Thank you for being a part of The Mountain

October is here! The nights grow noticeably longer, as splashes of colors, oranges, yellows, and the deep red of maples and sassafras add their vibrancy to the beauty of The Blue Valley.

We can gain vast insights through the observation of the natural world, learning more of our origins, and how we can orient ourselves within the web of life. This line of thought has even led to a whole field of study known as biomimicry. Trees as a collective organism are ancient compared to humanity, containing their own innate wisdom, laying the very foundations for countless numbers of life forms through their roots and branches, even transforming the atmosphere with their own breath they listen to the rhythm that is steady, ancient, dancing to the gyre of the heavenly bodies. They know when to change with the seasons, when to take to dormancy, flowing into a state of what was known to the Chinese as Wu wei: "Action in non-action. "Action in non-action". We can often get caught in the emphasis of being "human do-ing" instead of human "be-ing". 

Trees, even in their dormant state, hold space in faith for their time of action to return. Having given abundantly of their nuts and seeds, they now rest, knowing it is up to the elements and animals to take on the fruits on their labors, being unattached to where one seed may land, but having faith that some will find fertile ground, as a promise to the future. 

In the meantime, and even in their seeming death, they provide home, nourishment, shelter, and stability for the web of life to cling to. Trees naturally listen and slow down to match the vibrations and rhythms of the sun. Metabolism, energy consumption, and growth come to a stillness, a new equilibrium. In the first part of dormancy, trees lose their leaves. They don't make food in the winter, so they have no use for masses of leaves that would require energy to maintain, reminding us to take heed and listen as well, and do what will serve us best for the seasons at hand.

It can take a while to slow from our busy lives of growing, producing, feeding, thriving; however, everything has its season to bloom. The change of consistent action to an attuned stillness can take some time. For trees it can take months to find their center. Even in the midst of that process – the shedding of dying leaves, the slow returning to one's core – It's a beautiful process that further nurtures the web of life, as even the discarded leaves become shelter and food for smaller organisms. 

A parallel parable can be drawn to our own collective health as a species, in knowing when to listen like a tree. Failing to heed the flow of seasons and the currency of nature can have fateful consequences for trees and ourselves alike. When a cancer cell grows, dividing without stopping, out of tune to the rhythm of the larger body, and the needs of neighboring cells. Consuming the body's resources at a rate detrimental to the whole. We all need time to stop, listen, and check in with the song that underlies and moves us all. Listen to your neighbors' needs, your own, and to how we can all find beauty and meaning in turning with the seasons. 

The photo above comes to us from Meredith Garrigan during the Climate Justice conference. She beautifully captured The Mountain.

A growing branch that emerged from the Climate Justice Conference and available resource for UUs related to this issue is:  

createclimatejustice.net. 

You can find their latest newsletter here. 

October with its cooler weather and colors on The Mountain is a gorgeous time to visit. Reconnect with family and place while you prepare with trees for a time of quieter connection and a bit of reflection. If you're looking for an atmosphere to facilitate your own turning inward we offer personal retreats. 

You can contact guest services to find the most appropriate time to come, as rates and services vary depending on groups who may be sharing The Mountain.

Congregations from all around the South East are converging on The Mountain this month to connect with one another, practice and live out UU values, and enhance their programming and communities .

We welcome in the congregations of Brevard, Columbia, Asheville, and NW Atlanta.  As well as SUUFI (which is currently sold out!) Womenspirit Fall, UUACCCA, and UUCA Men's Fellowship. Many of these still have space available, check the links for more program details, we'd love to see you on The Mountain! 

Returning this month we also have  Road Scholar - Switchbacks and Summits! Formerly known to The Mountain as Elder Hostel, a program that brought many wonderful people to The Mountain and who are still actively engaged. Road Scholar is based around experiential learning for lifelong learners. This program will have you hiking parts of the AT while learning with an experienced naturalist and absorbing the glories of fall in Southern Appalachia. 

We'd like to acknowledge our Unitarian Universalist origins as we prepare for a full month of UU affiliated programing!

The UU forgo a tightly structured liturgy, or sacrament, (outside of the flaming chalice) any holy and sacred objects, text or doctrine to draw upon. But this openness and willingness to draw upon and synthesize from a larger well of spiritual exploration is perhaps a great strength. A decision that is informed by The Seven Principles and Covenant of Right Relations which can act as guides toward our becoming the best selves that we can each be.

One thing I personally admire about UUs is the emphasis on finding spiritually in the secular world. That every moment has a richness that can be worthy of awe and participation if we open our hearts to deeply feeling. Encourage participating participation in this life.

Theres a term from Africa known as Ubuntu akin to "humanity", it is often translated as "I am because we are". We are who we are because of each of you, and we can’t be our very best selves unless everyone shows up to lend their voices, hearts and hands to work together. 

We look forward to welcoming you if your congregation is headed to The Mountain this month!

We'd encourage you to connect with your local congregations and bring them to The Mountain. Reach out and get in involved with The Mountain and how we can be of service to your missions where you live. 

We were surprised last month by a visit with a life long learner of our own, Walt Jenison, who was a Charter Life Member to The Mountain. He returned to show his new partner, Patricia, The Mountain! Not knowing what he would find upon his return after 15 years, he was thrilled by what he found. They came at time when the Mountain was void of guests for a few days and they had dinner parties and private dances off the deck. Walt shares his insights with Patricia Wright, drawing on their long lives, giving us a perspective of The Mountain's origins and direction over the past 40 years. We thank all those who made The Mountain possible and all who continue to sustain this place and community!

What's on the Horizon?

Whats Growing Down Below? 

The farm hosted the last of its Forest to Table Dinners for the year, and it was a big hit. On the walkabout, guests got to see fish cap mushrooms, chestnuts, acorns, sweet birch, sassafras, Indian cucumber root, and other tasty wild edibles. The meal featured  homemade pork rinds, pickled peaches and cucumbers, wild greens salad, pesto and marinara pizza with chicken of the woods and chanterelle mushrooms, and an apple pear upside down cake for dessert. The pears for the dessert were the first major fruit to be harvested from the Food Forest. Joey serenaded guests with songs about wild mushrooms and Jerusalem artichokes while the guests enjoyed clear skies and views off the deck. These events have been a special means of fundraising for the farm and getting our name out in the greater Highlands area. For many people these events reveal the bounty that is around us right in the woods and in our backyards. Putting it all together takes a great team and an incredible amount of work, but they're so rewarding. We've learned a lot with these programs. We look forward to welcoming more people for dinners and workshops! Stay tuned for next year's schedule of events.

2019 marks our first year of keeping bees down at the farm, and, boy, is it a humbling experience. Everyday we wake up assuming that the bear has burst through our electric fencing to dine on the tasty larvae. In addition to bears, we have to concern ourselves with these small mites called varroa mites that are present in almost every bee hive in the US. Imagine wearing a small backpack that you can't remove, and that's something like the stress these bees feel. Earlier in the year, we did a check to see how prevalent these mites were in our hives, and we found that between 3-4% of our bees had them. That number is high enough to where most beekeepers would chemically treat their hives. We have been committed to organic beekeeping and thus invested in a formic acid treatment for mites. Pretty soon we'll be doing a followup check to see if the mite load went down. Our whole goal in the first year is survival through winter so that next year we can take a responsible amount of honey for folks to enjoy. You can help by crossing your fingers. 

- Joey Kyle

The farm is looking for volunteer and paid helpers for next year.

This is a unique opportunity to connect with a crew of caring permaculture enthusiasts in a protected and wild forest environment. Helping produce food for markets and guest alike. Helping tend a burgeoning food forest, educating campers, caring for animals, and finding a path to work and live in one of the most beautiful environments in Western North Carolina. Please share this opportunity with those you think would be passionate and interested.  

For more info, visit our page or

send an e-mail to farm@themountainrlc.org.  

Follow the adventures of the Many Hands Peace Farm on Facebook

Mountain Musings 

President of Rotary Club, Sherry Holt, pictured handing Ted Wisniewski a check for the MountainCamp Campership Fund!

The 3rd annual Spirit of the Mountain silent auction will take place again at the Mountain Thanksgiving weekend, offering vacation getaways, gift baskets, Mountain retreats, crafts, and more. Bidding—via email or in person—will close at 9:30 AM, Saturday, Nov. 23rd. All proceeds to benefit the Mountain’s 2019 Annual Fund.

If you'd like to join the cause for local children to learn about and enjoy the Mountain you can help raise the campership fund here! 

Ted Talks: Is cabin adoption in your future? 

As part of celebrating our 40th year The Mountain invited congregations to attend a Mountain Summit Focus group in early September. The 15 attendees spent the weekend touring, learning about and having significant conversations about the good, the bad, and the challenges of this wonderful place. No stone was left unturned as we spoke candidly about what to change, how to improve and what projects should take priority. The topics covered everything from signage and lighting, to upgrading cabins, re-purposing spaces or investing in new construction. As things shook out most agreed that we should plan new construction WHILE continuing to enhance and fix our current cabins. The concerns voiced stated that although it is smart and necessary to invest in our future, we need to stay focused and keep our limited resources on taking care of what we have. As the conversations evolved some ideas were put forward. A notable suggestion had to do with Duplex and Family Cabin enhancements. The concept is that groups, congregations or families could “adopt” a cabin. Knowing that these projects take time, person power and money. The adopting entity could fund and spend time at the Mountain working specifically on their chosen cabin. Giving cabins a face lift, is the general idea by doing simple things like painting, replacing lights and lamps, replacing floors and clearing views. Focus group participants thought this idea is way that everyone in a community could share their time, treasure, and talent while making a significant and worthwhile difference. 

- Ted Wisniewski, Executive Director at The Mountain 

Interested in adoption, Email Ted at: 

ted.wisniewski@themountainrlc.org

We were looking for you!

State of Development Address: 

As noted in September's issue of Mountain Matters, Laurel Amabile has transitioned from her role as Development Director at The Mountain. Below you will find a letter on her behalf discussing her well wishes and support of The Mountain. As well as an address from Bonnie who is helping to 'fill the gap' during in this interim period.

Dear Mountain Friends,

You may have already seen the announcement that I have wrapped up my role as Development Director, after 3 1/2 years of service with this wonderful community. It is more of a "Farewell for now" message rather than a final goodbye, since this is the second time I have been a part of The Mountain's staff and programming. It has been a meaningful and satisfying time, for which I am deeply grateful.

I recently began a new position with the American Red Cross as the Regional Philanthropy Officer for the Western North Carolina and Blue Ridge Chapters. This will involve some travel around the region, but will enable me to be fully based in Asheville and more present with husband Fred and NC family. This was not an easy decision to make, and I will miss my contact with staff, volunteers, guests and friends. You are special to me!

I am appreciative of my co-workers, Bonnie Gramlich and Tanner Csonka, who will be covering the core Development activities. This will be done under the guidance of Ted Wisniewski and Teresa Falzone, with the support of Dave Hudson and the Institutional Advancement and Mountain Stewards Teams.

I am confident the stewardship and funding efforts will remain strong during the coming weeks, which will help The Mountain flourish and the next Development Director feel welcomed and supported. Thank you for your generosity and participation--past, present and future.

With gratitude and best wishes,

Laurel

From Bonnie-

We miss working with Laurel and hope her transition is going well to her new position closer to her home. Laurel does keep in touch and we feel she is there for us if we need her direction. She cares very much for The Mountain and for all those who support The Mountain. That caring will not end.

When I remember to look out my window, I am now noticing a few of the leaves are beginning to change. We should have lovely fall color this year because it has been mostly dry these last couple of months. The temperatures are very comfortable right now as well.

Since my return to working for The Mountain in this position (after a long absence) I have appreciated all the hard work and dedication and GENEROSITY of so many good people. Contributions of all kinds have made The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center what it is today. We are making a positive difference in many of the lives of our guests and supporting members and we are being careful stewards of the funds we raise through our programs and through development (Your gifts to The Mountain.)

While Ted and others search for the right person for the position of Director of Development, I just want you to know that I’m the person that processes your gifts and carefully records them. I am careful to keep your information confidential and I also will be happy at any time to discuss your giving history with you or assist you in anyway possible. My husband, Mark (who is the technology person here) and I, have long loved and supported The Mountain. Mark began working here twenty years ago this coming January when we moved to a home about seven miles from The Mountain. We are so happy The Mountain is viable and thriving! Thank you, thank you, all!

I hope to see many of you this month and that you will be treated to a wonderful experience at all levels of The Mountain. (Each time I drive by the meadow and the farm, I smile because seeing what is happening at the Many Hands Peace Farm brings me much joy.)

Come by and see me, and meet my ‘pups’ in the Development Office when I’m here. We’re located just across from the office. Or email me or call me if I can help answer a question, even a tiny one.

With warmth and gratitude to all,

- Bonnie

bonnie.gramlich@TheMountainRLC.org or

Development@TheMountainRLC.org

828.526.5838 x 230

Take a Moment...

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 Mountains 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 wish you an opportune October, and we look forward to seeing you on The Mountain.