[Green] Moving Muck and Vanishing Peacocks - the News from Blue Rock Station

[Jay Warmke]

*May News from Blue Rock Station:*

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.

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.

The past few weeks I've been busy working on marketing for the solar 
installer class that's coming up July 15^th to the 19^th .  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 (/When the BioMass Hits the Wind Turbine/ - available on 
our website and everywhere you can get podcasts) about how she created a 
not-for-profit business with their farm.

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.

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 – 
annie at bluerockstation.com <mailto:annie at bluerockstation.com> or text 
(740) 252-6295.

You can follow our online podcasts (follow us on the BRS website to 
receive a Monday morning podcast update) at www.bluerockstation.com 
<http://www.bluerockstation.com/>.


*Upcoming Workshops at Blue Rock Station:*

Check out some of our other upcoming classes.  Please register early 
because all of our events have limited space.

*June*

  * June 8^th : Annie and Jay will be speaking on Living Sustainably in
    a *World that's Running Out of Everything* at the Columbus Free
    Press Second Saturday Salon at 1021 E. Broad St. in Columbus Ohio.
  * June 15^th : *Open house tour* at 1 pm to 3 pm. Register early.
  * June 22^nd – 23^rd : *Tiny House weekend*. 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.

*July*

  * July 5th-7^th : *Goat Stock at Blue Rock Station:*  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.
  * July 15th-19^th : *Solar Installer Certification class* in
    Brookville PA. Register early – the class is for 10 people.
  * July 27^th : *Open house tour* at 1 pm to 3 pm.

*The Critters:*

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.

*Food, the Heart of Sustainability:*

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.

*Words that Guided:*

Just for today, take 10 minutes to sit quietly and rest your mind. It 
works wonders.


Kindest Regards, Annie

------------------------------------------------------------------------


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