Opening Weekend is Nearly Here!

It’s hard to believe another Winter has passed and the gates to Raven-Wolf Nature Sanctuary are about to open again! In about two weeks, people will gather again to begin the work of caring for the Land and preparing for the next Goddess Gathering at Summer Solstice.

Nature calls to many as the last of Winter disappears. Feeling the wind on your face and the Earth beneath your feet can be very satisfying and very healing. This particular piece of Mother Earth is truly sacred space. It offers much and only asks for a little TLC in return.

Much has been accomplished in the last two seasons: buildings have been repaired and painted, camping sites and paths have been reopened, fallen trees have been cleared and cut into firewood, signs have been repainted, and sacred sites have been restored besides the normal maintenance that’s done each time there is a work weekend. There’s plenty more to be done to rebuild and improve this wonderful 16-acre site.

April 7 – 9, 2017 is the first work/camping weekend. We’re still offering free camping to anyone who is willing to come and lend a hand in the work that needs to be done. It doesn’t matter what your work skills or physical capabilities are, there’s something for everyone to do from running chainsaws and weed whackers to stacking wood or picking up sticks for kindling to sitting at registration to greet people coming in.

If you think this is something you’d like to check out and try, you can contact Mary T. Borden either at marymom1@earthlink.net or you can also message her on Facebook for gate opening times and/or directions to the site. REMEMBER: any help you give this year will count toward a discount to Goddess Gathering next year!

A new season is about to begin, filled with infinite possibilities. Who knows where the road may lead and what joys may be found along the way? Are you up for an adventure? Come join us and be part of the recreation of something spiritual and special!

A Very Productive Weekend!

We got a lot done this weekend at The Land. Special thanks to those who showed to help, Rhonda, John, Owen & Toby, and of course myself & Dragon with Sean. The boys add a touch of comic relief, even if their antics are not always so funny at the time things are happening. – How many rinses to get the dish soap out? “Cheez-its” are still good when they have been dumped from their package into my lap & the ground -right mom?

A shared meal on Saturday night with a wonderful introduction to 2X4 soup. I think that is a keeper for cooler weather camping. Warm food is best and this had enough spice to keep it interesting. Thanks Rhonda for sharing it & the homemade butter with bread to go along with it.

A very special thanks to John for using his mechanical expertise and replacing the mower drive belt on the tractor. It ran like a champ for a last mowing of the season of the most used spaces on Sunday. A special thanks to Dragon (& Sean for his supervisory skills) for using the log splitter and taking wood up to the community fire at Elder Cabin.

Extra special kudos to Dragon & Rhonda for bagging up another truckload of the SHRINKING pile of trash. Some of which went to Sarah’s dumpster –Thanks Sarah, and some came home to go into the recycling here and at my mom’s. I think we can get most of it gone the last weekend.

The last weekend of the 2016 season if fast approaching. Plan now to attend & help get our spaces ready for the long winter nap. The dates for that are October 14th-16th. Hopefully some of the tighter schedules will allow for peoples attendance as extra hands can always be used. I’d love to get the trees that are dead marked with their “red for dead” ribbons so we can tell come spring which ones need felled where we want them to fall, not where they choose to lay down. Tying ribbons is a task many of our not so sound of body folks can do! It is really important to spy out those trees while there are still leaves (or the lack thereof) to help identify the ones that need to come down. Hoping to get a good sweeping of the leaves from roof tops to help keep shingles in good shape. Just an FYI the early weather reports have the overnight temps down in the 40’s for that weekend. Warmer clothing options are definitely in order.

Hope to see many of the faces we have missed this season here for the last weekend!

Can’t make it to the Land? – There is always the “Go-Fund Me” link if you can contribute to our much needed funds. Some of the things needed for next season are the Comprehensive First-Aid kit, paint and other supplies for the preservation of our buildings and structures, everyday needed items, like T.P. and cleaning supplies for latrines, and gasoline & oils for the power tools. All the myriad of small things that cost us money and of course the larger ones like our land taxes! Even if it’s only $5-$10, every donation helps.

Blessed Be,
Vesta
Raven-Wolf Coordinator

Not Just Another Raven-Wolf Work Weekend

The Sun was shining and the ground was dry as we entered the gate on Saturday morning. A few had already arrived and were in the process of opening the gate as we pulled up to the edge of the driveway. Today, there would be seven of us and we were determined to see how much could be done before we all had to leave toward evening.

It had been five weeks, this time, since anyone had been down and things had pretty much grown up again. There wasn’t much mowing equipment to work with – one gas-powered weed whacker and one mower, both brought by volunteers, but people set to work anyway. Someone grabbed a hand weed whacker and started doing what he could as well.

The rest grabbed brushes and paint and set about trying to complete the job of painting that had begun the last time. We did manage to get a few things completed: the first-aid station, the upper outhouse, the bridge across the drainage dish and a few benches, but there are still picnic tables, more benches and another outhouse (once the rebuilding is complete) to paint.

 

A lot of mowing and weed-whacking got done (just look behind the bridge in the picture), but then the throttle cable on the mower broke and the weed-whacker decided it was done for the day as well. So, there’s still a lot that needs doing. The proof of that is the pond. Here’s what it looked like at the end of May and also how it looks now. Yes, more time, more equipment and more volunteers are definitely needed to maintain this lovely, sacred site.

 

We felt good though. For seven people with little equipment, we got a lot done before we decided it was time to stop. You always feel a sense of accomplishment when you realize how much was done with so little. The bonus is that you touched the Earth, you gave back, and you sweated off a pound or two to boot!

As most were cleaning up brushes and packing up equipment and other items, the Coordinator, Mary, came in with her daughter, Jen and Jen’s new baby, Sean. They planned to see what they could do for a little while. We talked about equipment needed and what needed to be done on many levels to make Summer Solstice Gathering 2016 happen to celebrate the rebirth of the Sanctuary.

Yes, there is still much to do, but, you know what? It IS doable!!! We will find a way, just as we always have. We invite you to join us on this adventure. We could use the help. Here’s the thing though…. Once you step foot on this Land, you will see the reasons why we care so deeply for it and want to restore it. The Land has a way of capturing your heart and pulling you in. As we help heal it, it heals us in so many ways and on so many levels. It’s a place where you can leave your mundane problems at the gate and share some time with Nature. You may leave tired, but there will be a smile on your face and in your heart. The Land believes in giving back to those who come to heal Her.

If I’ve peaked your curiosity and you feel you might want to come and help, you can contact us on our Raven-Wolf Nature Sanctuary Facebook page or email us at RavenWolfNature@aol.com. You can also contact me either on Facebook (Samantha Herron) or email me at Durga1974@aol.com. Ask for the next dates someone will be down there and request a map to the site.

In the meantime, I want to profusely thank the following people for all their hard work last Saturday – Del, Joslyn, Crystal, Ed, Ray, Gary, Mary and Jen. You folks are absolutely awesome!!!

Love & Blessed Be

Elder Maya