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<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"><font color="#993300"><font
size="4"><b>May News from Blue Rock Station:</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in">As of Monday of this week, life
seems in the fast
lane again. It's difficult to tell if it is because of all the
people that have been here, the new intern arriving, or getting
the
garden into shape. Maybe it's all three and more. I'm grateful
for
the visitors, and the help of a strong young back.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in">Nicholas Anderson is our new
intern. He's an engineering student at the University of Dayton
and his
interest is in how to marry sustainability practices to
engineering. This week he's busy learning the names and uses of
some of the
medicinal plants that grow wild here, and working along side Jay
as a
laborer to install the new drain across the front of the
Earthship. Yesterday he spent the day with some Rural Action
Americorps
volunteers moving compost and barn muck up the hill to the back
of
the Earthship. Seems sustainability is mostly about being a soil
farmer. He isn't worn out yet he says, but I do think he is
occasionally a little overwhelmed with life here. Nicholas is a
good
sport, and a great addition to our summer.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in">The past few weeks I've been busy
working on marketing for the solar installer class that's coming
up
July 15<sup>th</sup> to the 19<sup>th</sup>. Quiet Creek Farm
(Northwester PA) is the
perfect place for the class, with Claire and Rusty Orner as the
hosts. We'll be interviewing Claire on our radio program/podcast
(<i>When the BioMass Hits the Wind Turbine</i> - available on
our website and everywhere you can get podcasts) about how she
created a not-for-profit business with their farm. <br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in">August finds Jay teaching the PV
class
in Zanesville Ohio at Zane State College, and in September he
will be in
Green Castle IN as well. We're teaching fewer classes this year,
so
if you, or someone you know is interested in finding a great way
to
get into the solar energy industry - please send them our way.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in">In another few weeks Goat Stock
will
be my major focus. If you've been a student here over the past
15
years, or an intern you're invited to spend the weekend at Blue
Rock
Station listening to music, attending a couple of workshops on
interesting topics, and creating a tie dye shirt or scarf. Stay
over
night, or just for Saturday. It's potluck, so please bring
something
to share. RSVP with Annie your intentions –
<a href="mailto:annie@bluerockstation.com">annie@bluerockstation.com</a>
or text (740) 252-6295.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in">You can follow our online podcasts
(follow
us on the BRS website to receive a Monday morning podcast
update) at
<a href="http://www.bluerockstation.com/">www.bluerockstation.com</a>.
</p>
<p><br>
<font color="#990000"><font size="4"><b>Upcoming Workshops at
Blue Rock Station:</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in">Check out some of our other
upcoming classes. Please register early because all of our
events have limited space.</p>
<p><b>June</b></p>
<ul>
<li>June 8<sup>th</sup>: Annie and Jay will be speaking on
Living
Sustainably in a <b>World that's Running Out of Everything</b>
at the
Columbus Free Press Second Saturday Salon at 1021 E. Broad St.
in
Columbus Ohio.</li>
<li>June 15<sup>th</sup>: <b> Open house tour</b> at 1 pm to 3
pm. Register
early.</li>
<li>June 22<sup>nd</sup> – 23<sup>rd</sup>: <b>Tiny House
weekend</b>. Be
a part of the final steps to close up the house this season.
We'll
be making earthen plaster insulation bricks, pounding a few
tires for
the cistern wall, and earthen plastering. The bio-digestor
should be
in full swing by then.</li>
</ul>
<p><b>July</b></p>
<ul>
<li>July 5th-7<sup>th</sup>: <b>Goat Stock at Blue Rock
Station:</b> Friday night is outdoor film night, then
Saturday is the main event with something going on all
afternoon, and
then karaoke in the evening. Registration required.</li>
<li>July 15th-19<sup>th</sup>: <b>Solar Installer
Certification class</b> in
Brookville PA. Register early – the class is for 10 people.</li>
<li>July 27<sup>th</sup>: <b>Open house tour</b> at 1 pm to 3
pm. </li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.2in"> </p>
<p><font color="#993300"><font size="4"><b>The Critters:</b></font></font>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Percy, the mini-donkey, has gone to
live
in Indiana. Isn't that where all adorable donkeys end up? He is
with another donkey and two ponies plus children, and fawning
adults. He milked it hard the days before he left, and made me
feel
incredibly sad that he had to go. We got Percy to help guard our
goats, and then we found we needed to guard the goats from
Percy. So he had to leave. We also seem destined to fail in
our attempt to introduce peacocks to Blue Rock Station. For the
second time, after following all the guidelines and acclimating
the peacock with the peahen for about 3 months - he disappeared
off into the woods on the second day of freedom. It seems I've
learned my lesson –
no more new critters here. I think I will just stick with
goats, chickens, dogs, cats and the occasional intern. Probably
enough critters at that.<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font color="#993300"><font size="4"><b>Food,
the Heart of Sustainability:</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Until I discovered the gluten-free
pizza crust by Gluten-free You and Me (Columbus OH), I had given
up on
fast pizza making. Recently I arranged to stop by where they
make
the crusts and buy a few packages wholesale - so that I have
different
sizes on hand for just the right occasion. The best way I found
to
prepare the crust, which is already baked, is to heat it up in
the
oven while I prepare the toppings. I put out jars of olives,
diced
onions/peppers/vegetables, and sauces like pesto or pizza sauce.
Everybody makes their own, and then thinks I'm a terrific cook.
Once
we're at the table, my latest trick (taught to me by our new
intern
Nicholas Anderson) is to cut the pizza with the kitchen
scissors. <br>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font color="#990000"><font size="4"><b>Words
that Guided:</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Just for today, take 10 minutes to
sit
quietly and rest your mind. It works wonders.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
Kindest Regards, Annie</p>
<hr size="1">
<p><br>
<font size="2"><i>We want to be a good neighbor - so if you
don't want to receive these notices, just reply with the
word "Remove" in the heading. Please feel free to forward
this along to any friends you may feel are interested. These
e-mails are sent by Blue Rock Station, 1190 Virginia Ridge,
Philo, OH 43771.</i></font> </p>
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