Events & Programs
We are happy to host you for a sustainability tour/visit. School groups, church groups, garden clubs, individuals, etc. are all welcome. Host your staff meeting here and include a pizza lunch or snack of homemade bread & jam. OR just come to hang out, walk the trails and BE. Please call/email to set a time. The labyrinth & trails are self-guided, just call / email to let us know you're coming.
TO SIGN UP: Some classes/activities are limited. PLEASE sign up by contacting us via email, phone (need: your name, phone, email & class/activity), or thru the website (be SURE to indicate class you're signing up for). Schedule subject to change, confirm before coming.
ABOUT FEES: We practice an economy of “reciprocity”, giving in accordance to what you receive (i.e., labor, money, goods needed, etc.), for a balance; it is not “required”. We trust that participants will honor a different way of doing economy. (some classes do have a "supplies" fee which is noted.)
StoryWalk Along Forrest Ridge Trail
Self-Guided & Open most days
The StoryWalk is along the Forrest Ridge Trailfor adventurers to join reading, Sheep Take a Hike by Nancy Shaw. The story stations also have fun movements to do along with the sheep as they adventure through the woods. NEXT UP: Crinkleroot's Guilde to Walking in Wild Places by Jim Arnosky.
Labyrinth & Trails
The Labyrinth in the woods and trails around the grounds are available for walking / meditating. Trails are no longer than one mile. We are also near trails into the Foothills State Forest. Be sure to dress properly, trails may be wet and/or have fallen brush/trees across paths in the Foothills.
* Forrest Ridge Trail (StoryWalk trail)
* Meadow Creek Trail * Twin Creek Trail
* Balsam Pond Trail * Labyrinth
Daycare groups, home-school groups, families, school groups, library groups and all ages are welcome to participate. Want a special activity experience? Let us know and we can set that up as a teacher-guided experience.
Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.
POTLUCK & PONDERINGS
Fridays:
January 12 (SO MUCH FUN!)
February 9
March 8
April 12
5:30-8:00pm
It's important to gather in community and ya gotta eat so let's celebrate together AND have conversation / sharing. We'll host you for great sharing of foods and follow with focused time around a question for reflection and sharing, allowing time to slow down, listen actively to each other, and deepen our friendships.
Questions may be similar to:
* What is your present passion?
* What are the most burning questions you are pondering?
* What does it mean to be in kinship with the land, all its beings and with each other?
* Is Vegetarian or Vegan more sustainable and/or humane? and why do you think that?
Groups will be no larger than 8 to facilitate sharing, so we'll divide into multiple groups as needed.
"THE GREAT SIMPLIFICATION" Zoom Discussion Series
Tuesdays, Feb 20, Mar 5, 19, Apr 2, Apr 16
(NOTE: these dates are updated from original schedule)
6:30-8pm
Facilitated by Doug Weiss
link to The Great Simplification: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episodes
Interested in some intellectual stimulation? Join these bi-weekly Zoom conversations around a series of podcasts from "The Great Simplification. The series features interviews hosted by Nate Hagens (a professor) with a variety of persons on topics of energy, sustainability, economy, ecology, biophysics, spirituality, social dynamics and more and how they relate to our current challenges and sustainability on this home place of Earth.
Discussions will be Tuesdays, 6:30-8pm every other week beginning February 6 and ending April 2. To participate you may email or call to register and Balsam Moon will email you a Zoom link. Simply view the episode prior to the date for discussion. You MAY attend one session or all that interest you, just let us know.
Feb 20 Episode #12 "Limits to Growth Turns 50" w/ Dennis Meadows, professor of systems management
Mar 5 Episode #47 "Energy, Politics & the Future" w/ Patrick Ophuls, political philosopher & ecologist
Mar 19 Episode #49 “The Arcadians" w/ Simon Michaux associate professor of geometallurgy
Apr 2 Reality Roundtable #5 (betw Ep. 92 & 93) "Food & Community in the Ruins" w/ 3 guests
Apr 16 Episode #76 "Regenerative Agriculture & Personal Sovereignty" w/ Daniel Zetah, Minnesota agrarian.
EARTH DAY Labyrinth Walk +
Sunday, April 21
1:00-4:00pm
It's important to gather in community, pause, reflect, hold intention and honor the Earth. This Earth Day we'll once again host a meditation & walk on the Labyrinth in the Woods. We may also engage in transplanting some tree seedlings around the grounds.
Make it a family affair as all ages are welcome. Be in nature making a difference.
NATURE WALK
Saturday, May 11
9-10am
Nature is calling! Time to slow down and walk through the woods, listening, appreciating, breathing in nature - the trees, the birds, the squirrels, the budding Spring. What might you see, hear, feel, taste, touch, sense? Start your day centered and grounded. Bring the family - all ages welcome.
FIELD REGENERATION Year 2
Saturday, May 11
10am -noon
After a year and a half of work on the 6 acre field, how is it doing? After application of organic matter; after creating 3 on-contour swales; after planting 200+ shrubs & trees & wild flowers & wild grasses ... How is it doing?
Jim Etzel of Earth is Our Home Environmental Services and Jim Chamberlin of Happy Dancing Turtle will guide a process of evaluating the soil and talking about next steps.
Do YOU have a field you'd like to rebuild? OR an area you'd like to re-habitat? Come for tips and how-to guidance on what you can do to improve /grow soil and work in "concert" with nature.
MOREL MUSHROOM FORAGING
Friday, May 17
1-5pm
Instructor: Melissa Olson, Master Naturalist
This much sought after delight of nature intrigues many to get out in nature and forage for these amazing fungi - Morel Mushrooms! Melissa admittedly only forages for these mushrooms, by choice (and she protects her sources with much appreciation. :) )
Join her for an afternoon of learning the basics of foraging for these mushrooms, resources to consult, and the joys of being in nature even if you don't receive a morel harvest. We'll end the day with Mushroom Pizza from the outdoor oven. YUM!
Melissa recently joined the Balsam Moon Board of Directors and she comes with much experience creating and running her own business "Guiding Spirit Journeys" leading groups into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area for personal growth experiences in the wilderness, while also instilling a deep respect and appreciation for nature. She and her family reside in the Pequot Lakes area.
THE CLASS LIMITED, PLEASE click "sign up here" (at right) to indicate interest. It links to Melissa's email. YOU NEED CONFIRMATION FROM MELISSA TO ATTEND.
SPRING CLEAN UP
Saturday, May 18
9am-4pm
(Lunch break Noon-1pm)
This is a day to gather and pitch in as community cleaning trails, hauling branches for natural fencing around the orchard, cleaning out the deep winter greenhouse, and doing some planting (onions & dahlias most likely)
Join in the FUN! We'll break for a pizza lunch and enjoy time together!
MONTHLY PIZZA NIGHTS
2ND Fridays, 5-7pm
June 14
July 12
August 9
PLEASE SIGN UP so we can prepare for you!
NEW: Tour from 4-5pm
Come early and get a tour of the grounds w/ a bit of history, solar applications (solar array, solar furnace, passive solar), gardens, root cellar, winter greenhouse, cordwood cabins, cordwood shower & sauna, trails, timberframe pavilion, labyrinth and more.
This summer monthly gathering is a hi-lite of slowing down, being in nature and enjoying great food in community with each other.
Balsam Moon PROVIDES: sour-dough (or gluten free) crust, sauce, cheese mix, ice tea/water
YOU BRING: additional toppings & beverage AND .... you are welcome to bring your instruments and share your music around the campfire!
You are invited to join us to learn and help with the creation of this unique heirloom chicken home. Lunch will be provided. Always great fun working together for Balsam Moon Preserve! Please sign up for days you wish to join us (helps with planning and preparations).
EARTHSHIP CHICKEN COOP w/ Passive Solar
JUNE 22-25 (Sat-Tues)
Earthship construction portion w/old tires
June 25 - July 14+
Dung plastering and structural portion of the building
The chickens are coming! The chickens are coming!
Balsam Moon has been wanting chickens to add to the life here and they need a home base so the summer building project this year is an Earthship Style Chicken Coop complete with passive solar heating for winter comfort. It'll be next to the Deep Winter Greenhouse along the tree line.
Doug has designed this coop w/ alternative materials and techniques, doing the project as sustainably and cost effectively as possible given the needs.
PHASE 1: prepping the site & digging down 3' (early June). We welcome help with this too.
PHASE 2: creating the tire walls- placing, filling with dirt and tamping, and stacking. June 22-25
PHASE 3: applying mesh and dung plaster to seal the tire walls inside and out, making a plaster floor base and building additional structure for the triple-pane glazing, entry door and metal roofing. June 26-July 14+
NATURE & NURTURE DAY
Saturday, July 20
9am-4pm
(Lunch break Noon-1pm, bring sack lunch)
This is a day of options for all ages to be out in nature with others while taking a class or activity. You may take one class or participate all day. If you are here all day, bring a sack lunch to enjoy by the pond or in the woods or in the screened pavilion.
9-10:30am
Soil Health for Field, Garden or Landscape w/ Jim Etzel, Earth is Our Home Environmental Services.
Labyrinth Walk & Understanding w/ Barb
Walking Tour of Balsam Moon w/ Doug
10:30am-Noon
StoryWalk for kids (ages 5-10) w/ Joan Ingebrigtsen & Rhoda Jackson
Intro to Ayurveda way of health & well-being with Aprile Lack
Nature Photography - tips & tricks w/ Tanya Villano
Wildcrafting Medicinals w/ Jenna Hadley-Johnson
1-2:30pm
Nature Craft (kids welcome) w/ Rhoda Jackson
Intro to Buddhism w/ Vladimir
qigong w/ Julie Guth / Dan Hegstad
Make 'n Take Wild Medicinal w/ Jenna Hadley-Johnson
2:30-4pm
Grow Your Intuition w/ 'N'spiyer
Labyrinth Walk or Tour w/ Barb
TRANSFORMATION GAME
JULY TBD
10am-4pm each day (lunch included)
Facilitated by Barb Mann
Maximum of 4 participants/players (sign up for yourself, or as a group of 2-4)
Examples of personal game focus:
* What steps can I take in my relationship(s) sot that I feel greater satisfaction and happiness?
* I desire to release those personality blocks that keep me from being joyful, creative and harmonious.
* I intend to gain a greater understanding and awareness, and move through my pattern of wanting to "fix" others.
* I intend to know and clear the obstacles that keep me from full and creative service to the planet.
The Transformation Game is a joyful way of understanding and transforming the way you play your life. It's about looking at your life and the kinds of experiences you create, seeing how you react to them, and how you can use these insights for your own growth. Through the Game you can become more aware of your personal strengths and learn important lessons that can deepen your understanding of how you operate on the Physical, Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual levels. By providing new perspectives on current life issues, the Game helps you clarify old beliefs and attitudes and transform reaction patterns. It triggers your creativity and lets you realize your full power and potential.
You play with a particular focus or intention (see examples at left) and this guides your entire experience.
This is not a competitive game. It is not therapy or counseling (those of you with those skills, be mindful in playing). The other players can be helpful in bringing different perspectives to light as you decipher information you receive in playing the game per your focus/intention, as you also serve in that capacity for the other players. It IS meant to be FUN! In the midst of that fun, there may be tears and resistance along with the laughter. It's not about judgment, or right/wrong, good/bad. It is an opportunity to reflect and learn about yourself as you live your life/dream.
