10/10/2019
Buckeye Re-emerges May 3-9, 2020
Hi folks ~
Greetings from the north coast of California, where the longer nights are beginning to chill and the acorns are plump and getting ready to drop. Though there have been midnight hints of rain, the land is still dry, dry. Last you heard from us, we were headed up to Lake Concow in May to tend to a post-fire landscape; here are some photos of the contrasts of the different stages of life we encountered: black, green, and brown (not pictured are the many colors of blossoms!). We had a beautiful time with a small group listening to the voice of the land and working together.
Since then, our Chrysalis process has quietly continued, as we inquire what Buckeye might become in these times of both widespread earth cataclysm and widespread creative response. We have been asking what we have the realistic capacity for, and it's this: a smaller, simpler Ancestral Skills gathering in just two seasons from now, next May. Though Buckeye is re-emerging after melting down and tending to a fire touched landscape, we are still just beginning to spread our wet wings to breathe into the possibilities. It is clear that this year, after losing our kitchen infrastructure to flames, the number of people we are ready to host will be half or less than in previous years. So...you are invited to join us at Lake Concow again, during that time when dogwoods and lupine blossom in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Though it is tempting to stay dormant for another year, as much remains unformed for us, we wish to stay rooted and present in the intrinsic value of sharing earth-based living skills. Once again, we will be inviting a host of teachers to offer skills and awareness ranging from basketweaving and hide tanning to herbalism and fire making. Besides starting back up smaller, our recent Serotiny year has led us to choose to dedicate more time during the gathering to our reciprocal relationship with the land. We are excited to add this flavor to our traditional week!
Mark your calendars now: Buckeye will be May 3-9, 2020 at Lake Concow, CA. In the meantime, watch for a new website, registration in March, and a work party to rebuild the bathrooms (perhaps with fire reclaimed lumber). Wherever you are, may your harvest season shine; out this way, we are curious what rains may fall this winter to continue to recharge the deep waters of our aquifers.
Blessings! from the Buckeye team.
