Wood-Cutting Weekend

What a difference a couple of weeks can make – especially here in Ohio! With the warmer, drier weather came many more people to help with the continuing efforts to get things in shape for the upcoming event – Goddess Gathering Reborn – that will be taking place at Raven-Wolf Nature Sanctuary, June 17 -26, 2016.

Although it had been designated a wood-cutting weekend (and a good amount of wood did get cut and split), other projects were begun as well. That communal fire pit that sits next to registration had been dismantled at the beginning of the month to let the ground dry. This time around, things were leveled, a gravel based laid, and everything reassembled. Now comes repainting the benches that took a beating through the Winter. Paths that had become overgrown, due to lack of use and maintenance over the years, began to be cleared. More paths to go, but at least the work has begun.

The Land has begun to attract many new people and we are very grateful for the interest and the help. We’re truly hoping the word will spread and many more will find their way to our little piece of sacred space. In the meantime, I want to sincerely say, “Thank you!” to everyone who took time out of their busy lives to come and be of help. Too many names this time to mention, but you know who you are and we are truly grateful.

We are now at the end of April so I wanted to remind you once more that if you intend on attending Goddess Gathering Reborn, and haven’t registered yet, May 31st is the deadline for pre-registrations that will save you money. Please remember we have a capacity of 150 adults and once we reach that number, no more registrations will be taken either by mail or. after May 31st, at the gate. Here’s the information again:

ENTIRE FESTIVAL – JUNE 17 – 26, 2016 (10 days)

March 22, 2016 – May 31, 2016 each adult person is $100.00

***CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ARE FREE***
PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WAIT TO REGISTER AT THE GATE THE COST IS $130 PER PERSON.
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FESTIVAL RATES – 7 DAYS OR ANY PORTION (6/20/16 – 6/26/16)

March 22, 2016 – May 31, 2016 each adult person is $ 75.00

***CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ARE FREE***
PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WAIT TO REGISTER AT THE GATE THE COST IS $100 PER PERSON.
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FESTIVAL DAY PASSES – A 24-HOUR PASS
These can be obtained by registering on site during the festival for $25 per person, per pass.
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Remember vendors only have to pay the entrance fee. No other fees are asked to be paid.

You will find registration forms here on the left side of this page under “Goddess Gathering Reborn – Festival Registration Form”. All forms must be postmarked no later than May 31, 2016.

If you have questions, you can ask them here on the web site or go to our Facebook page – Raven-Wolf Nature Sanctuary – and ask them there, or you can email us at RavenWolfNature@aol.com. You can also contact me either on Facebook (Samantha Herron) or email me at Durga1974@aol.com. Lots of ways to get your questions answered.

The next work weekend is coming up this weekend, April 29th – May 1st or you can check our Calendar of Events at the left of this page for the other upcoming work weekends. Hope to see you there!
Until next time…

The Land is Officially Open!

The first official work weekend took place this last weekend with Mother Nature testing the determination of those few brave souls who came to help with the preparations for the upcoming Goddess Gathering Reborn event.

Rain, followed by snow and cold temperatures made this work weekend interesting to say the least. But there were some hardy individuals who came to the call of the Land and helped to cut more downed wood and split it along with folding tarps, putting a new sign at the well, starting the rebuilding of the communal fire and surveying the site for the work that still needs to be done in coming weeks.

A BIG “Thank you!” goes out to Mary T. Borden, Del Smarr, Ray Taylor, Amber Emler, Rhonda Savage and her son, and Gary Herron for coming out and helping!

About that sign at the well… The hand-pumped well that’s our source of water at Raven-Wolf has been in use for over 20 years. Every year the well is chlorinated, but, because it is an “open” well, the health department of Guernsey County has told us that we must post a sign warning people to drink at their own risk. For this reason alone, we have posted the sign.

For those of us who have been working and celebrating on the Land for decades, we have drunk from the well and never experienced anything bad happening to us as a result. Others, who have never drank from an open, hand-pumped well, may feel apprehensive about it. This is only something you can decide. Know, however, that the well is safe to drink from, but if you are not inclined to do so, you will need to bring your own drinking water any time you come to visit us.

I wanted to also remind everyone that, if you want to pre-register for Goddess Gathering Reborn, there are registration forms available here on the web site. We do have a cap of 150 adults so registering a head of time is something to really consider. You will also save money by registering by May 31st.

ENTIRE FESTIVAL – JUNE 17 – 26, 2016 (10 days)

March 22, 2016 – May 31, 2016 each adult person is $100.00

***CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ARE FREE***
PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WAIT TO REGISTER AT THE GATE THE COST IS $130 PER PERSON.
**************************************************
FESTIVAL RATES – 7 DAYS OR ANY PORTION (6/20/16 – 6/26/16)

March 22, 2016 – May 31, 2016 each adult person is $ 75.00

***CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ARE FREE***
PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WAIT TO REGISTER AT THE GATE THE COST IS $100 PER PERSON.
**************************************************
FESTIVAL DAY PASSES – A 24-HOUR PASS
These can be obtained by registering on site during the festival for $25 per person, per pass.
**************************************************

Remember vendors only have to pay the entrance fee. No other fees are asked to be paid.

There’s still more downed wood to take care of, gravel to lay on the driveway, benches to paint along with the inside of the outhouses, trash to clean up and a camper to tear down, besides one outhouse that needs to be finished building and two others that need converting to composting, more camping spaces to clear and clearing the bonfire area. We would truly appreciate all the help we can get!

There’s an unofficial work weekend happening April 15 – 17 and another scheduled work weekend April 22 – 14. If you’ve never been to the Land before, contact me (Samantha Herron) on Facebook for directions and I will email you maps to the site. It will give us a chance to meet each other and for you to see the beautiful place we’re working to restore.

Until next time…

Love & Blessed Be

Elder Maya

The Land Awakens

The Land awakens, Magick is afoot and the Goddess is alive!!!  It is time to open the land and to prepare for the camping season and the Goddess Gathering reborn.  A few of us went down a couple of weeks ago to check out the land to see what needed done and what damage the winter may have brought.  We had some new faces join us with some familiar ones.  We were shocked and happy to see that there wasn’t much damage and that the land was coming to alive.  The only things we found was four downed trees covering the path up Dragon Hill.

We had a new couple that got there first.  They went exploring a little bit and found a hand saw left out from last season and went to work to move a downed tree before anyone else even showed up and asked them to help.  As soon as the rest of us got there we explored and did a quick tour and got to work.  We were having troubles with the chain saw so we got to work using hand tools and pure muscle to move the downed trees to clear the roads.

With the few hands we had there we got a lot of work done and are ready to get things rolling.  What is there to be done you may ask.  Well there is quite a bit actually.  We need a latrine built and two others painted and converted to compost latrines.  Paths need cleared and fire wood needs cut and stacked.  Gravel needs to be placed on the paths and holes along the drive need filled.  Camp sites need cleared and flowers need planted.  These are just a few things that need accomplished. 

When the rain and sunshine comes we will need fields mowed and paths trimmed.

Does this seem like a lot of work?  Of course it does but its well worth it and the more helping hands the better.  Is this work too hard for you to do?  That is ok, we can still use you.  WE need people to sit at the registration table, making sure that people are staying hydrated, being a communication person and keep tabs on people and projects, help prepare meals and keep the fires stoked so that others can work on other projects.  Everyone can help either with big projects or small ones.  The goddess and the land appreciates any and all help that can be given.

So come join the fun, fellowship and good hard (or not so hard) work.  Your help smiles and encouragement will always be welcomed.  Until next week and I see you on the Land.

 

Blessed Be,

Willow