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May 6, 2023 Work Party
A song for you.
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April 8 2023 Work Party
We rake dead canes, push into the sea of brambles, unearth gnarled root balls dense with energy from 93 million miles away. The goats show up, eat the apples, eat the cedar leaves, eat the reed canary grass, eat the blackberry leaves, too. Three black-tailed deer wander through, slender necks curved curiously toward us, their gaze reverently returned. Two Canada geese noisily converse as they flap by. The piercing cry of a hawk turns heads to the sky. What a gift to know you on this earth, you who drew twelve orcas last week, you who are fuzzy on your company motto but certain that you all hold the best…
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March 18 Work Party
A song for you. *** The lesson I need to learn over and over is that I am not alone. This is the lesson you teach me every time we are together. I am so grateful for you. And for goats!
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February 18 2023 Work Party
We worked to the soothing sounds of Swamp Creek, creating survival rings and pushing back against Himalayan blackberry. A raccoon observed from a wary distance, birds graced us with song. We learned about this place and each other. We grew. Together.
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January 28 2023 Work Party
Thistle and yellow arch angel and reed canary grass and Himalayan blackberry. Beautiful plants from other ecosystems who have found their way to ours and managed to disturb the balance of here. We clip, dig, and pull against loss of biodiversity and habitat, dirt on gaiters and layers and foreheads, snags on sweaters, connection vibrating the space between us. Himalayan blackberry roots resist our removal efforts, breaking under the soil, absconding with the energy required to push up new shoots at some later time. Tiny spiders, deep rusty orange with two stripes ringing their abdomens, scrabble across mounds of soil that must seem like mountains, a woolly bear curls defensively…
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August 13 2022 Work Party
Trailer, wheelbarrows, and root slayers. Canes pulled from ground and sky. Digging, cutting, sifting. Thorns drag across skin. Trees released. A clearing.
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July 25 2022 Work Party
It was a joy and delight to work alongside the Gloria Dei Lutheran youth group. Their curiosity, steadfastness, and eagerness both to learn and help was a balm in these sometimes troubled and troubling times. They reminded me of the goodness that exists everywhere, both within and without.
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May 28 2022 Work Party
We came with gifts, with missions, with generous hearts. We were present to the next right work. We were together. It was good.
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March 27 2022 Work Party
This is how we make a difference. One moment at a time. Together.
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February 27 2022 Work Party
Stepping up and into new beginnings. Kneeling on soil beneath a young Western Red Cedar, tenderly disentangling shallow Himalayan blackberry root balls from ki. Prayer. Strangers turned connections, connections family. Magical alchemy. Rain. Dry shelter under branches that honor both earth and sky. Dirt on knees, shirts, masks, boots. Wet hair plastered to foreheads, dirt there, too. Pulling up yellow arch angel tangled into mats carpeting the forest floor. Tall Oregon grape stand sentry, watching as we come and go.
