AND you won't believe this...I didn't have my camera with me to capture the event. Reality is that maybe I couldn't have captured it anyway.
Imagine sitting in your lawn chairs/on a blanket in a grassy natural bowl bordered by apple trees, a 30 ft. yurt and fawns grazing amidst you while you have great musical performances which included some drumming, a solo guitarist/vocalist'Vanessa'and one of our favorite duos -'Patchouli.'.. There was even a scrumptious homemade chicken dinner and yummy desserts.
Echo Valley Hope sits about an hour from End of the Rainbow Valley outside of a town called Ontario in the Kickapoo River Valley. The first parcel of land was purchased by Dena Eakles whose Italian grandmother introduced her as a child to gardening. Through travel and life long learning from ancient cultures and healers, Dena learned that the land holds all of our answers, in particular our medical ones... Dena's vision included having a place to live sustainably and teaching its core values to others which have come to fruition after purchasing this parcel of land and moving from Chicago... Respecting the earth and its inhabitants is fundamental in the pursuit of peace. This land is part of a trust now between 3 friends who will leave its legacy to future generations 'giving back for what has been given.'
Now through its first decade, plans of becoming solar and selling back to the grid are in the works. There is always work to be done and 'volunteers' are always welcomed. You can come for a day/ a week/ whatever.
Classes are offered to teach sustainable living- animal husbandry, food preparation, canning, bee keeping, alternative building techniques such as straw-clay, earthen plasters and cob, etc... There is no charge for these classes.
Groups can hold retreats on the rustic grounds and even receive community building help.
The Cooperative also offers a myriad of reasonably feed services which include:
Green Projects-Cob & Straw-Clay Project Management
Earthen Ovens,Simple Greenhouses, Cold Frames,Chicken Coops,Animal Shelters,etc...
Temporary Farm & Residential Labor
Housekeeping & Organizing, General & Deep Cleaning,Uncluttering
Filing and more...
Elder Care Preserving Dignity
Assistance with Activities of Daily Living
Sewing
Private Lessons: How to Make Kombucha & Other Fermented Foods, Beading
Learning to Cook New Meals (basic, dairy free, gluten free, vegetarian, more)
and even purchasing Home-Made Soap...
"Echo Valley Hope recognizes and lends their support for organizational efforts towards peace and sustainability." This list is diverse but you the idea... Donations go to help continue their good work.
Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers
The Beehive Collective
The Boggs Center
The Cornucopia Institute
Driftless Folk School
Feeding America
Global Days of Listening
Growing Power
Iraqi-American Reconciliation Project and Water for Peace
Kickapoo Valley Reserve
Motherland Rhythm Community
My Lai Peace Park
The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF)
SOUL of the Kickapoo
Valley Stewardship Network
Walk For Tibet
Wildcat Mountain State Park
Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice
Words of Peace Global
People were so welcoming and I think you should definitely check out Echo Valley Hope http://www.echovalleyfarmwisconsin.com/since they share the same philosophy of why we are living where we do right here in the End of the Rainbow Valley...
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