Mountain Musings Community Address |
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This email of Mountain Musing - A Community Address, is intended give you additional information and insights into the community of The Mountain and what we have been up to these past few months. |
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What's Growing Down Below From The Many Hands Peace Farm |
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Despite the ambient chaotic times, the farm is turning along nicely. We’ve crossed the equinox threshold, and the forest is waking up. We just finished putting up the new siding on our greenhouse, using locally harvested black locust. And boy did it come at a nice time. We’ve got sprouts of broccoli, kale, chard and arugula emerging in a world all their own. In addition to starting some annuals we can start to see some perennials come back in the food forest and other areas. We are seeing ramps re-emerge in the food forest, stinging nettle patches come back, rhubarb poking its head up, and cherry blossoms showing their stuff. This is going to be a great year for the food forest as we put in a lot more plants and get to see the benefits of increased light as we continue to cut some of the black locust back. This spring we’ve looked beyond The Mountain for some good foraging opportunities. We’ve harvested some Japanese knotweed shoots; which we are now branding as Asian rhubarb because of its sour taste. It pairs nicely sautéed with apples. We’ve made a fair amount of pesto from wild violet, onion grass, purple dead nettle, and chickweed greens. And we're still going out on morel and ramp expeditions. If you're local we're potting up plants like comfrey, hops, horseradish, raspberries and nettles for sale, along with our eggs! I made a personal goal to break my record of 8 pounds of onion grass in a day, and I managed to harvest 13 pounds from The Mountain property for dehydrating and use in the kitchen. We look forward to growing with spring and investing in the land which tends to give back tenfold. Feeling thankful and grounded at this time. Hope you are well out there and get a chance to enjoy connecting a little deeper with the nature just outside your front door. Here are some movie recommendations as well for you in this time of self quarantine: INHABIT, a documentary on the topics of new models of ecological living and permaculture, released for free at this time: http://inhabitfilm.com/ And a movie worth supporting especially at this time as well: Fantastic Fungi! https://fantasticfungi.com/connect/ - Joey Kyle, MHPF Manager |
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We are so incredibly stoked to welcome Miranda aka Mo on board at the farm. Mo’s been working on farms and living in the Charleston area for some time. She’s excited to call The Mountain home and grow some veggies out the wazoo. |
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Miranda Saunders | Field Manager | Many Hands Peace Farm New to the Mountain community, Miranda relocated from her home in the low-country of South Carolina, and joined us at the end of March 2020. Raised in the rural town of Walterboro, SC and the descendant of homesteaders and commercial farmers, she has spent the last seven years living in downtown Charleston, SC. There she earned a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology at the College of Charleston, a study which sparked her interest in the relationship between subsistence methods and the structure of our modern society. With years of experience working in organic vegetable and herb production and marketing, Miranda comes to the Mountain with the hope of collaborating to grow, make, and share healthful, earth-based food and medicine. She is convinced that community- and nature-based, permaculture-style living systems are the most sustainable design for human communities. In addition to farming, Miranda nurses interest in energetic medicine, herbalism, spiritual studies, and personal art therapy. Joining Miranda is her partner, Ryan O'Reilly, who is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and has spent many years living in Charleston, SC. Ryan has a degree in Studio Art from CofC, years of experience in Charleston's lively food service industry, and longstanding involvement in a community of underground artists and musicians. He is glad for the opportunity to experience the Mountain and has taken on the role of Poultry Manager at Many Hands Peace Farm. Ryan enjoys music, art, and philosophical and spiritual studies. |
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Kitchen Confidential From our Dining Hall to Your Kitchen |
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Quarantine Cooking Edition: Up here on The Mountain we're all getting focused on what's important, and for me in the kitchen, that means...cookies. ;) The dining hall is quiet, but we're still making sure that our volunteers who are hard at work on repairs and housekeeping are happy and fed. In addition to looking after our bodies with nourishing, immunity-building foods, I think we can agree that a homemade chocolate chip cookie does wonders for the soul right now. So I'd like to share the Tuft family chocolate chip cookie recipe for you to share with your family or treat yourself right now. Be warned, in the Tuft family, a regular batch is a double batch. So you can either reduce the recipe or make some space in the freezer for unbaked dough to bake later or baked cookies. *Pro-tip: Sandwiching your favorite ice cream between two frozen cookies takes this to the next level. Tuft Chocolate Chip Cookies Sift together and set aside: - 3 c flour + 6 T all-purpose flour - 1.5 t baking soda - 1.5 t baking soda - 1.5 t salt Cream together with an electric mixer, wooden spoon or fork: - 1.5 c shortening/butter/coconut oil - 3/4 c white sugar - 3/4 c packed brown sugar - 3/4 c brown & white sugar, mixed Add the following to the creamed fat & sugars: - 3 eggs, one at a time Slowing add the flour mix to the egg & sugar mixture, then add: - 2 t vanilla -12oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool on cookie tray for 3 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. I'd love to hear how it goes and see some photos of your cookies or other things you're whipping up at home right now! Head over to The Mountain Facebook Page and show us what you're up to. Peace, Love and Chow ~ Jenn Tuft PS: The Mountain Kitchen is currently in search of team members for the 2020 season. If you or someone you know loves cooking, working in a team and supporting The Mountain's mission, please email me at Kitchen.Manager@TheMountainRLC.org |
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We recently were graciously invited to talk about The Mountain during a UUCO Congregational Live Stream on Zoom during the March quarantine. The topic was on Landscapes as Spiritual Places — and The Mountain! We were honored by UUCO who felt called to invite us to speak on the sense of connection and growth from the natural beauty and wealth of environments like The Mountain. During the service our Program Director, Megan Van Der Linde, even got to read a story to the children online called "Have You Seen the Trees?" We hope you will come to see our trees again soon! |
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We would look forward to the opportunity to present and share with more UU Congregations while services continue to be online. Have your congregation reach out to us to inquire about having Staff from The Mountain drop in for a Q/A. Contact our Development Department for further connection. Matthew.Demond@TheMountainRLC.org |
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For UU Churches we've also put together a MoutainCamp Google Slides show that you can share with your Congregation. There is also a downloadable half sheet camp date flyer that can be printed and shared with your congregation, via bulletin board, or as a hand out. View The MountainCamp Presentation |
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We are looking for you! Building a Mountain Network Quarantine time to many has been a time to invest in yourself, turn inward, and further develop what you want to bring to the world. Being you is a gift you get to share with the world! At The Mountain we have had the honor of hosting so many unique and diverse groups and individuals that we wanted to put together a resource at this time for people like yourself to connect with others who may be nearby. Below you can find a link to a new local talent and resources page. This is intended to be an online community data base for those looking to connect and share their skills and talents with the wider Mountain community. Further communication, skill sharing, bartering, trading and commerce locally. In the hopes that when we resume programing this page can be used to connect individuals who are interested in gathering individuals to help with their own programing and events. The Mountain aims to be the container for community building, connection, growth and dvelopment that enables possitive ripples in your lives. |
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If this appeals to you and you'd like to share your unique offerings with The Mountain community you can fill out the form below to be added to this page. |
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The New Online Mountain Store Wear Your Mountain Pride! |
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We now have an online store where you can support The Mountain from abroad! Represent your mountaineering spirit with our "Ancient Oaks & Good Folks" Shirts, or enjoy a morning brew in a Mountain Mug. Decorate your dorm with the Mountain poster collection. Go get outside at night with some solar lighting camping gear. Your support of The Mountain through our store is felt and appreciated during these times. | | |
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From Friction Farm, With Love |
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We recently received a letter from a fellow program contributors and Mountain enthusiasts Aidan & Christine, whose Mountain program Music Week was unfortunately cancelled until further notice due to Covid-19. They have been personally affected by this tragedy and were gracious enough to want to share their perspective. | | |
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We are sequestered at home like everyone else, and it has given us time to think about the things that really matter to us; things that are important, that we would like to see continue. The Mountain showed up high on our list, and perhaps it's high on your list too.
We just learned of friends and colleagues that have contracted the Corona Virus. At least one will likely not survive. As long as we're forced to confront our mortality, let's make the best of it. While we are being blunt and realistic, there are significant opportunities to act altruistically.
If The Mountain matters to you it's likely you would want to see it sustained not just for yourself, but for all of us and generations of folks after us. You may have thought about making a bequeathment to the Mountain, there has likely never a been better time than right now. We have no idea how Covid-19 will affect each of us. (and one of us may be murdered by a spouse if we are confined much longer)
If you have thought about The Mountain as a worthy recipient of your generosity, please consider making an amendment to your will in order to realize your altruistic intent. It's easy, effective, long lasting, and generous. Perhaps your bequeathment is a huge "Thank You " to The Mountain for everything you have received in spiritual enrichment, community development, exposure to natural beauty. Maybe you recognize that others more in need have received so much from The Mountain that you want to perpetuate that goodness. Whatever the reason, now would be a great time to spend some of your sequestered time to make to make that contribution.
If you do make a change to your will, please let The Mountain know, so you'll receive proper recognition and they will have an idea what the future might hold. As long as we are being blunt, chatting casually about dying, you don't have to wait until you are dead. The Mountain has been effectively shut down for business. We are saddened that the income that just (barely) keeps the place functioning has stopped coming in, as all programs are cancelled or postponed for an undetermined period. But some of us will come through this, be unbludgeoned by our roommate. Where will we go to celebrate? Who will we want to hug? If you want to make sure that programs at The Mountain can ramp up quickly they can use your help now, too.
Here's to your enjoying The Mountain for many years and then decades from now, you will again be making a big difference for The Mountain and all the lives that it will continue to touch.
Aidan & Christine
Friction Farm
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Another easy way to support The Mountain is via Membership. If you are not already a Member |
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Matt DeMond My name Is Matthew DeMond and I was born in Georgia but spent time in New Jersey before returning back to the south to finish my education. I spent time in the Gulf Coast as a United States Coast Guard shipboard swimmer until I fell ill in 2012. During my recovery I Graduated from the Universe of Georgia with a Bachelors in Agricultural Engineering and Founded Southern Farms with my younger brother. I continued as an ethical investment consultant across the Southeast until beginning my position as the Development Associate with The Mountain. |
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Daniel Lacy My name is Daniel. I've been a volunteer for a little over a month now at The Mountain. Since day one I've been treated like family. Everyone here is just so caring and full of joy and encouragement. I've never experienced anything quite like this place. There's something about The Mountain. The beauty, the nature, even down to the fresh air. There's something up here that really takes you to a place in your mind that honestly you just never want to leave. I've grown since I've been here and continue to do so every day. As a volunteer I've been helping with maintenance mainly, and its been a wonderful experience. The staff has been great and very welcoming. Always at my side every step of the way. From painting, to complete remodeling. Making The Mountain more beautiful one day at a time is what I'm doing, and thinking about it now, The Mountain is doing the same to me. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. |
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The Mountain is a Membership Organization, as such we value your contributions and inputs to keep our doors open to all. If The Mountain has enriched your life in any way, please express your appreciation in the form of a financial contribution. Give through our website—or the old-fashioned way, with a check. Thank you for your support. Please consider: Donating to The Mountain's Annual Fund or becoming a Mountain Member. Just over 25% of our budget comes from contributions. This enables us to help keep programming and camps affordable to all and better fulfill the mission of The Mountain. We thank you for your support! We hope you had a mild March & an agreeable April, We look forward to seeing you on The Mountain. |
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