Woodland Cultivation

The rivers are the life-blood arteries of the land. They support life and diversity and are sacred providers. With the power of the sun, the water breathes through hydrologic systems and harmonizes with the water systems in all living organisms. Sometimes it seems like the rain is always just to the North or just to the South but we can see it in that direction and are glad that it comes. Sometimes when I sit by the water and just listen I can feel a connection that runs from our little creek all the way through the rivers to the oceans and throughout the planet. I feel that it is possible to connect instantly with energies that span the globe if we can let down our daily mundane blinders for a minute and entune with the significance of every ripple in the stream. When we remember, we can recall that each and every action has an effect the world over and the ultimately returns to the Source. It is a reminder that every action has a significance and consequence. Even though you might feel alone and disconnected there is another part of the self that is being nurtured. There is a connection to all living things on the planet that has been sewn into your DNA and forms a bond through a multidimensional language written by the Creator.

 

All of the systems of life on the planet work together in a symbiosis and human culture tends to be over-represented. It is taken for granted that we are the only species with important work to do throughout the week. It can be beneficial to consider the information and material that is being collected and processed by the other living beings in our community including trees and animals of the forest. For example most folks only think about wild Turkeys during hunting season or when they get a fleeting glance on the road or trail. But throughout the week, unseen by most, turkeys are involved in very important work. Their work not only feeds their culture, but also spreads nutrients through the forests and nurtures diversity. They are not just bobbling around out there like idiots. They are very sophisticated and do important work. They are adapted to the environment in a very unique way and have informed our human ancestors for millennia.

Turkey Track. native clay plate with ceramic pigment.

These ideas are filtering through my mind as I do the multiple simple repetitive actions that it takes to build a house by hand and create artwork. We are blessed as a family to have been gifted with the perspective that time is worth more than gold and possessions are only material to build our future. We have the gable ends on our house build sheathed with rough-cut 1”x6” pine sourced from a local sawmill and covered with building wrap. Now I have to think about the soffits and trim around the windows so we can bring in the work party and finish the rough-cut cedar lap-siding. I love working with local materials that come directly from our forest. It is like the house is growing right out of the hill.

Fresh Ozark Pine!

We are also continuing to work on the stem walls building with field stone and mortar when the weather permits. The stone for the wall was removed from the field by farmers when it was cultivated years ago for corn. These crazy stones have very unusual cleavage and very few flat sides. They are difficult to lay but they are loaded with beautiful crystals and are very unique. This rock stem wall is going to not only hold the wall infill but it is also going to be thermal mass for temperature control in the house itself. The building is oriented on a South facing hillside and has a panoramic view of the valley below. The rock wall is an inner wall that will be covered by a greenhouse on the outside. The eaves are set in such a way that in the winter the sun will shine through the greenhouse and warm the stones. The heat will then rise up through vents and bring warmth into the house during the winter. There will also be a thermal mass heater built into the wall that will efficiently burn wood and heat the house when the sun is not shining. Built into the wall will be a wood storage that can be filled from the outside and accessed by another door on the inside. It is my intention that the house will create a balanced temperature on its own and never freeze even if we are out galavanting and traveling the world. It is my intention that this home will breathe and be a living structure and its systems will work independently oriented on sustainability.

 

I am very grateful to the community for all of the support and fellowship that has formed a foundation for the many projects that we have started. Come see us at Turtle Earth Healing and Arts this weekend in Steelville where we showcase art and herbal products created completely by local hands. By buying gifts at our shop all of the proceeds directly support our local craft economy!

 

Jamie Smith