The News from Four Quarters

NewsLogo Building, planting and planning. Sharing ceremony and good, home raised food.
Oddities in the weather and how the orchard did.
Observations on the Global Crisis.
Earth Spirit and Earth Living.
These are all parts of the News from Four Quarters. Enjoy.

August 5, 2019

Big Dub – The Road Less Traveled

Night Life at Big Dub 2019

We went to Big Dub this year to help out and experience it for a first time. We where a little worried about what kind of experience we where in for. Would we fit in or stand out? Exactly how crowded would it be? I’m not too sure about this music or all these young adults half my age. Would they respect the land and each other? Was there magic to be found?

We arrived on the land super early Wednesday morning and where greeted by security guards who immediately knew we where Farmies. Guess it was grey hair that gave us away LOL. We had arranged ahead of time to camp on the periphery, remembering the Gaian Mind days where the music NEVER stopped …. BOOM, BOOM, BOOM OMG. This turned out to be a great idea for Maura’s sanity, although we realized there was quiet time and we could rest easily. We shuttled back and forth into camp as we needed fairly easily.

We spent very little time in the crowds at the stage, just kinda hanging back and watching the vibe blossom. I enjoyed most of the music even though it’s not my favor, Maura loved it. The lack of judgement on body image and flavor was impressive. There was Big Love to everyone and all where respected. They care for each other, look out for each other and jump in to help each other without even having to ask. Everyone was extraordinarily open and friendly.

August 1, 2019

Rocks!

     Our Pennsylvania Quarry opened a new vein of stone last year that is now producing the largest stone we have ever had access to, the stone above measuring over 18 feet long. These stones are of the same black and reddish staining that we have used for the South West and North West quadrants, and will be used when we continue with the main circle.
     This is the same quarry that produced the Great North Stone that was raised in 2017, a stone which came from a different bed at the quarry that shears in a thinner plane and is of a beige body coloring. It is this kind of stone that will be used for the North Copse over the next 3-4 years.

     Because of the road washout last year we were not able to get any more of this beige stone to continue with the North Copse, but our quarry-men spent the season setting aside select stones from this beige bedding. And this week we brought the first load home!

July 24, 2019

Rainbow Bridge Fundraiser

Part of the experience of Four Quarters is seeing what’s new each year. Roads, buildings, and more. In 2015 Four Quarters purchased New Camp and has been working ever since to make this land available for regular use. Scrub was replanted in pasture, roads built, and last fall a deep well like we have in Main Camp.

One of the greatest joys of Four Quarters is that “A River Runs Through It.” But if you haven’t noticed, climate change has brought weird & unpredictable weather with it. Fifteen years ago places where we could reliably walk across the river on stones are now reliably underwater!

July 22, 2019

Drum & Splash 2019

Djimbe workshop w Erro Gutshall, Drum N Splasn 2019

We had a truly lovely, fun and funky, more intimate, drier Drum ‘N’ Splash for 2019. The weather was much more cooperative, and the Thunder Nation thankfully spared us deluges, in favor of a few passing blessings. We’ll take it!

We can’t say enough about our presenters, who went over the top to make the event a blast for everyone attending. Ken Crampton was the everywhere man with healthy doses of delightful lunacy to delight all comers, including duck herding. Newcomer Nina Amaya stepped up and into the Casbah and more than represented for the Middle Eastern Side of Drum and Dance, and the Faeries!. In addition to the usual Native American sounds, Kurt Griffith also introduced Japanese Taiko to Drum ’N’ splash, and his workshop students bravely demonstrated Miyake Daiko at the Saturday Night Drum Circle with fierce thunder! Kudos and huge gratitude to Billy West, Kristen Arant and the ladies of Belebele, Kewku Owusu, Erro Gutshall, and Gloria Mahin. Thank you all so much for your talent, creativity, and improvisational chops.

July 20, 2019

Big Dub Sweat Lodge & Volunteering

Swet lodge site at Four Quarters. Prepping cereminy, fire & stones set

We are going to be sweating at Big Dub! Earlier in the season, we constructed a new sweat lodge in New Camp alongside the river to provide ceremony for guests on the New Camp side. We will be having ceremony on Thursday afternoon of Big Dub to inaugurate the New Camp Lodge. Then we will relocate back to Main Camp Sweat Site for what will be an honorary theme camp for ceremonies on Friday & Saturday. We expect to do at least two midday and afternoon lodges both days, and fires will be set at the end of Quiet time. The Welcome fire will be lit into the night for stories, songs, drumming and chilling.

June 27, 2019

Wickerman Burn 2019

The Burn, Wickerman 2019 - Photo by Sam Featherman

We had a lovely and sweet, downsized, "roll-your-own" Wickerman for 2019. The weather conditions could not have been more optimal. The people were just wonderful and a pleasure to have. The Fireworks were fabulous. Wonderful sweet sweat ceremonies. Rockin DJ. The burn was literally blazin', absolutely magnificent. With perfect weather, good hands to help, and a little... pyromaniac encouragement. Very happy and flamey!

The addition of the recently completed Rainbow Bridge made it possible to have the event neatly connected across both sides of the creek, and the bridge was just spectacular in the glow of the mighty Nightbuster 4000!

But don't take our word for it, here's what some of our attendees had to say -

June 14, 2019

Bull!

Meet Mr Garth. He’s a bull.

Everyone has needs, and if we want our herd of Scottish Highland cattle to produce a crop of calves next spring, they have needs too. A bull to be precise. And soon.

Enter Mr. Garth. An experienced four year old bull from Hills and Hollar Farms who will be arriving at Four Quarters in a week or so.

The News from Four Quarters

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