... I give you Consensus in a large scale setting.

December Rental is rented!

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 16:05:00 +0000

This home has been rented! We look forward to getting to know our new- potential neighbours very soon!

For Rent December 2011

Wondering what it is like to live at the Yarrow Ecovillage? Here is an opportunity to rent a home at the Ecovillage for your winter holidays!

· Short-term rental only (for the entire or partial month of December).

· $1000/month includes all utilities/internet.

· Beautiful timber frame home with a gorgeous view of the farmland and Vedder Mountain.

· Fully furnished, 3 bedrooms, sleeps up to 7.

· Suitable for singles to families (includes toys for the kids).

Contact Tamara or Joel at 778 374-0321 or tamara.bonnemaison@gmail.com

NutShell Niblets #31- September 21, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (ann) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:21:00 +0000

Ann's very personal, highly biased and incomplete guide to the ecovillage ... in a nutshell, and with ~~only a little,~~ a lot of no hyperbole.

It’s ages since I wrote a newsletter from Yarrow Ecovillage. It’s about time, I would say! How are you going to know what’s going on here, unless someone tells you?? And I like it to be me, because that way I can say whatever I like (… and you can delete it, if that suits.)

New neighbors moving in--- Oh, frabjous day!

Our two latest buildings are finished and five families are moving into their very own spiffy, new homes. And beautiful they are! As well, some have moved out of temporary quarters, and others have moved into those vacated spaces. The intricacy of these maneuverings could look daunting to the uninitiated. I heard one child ask his mum which home he’d left his shoes in--- # 4, his old home? or #12, the Quad -his temporary home? or #2 , his new one? I’m not downplaying the disruption that has been happening for many families as they settle in here. But it is also true that the nature of cohousing means that no-one bears the stress and pain of moving here, without the support and care of their neighbours.

The kids are scampering in and out of each other’s homes as much as they ever did. There’re always willing hands ready to lift heavy boxes. And neighbours who will clean and sweep at the drop of a hat.

I love to look out my windows at night and see the new houses lit with families for the first time. Figures moving around in rooms full of piled boxes. I see Linda unpacking, putting glasses? mugs? into kitchen cupboards.

My new neighbours, my new friends, already so dear and familiar, they seem like old ones, too.

Our two farms – Ohm and Osprey Organics --Both farms report great successes this year.

I pop down to the gardens see for myself, what’s doing today. Nevin is weeding pathways with a wheel hoe. We stand together in the sun, warm by the greenhouse and looking over the rows of vegetables, still going strong. White cabbage moths flit and land, disappearing into the white arugula flowers to become them, for a moment.

Nevin’s face beams with pride when he tells me what’s gone so well this year---- Having happy customers who’ve shared this year’s vegies with friends and family, and now those folks too, wanting to sign up for their own vegetable box programme. It’ll have to be next year’s, now. He reaches into the arugula to pull out a seedpod and strokes and opens it with his thumb, to show me the seeds inside. “I hope for some dry weather to finish these off. “ he says.

He and the other farmers are expanding into bigger fields on the other side of the creek; it’s already plowed and ready for cover-crops. Nevin tells me that he designs it all on the computer… 128 small beds are plotted Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough; GM Hopkins with soil conditions noted, succession crops planned, successes and failures recorded. With my own new expertise on the computer, I’m guessing all he has to do to expand his operations from his current ½ acre to next year’s 2 ½ acres, is push the keyboard buttons ‘zoom’ and ‘save’. Farming has become so much easier now, farmers hardly have to go outside :>)

Nevin finishes me off, by taking me into the greenhouse for a gourmet cherry tomato taste-testing. Hmmm! Which are the best? The ‘Black Cherry’ are sweet, juicy bursting nuggets of flavour… the next, ‘Solid Gold’ yellow grape tomatoes are too… and little red ‘Apero’, as well.

That was easy!

So, all is well on the farm, and will be better even, next year.

Waste Water treatment --- Let’s all flush!

I could tell you a lot about the inner workings of our wastewater treatment system. I know details of the new tanks, pumps and pipes. I know how magnificently it’ll serve the village--- for a total of 50 households, and more shops than we have room for. And I could describe the current ugliness, noise and odour of the tanks … soon to be landscaped with bushes and little boys playing, sound-proofed and with the smell buried and eliminated.

But really, I couldn’t care less--- I just want to flush.

Hang on! The constructed marsh we’ll have next summer in the back pasture… there’s the exception to my lack of septic-enthusiasm. Finishing off our wastewater in natural-looking pond with bulrushes, reeds and ducks. It won’t be perfect. That really does make my heart sing!

Eating Together

Whatever else is happening, there is a happy coming-together on the evenings when we break bread and have dinner as a group. We’re dying for our common house, but lacking one, doesn’t stop us from creating that same sense of place and belonging in other manifestations. If anyone had told me ahead, that some of my best community sharing times would be in a building called the ‘bunker silo’ I’d have been amazed. It was used to store haybales in the hay-heyday of the old dairy farm. Now it is humble, (clean), and has a warmth of charm you’ll have to come and experience for yourself. Come soon for dinner! In the cooler, wetter weather we’ll move into homes for smaller gatherings. But either way, you’re just as welcome.

Compassionate Communication Workshop and the Return of Chuck- our cohousing guru

If you’re a friend of the ecovillage, or a warm acquaintance, you’re invited to learn Non-Violent Communication ( NVC) along with us at a workshop spanning two Sundays --- Oct 16^th and 23^rd, taught by Raj Gill from SFU.

Some of us are practiced at NVC and others are total beginners, but for all of us, it is our commitment to better communication. It works in all sorts of aspects in life, not just intentional community life. (I’m planning to inflict it on both my mother and my daughters… check in with me later to see how I’m improving :>). Perhaps I need to rethink the word ‘inflict’?

And Chuck Durrett is coming back in November for another of his workshops to get us ship-shape and tuned up for the next building phase. You could come to that, too. We’re nothing if not welcoming and open. All you need is time (a rare commodity, that’s true!) But a well-functioning ecovillage with room to grow, is rare too! Think about that!

Write back for more details.

Stewart Creek

Earlier this year, we embarked on a rehabilitation project with the Dept. of Fisheries and other willing partners, to remove blackberries and restore native habitat along the north side of the creek. And it’s working just fine … as long as you remember there’re canes coming back, that‘ll need removing. (We can do that… softer ground after rain, will help.)

In a conspiracy of good fortune, the City of Chilliwack has also stepped in (literally, stepped into the creek). The verges along the creek have been trimmed and cleared. And the water course has been mucked out, to clear the central channel, freeing it of choking canary grass.

It was interesting how they did the muck-raking. I stopped the workers and asked them. They cleared all the water creatures bigger than my little fingernail, out of a stretch of creek, using two electrically-charged paddles. The paddles started together, and then as they moved apart, they herded the creatures out of that section of creek. Then the digger pulled out the mud and beer bottles in a long strip, but leaving an untouched strip too, so that when the fish and critters were released back in there, there would be food and hiding habitat for them.

One of the workers showed me a picture on his phone of a cutthroat trout he’d netted, hanging head and tail over two palms held side by side. Precious beauty, held. I can’t decide whether I’d be pleased if, after it’s happy return to the creek, our resident herons caught it for dinner, or I’d be upset. What’s to be done with inconsistent and conflicting values? Sit on the bridge to dangle one’s legs and consider them, I suppose.

Snakes in the Village --- (every village has ‘em) (the snakes and ladders of outrageous fortune)

Internet Explanation: From Hamlet -"The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" and it just means all the stuff life has to throw at you.

(I actually like snakes and their use for metaphors is legion.)

Snakes are the worries and concerns we all have, that live and hide in holes and slither out at night, only to be gone in the morning. But you know they’re still there. The worries I’m referring to, are about financial security, the (un)predictability of outcomes, conflicts of fairness and a possible inability to connect and be heard, when it would seem to be most important.

We don’t kid ourselves that we don’t have snakes in this village. And I know you don’t kid yourselves that there’s any other place you can go to be guaranteed safe from them, either. We live in a world that seems more fraught with uncertainty than ever. And we are human. And a developing village has extra uncertainties than your average suburb does, until it settles down.

And that is happening. These new neighbours arriving now, are the settling forces. They bring strengths and talents and renewing energy. And with that support, we’re now able to turn our attention and care to the specific concerns we’ve been harbouring, in unintended secrecy, that somehow this village won’t be able to hold all together and progress onwards, in a shared vision of an eco-community.

In recent constructive times of building and moving in, we’ve focused necessary attention on ‘getting it built’. We’ve made lots of decisions in a rapid, progressive, but sometimes confusing way.

Right now, we are going through a deliberate exercise of exorcising. Slowing down. Paying careful attention. Pulling out those confusions and uncertainties in order to examine, understand, honour and then diminish them. Revisiting our agreements from the past- how to reinforce their strength? Poring through financial statements --- what do choices do they offer us? Hearing the stories of those who came before- what can we learn? Making space for newcomers – how do we best incorporate their capacities? Listening to those we’ve been closed to- gaining new appreciation and insight.

It’s hard to do, but harder not to. It’s like the creek-clearing. The muck from the bottom is piled along the banks … it’s rich and dark and full of nutrients and goodness. The creek needs the clearing and the new trees need the fertilising.

There’s an inherent irony … it takes a certain base of security from which to examine and draw out the forces of insecurity. And I believe that courage to live in uncertainty builds trust, and that allows beauty, and beauty is the door to mindfulness, which brings peace and security.

That’s what I believe. And a light is shining.

There’s lots of welcome for you here, should you like to visit. We won’t be trying to convince you of anything.

Poem(s) of the Day – I’m sharing you favourites , this time.

Choshu

The moon in the water;

Broken and broken again,

Still it is there.

A Warning to My Readers

Wendell Berry

Do not think me gentle

because I speak in praise

of gentleness,

or elegant

because I honour the grace

that keeps this world. I am

a man as crude as any,

gross of speech, intolerant,

stubborn, angry, full

of fits, and furies. That I

may have spoken well,

at times, is not natural.

A wonder is what it is.

What is cohousing anyways?

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 05:55:00 +0000

So what is Cohousing anyways?

Good Question. Cohousing is kind of a funny word isn't it? I thought so the first time I heard it. I knew what I was looking for, but had written off this funny term "cohousing" as perhaps being too extreme for me. Images of communes and sharing my paycheque stopped me from checking it out.

What I wanted?

When I was twenty, a group of us in University dreamed about buying an old three story walk up apartment in the down town area. Our thought was that we'd each get our own unit on one of the upper levels, and then all of the lower level suites would be reconfigured into a large common area. The idea back then was to have a big pool table, BIG screen TV, craft and study space, a little bar (it was University after all) and a nice kitchen for preparing one big meal together instead of 20 lonely ones. We all wanted to have more private space than being room mates allowed, but none of us really wanted to live alone. This seemed to be the perfect fit.

Years Later

Needless to say as a bunch of twenty-year old students we were limited to dreaming by our extreme lack of funds. Years later, with three kids and a husband, I found myself eating one of 70,000 lonely suppers in the little town we were in demanding more out of my life. In the end I found cohousing.

Cohousing is a resident designed community that balances private ownership and thriving public spaces. Most include a resident designed "common house" with features they as a community decide they will make the most use of. Most have a community hall feel with guest room space and an awesome children's play area. It is through the process of building the community together that what would be just neighbours next door become well known friends. It is through thoughtful design that the buildings support both the private family time and ongoing, enriched connection within the surrounding neighbourhood. One thing is certain. While we all will bump into pockets of community throughout our lives (hockey teams, the five years you lived in that great cul de sac, a good book club that you used to find time for), a really tightly knit community is something you have to plan for and commit to.

Things we've done to support community and private life:

-Front porches allow people to sit and visit where people walk by. They are an excellent community building tool. (When not overshadowed by a giant garage!) Back porches and small private yards give you a place to sit without the whole community showing up to join you.

-Parking near the Common house instead of in a private driveway means you have to walk past the "Hub" before going home. This might mean you'll get roped into a fun project later on in the evening, or at least say hi a few times on your way home. The "Hub" gives people a place to be when they want to be around people, so your private home does little to no large group entertaining. Perhaps a pot of tea shared with a good friend, or dinner with visitors from afar, but there is no need to have 12 neighbours in your home at a time.

-Kitchen Windows facing the front of the home allows people to see people passing when their up and about. No one feels like popping their head out to chat half way through a good TV show. We put the living rooms near the back.

- Gardens all placed together help bring people together over a common passion. It also makes it easier to get garden-sitting services while you're away camping.

-A great shared indoor and outdoor play space gives kids and cooped up moms an easy place to pop out and find other kids to play with. Gone are the days of planning and driving for a playdate, though you'll always have friends in the rest of the city you'll still have to plan and drive to see.

Our Cohousing Projects are designed by Kathryn McCamant and Charles Durrett who will one day be known as the parents of cohousing in North America. Together with their team of careful architects they have taken our wishes and dreams about how we want to live together and turned them into a reality one group workshop at a time. While we still have about a zillion decisions to make, we know we're building something we'll love to live in.

And the cohousing is only one part of our project. We're doing our best to create one mile living by providing farm land and work spaces for families who want to come here. Combine that with the walkability and resources of greater Yarrow and this eclectic mix of farm life and city is truly heaven on earth. (and I get to live here! Tee Hee!)

Below is a link to Tocoma Village's website. They highlight what is called "The elevator speech" It's a pretty great way to explain cohousing to newcomers.

http://www.takomavillage.org/wordpress/cohousing/what-is-cohousing-the-elevator-speech/

Introducing Ingrid!

noreply@blogger.com (Viv) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 02:25:00 +0000

We've been somewhat hit and miss in remembering to welcome our newest neighbours on the blog as they come. As it goes in real life, we're pretty busy around here. I'm going to share with you the story of one of our newest members now, and hopefully get the opportunity to tell other stories over time.

Ingrid's story makes me laugh. Mostly because of how graceful her landing has been. Before finding Groundswell cohousing I imagine Ingrid lived in a pretty normal (even beautiful judging by her tastes!) home. She probably had a lot of time to herself, and more than enough personal space. I think she was probably a very typical single empty nester. Working days, enjoying her grandchildren, and such. Life was probably very peaceful before us- but I think we win for joyful chaos.

The first time I met Ingrid was at the community garage sale back in May. She had been around the ecovillage a few times before that, but being that I live in Edmonton, it was my first chance to meet her. She arrived with a van full of beautiful things ready for her garage sale table. She was neat and clean, and kind. I liked her instantly. By the end of the day she had decided she wanted to move here, and I don't think a week went by before her things were moved into the smallest unit available in what we call the "Quad". She will live there until her two bedroom unit is ready for her.

That was fast. I should mention that most people don't move this quickly. For some people, including my family, the decision to jump into cohousing takes longer than that. Wrapping one's head around real community, the joys, and possible pains that come with it takes time. It also usually takes time for a unit to be built, or come available, so Ingrid's story is already quite unique.

And with such grace did Ingrid leap! First, let me tell you about the Quad. We built the Quad a year ago, and to our knowledge it is a new feature for cohousing. The quad is a Strata in itself, meaning each person owns their own unit. Two upper units that are about 650 sq ft (Correct me folks, is that right?) and two lower units measuring 400 sq ft. Each unit has a private bathroom, bedroom, and living quarters, but share a kitchen, dining room, and living room. On top of that, the residents of the quad can also access the main common house and the rest of the common facilities in the neighbourhood. Mini cohousing within cohousing so to speak. It was designed for people that would normally not be able to get into the housing market, and also for people who want to have the enjoyment of room mates while still have enough private space. Let me tell you this; the quad is a special place. It is full of energy and life. People come and go, probably more than Quad livers might like for the moment. There is almost always something cooking in their kitchen, and a large amount of laughter that floats out the windows. Ingrid went from living on her own, to sharing a house with three other people who would have seemed unlikely room mates in any other place. Okay- one part of the Quad is being used as office space right now- but they're still room mates, and that's a story for another day.

So my story continues. I arrived back at the village at the end of July. Ingrid has been settled in for a couple months at this point.

The first day after my arrival Ingrid has already offered her tiny but gorgeously kept home for children to bathe and play in. Right away I note that her bookshelf houses nearly every great book ever written about cohousing. She's done her research.

The second day one of the other mother's and I decide we'll go berry picking. We plan on taking a third mom's children with us while she works on installing her floors with her husband. Hoping to even out the adult to child ratio a bit, we invite Ingrid, who jumps right in. Literally. She ends up sitting between two car seats and the smile never leaves her face. She helps pick berries amongst the chaos of 8 children and at the end of it tells us how well behaved our kids are! Music to every mother's ears!

The third day a group of us plan to meet about our "marketing strategy". Ingrid tags along and takes notes.

The fourth day I find her and another room mate up late making gourmet popcorn. 2:00 am would seem late anywhere but the quad, but not for Ingrid! She's busily transcribing the notes from the day before while laughing and drinking wine.

Not a week later Ingrid averts a near melt-down for me and my kids. My husband has now flown home and I'm on my last straw. We're in her home for bath time and I catch her snuggled up with my three rug rats reading stories. She buys me enough time to actually have my own shower AND a cup of tea. My children finish up a story about the little engine that could and then choo! choo! all the way back to our tent trailer.

Ingrid and several other neighbours show up in the barn for an impromptu dinner with some potential new comers. She delights us all with a story about her day that begins with, "Let me tell you all what an amazing place we live!" She regales us with stories about all her errands throughout the day and how people kept giving her free gourmet delights. She is gleeful.

My daughter falls in love with Ingrid's sweet little doll's house. Ingrid shares it with her openly. Sophie sits for hours playing on Ingrid's floor. Ingrid also gets roped in to performing and song and dance with my daughter. Over the next week I see her perform the routine on three separate occasions. Sophie adores her for this.

Ingrid's daughter comes to visit. She has been away in Bhutan amongst other places. Her, her daughter, and some of her daughter's friends show up around the campfire one night with ice cream and organic blueberries. We invent a new tasty treat now known as the full moon. A full moon is when you stuff blueberries and ice cream into the center of a roasted marshmellow and stuff it in your mouth. You really ought to try one. It'll make you howl, or really fat. not sure which.

Another near melt down. Ingrid joins me and my three overheated children at the spray deck where she leaves me in a spot of shade while she entertains my children on the swings and in the water for over an hour.

Ingrid's Granddaughter visits. Ingrid helps a gaggle of children "surprise the grown ups" by making us lunch, and insists on cleaning up too!

Throughout all of this Ingrid comes and goes. She has other friends and family in the area that keep her busy. One can't be certain if Ingrid will be home or not- but when she's home, she's all in. No matter what we throw at her.

Welcome Ingrid! It's a pleasure to know you!