2008 Welcome & Weekend Schedule

Hi Folks,

The Maine Primitive Gathering is only a month away, and we (the Gathering Council) are hoping to see you (our abo family) in 29 days! The MPG keeps growing, and it's cracking up to be bigger and better than ever. We have a wonderful new site on farmland owned for over 80 years by the Colwell family in South Lebanon, Maine (see directions below). The Colwells have been extremely kind and generous in allowing us to use their property, and we thank them greatly.

The workshop area is on a long peninsula (that we have affectionately named Goose Point) surrounded by the Salmon Falls River. We have set up ridgepoles for workshop lean-tos in case we have inclement weather, and we will have a good sized fire ring in the adjacent field for cooking and community gathering. On the far side of the field (which is huge) by the wood line will be will be a tenting area that is separate from the primitive site/workshop area (please help us to keep the primitive area as free from modern gear as possible). We will have a large projectile range set up in the field, so bring your bows & arrows, throwing sticks, atlatls, slings, throwing spears, rocks, etc. Starting Friday we will be building a sweat lodge and holding sweats throughout the weekend. We will need lots of folks to help build the sweat lodge frame and help running the sweats, so if that tweaks your fancy then we would appreciate your participation. We also have scheduled children's events throughout the weekend, so don't forget to bring your family.

Now for the details: firewood, potable water, and composting toilets will be provided on site. You will need to bring food (and cooking gear) for the weekend (including a dish for Saturday night's potluck), camping equipment (we will supply a flat piece of ground for your tent), cold/foul weather gear (remember three years ago), and anything you feel you need to be comfortable. We are trying to promote sustainablility, self-reliance, and a caretaking attitude, so this is a pack in pack out event- there will be no garbage cans. The Colwells have beautiful horses on the property, and their only request is that you don't open any gates.

Please be aware that their are many hazards on the property (fires, horses, projectile range, etc.), especially for unattended children, so we will be firm that children not be left unattended if they are not participating in a children's event. We need everyone to be aware that the river is not fenced, has steep banks, and is deep, therefore is hazardous. Please brief your family on appropriate behavior and safety. Thank you.

Absolutely No Alcohol, Drugs, or Pets Allowed

We are asking for a donation of $10 a day or $25 for the 3 day event. All money goes back into making future gatherings better. There will be an abo auction (silent) held Sunday afternoon to raise money for the MPG, so please bring anything you have made, harvested, or scavanged such as handmade items, raw materials for crafts, home preserved goods, extra field guides, etc. Anything abo, rustic, or backwoods is good.

Humusly yours,

Mal Stephens
Organizer
Maine Primitive Gathering
mallorystephens@yahoo.com

2008 Workshop Schedule

Thursday (Oct 2)
Morning & Afternoon
Set up - Gathering Council & Volunteers
Evening
Folks start to arrive
Gathering Council Meeting (7-9pm)

Friday (Oct 3)
Morning
Arrival Continues
Instructor Meeting (10am) - Mal Stephens & Instructors
Welcome Circle & Thanksgiving Address (11am)
Lunch (12noon-1pm)
Afternoon Workshops (1-4pm)
Attitude/Awareness (Basics Workshop) - Deb Marcott
Sweat Lodge Building - Mike Rockwell
Primitive Cooking Implements- Jeff Gottlieb
Open Time (4-6pm)
Dinner (6-7pm)
Evening Activities (7-9pm)
Mentoring with Primitive Skills - Mike Douglas

Saturday (Oct 4)
Morning Meeting(8:30am) - Mal Stephens & Everyone
Morning Workshops (9am-noon)
Shelter (Basics Workshop) - Annika Wisswaesser
Cordage (Basics Workshp) - Deneen Bernier
Tracking with Kids - Julie Town
Traditional Blacksmithing Demonstration - Will Sampson
Bow Tuning & Hunting - Jeff Neuman
Gourdcraft (materials fee) - Jeff Gottlieb
Lunch (12noon-1pm)
Primitive Skills Layout (bring your handcrafted primitive items)
Afternoon Workshops (1pm - 4pm)
Water (Basics Workshop) - Andy Dobos
Awarenes Games for Kids - Jessica Kagle
Net Workshop - Philipe Donald (unconfirmed)
Flintknapping - Bob Doyle
Braintanning - Tom Turck
Open Time (4-6pm)
Trade Blanket (Bring primitive stuff to trade) - Jeff Gottlieb
Dinner (6-7pm)
Primitive Banquet (Mark Young & Candi Huber) & Potluck - everyone please bring a healthy or wild crafted dish to share
Evening Activities (7-9pm)
Fire Dance & Music (bring your instruments)

Sunday (Oct 5)
Morning Meeting (8:30am) -Mal Stephens & Everyone
Morning Workshops (9am - 12)
Fire (Basics Workshop) - Chris Wood
Kids Games - Ira & Christin Michaud
Birds & Awareness - Phil Brown (unconfirmed)
Tools for the Spiritual Journey - Kevin Pennell
Flint-Tipped Drills - Jeff Gottlieb
Primitive Fishing - Bob Berg
Lunch (12noon-1pm)
Afternoon Workshops (1pm - 4pm)
Primitive Fishing (continued) - Bob Berg
Food (Basics Workshop) - Nick Spadaro
Ash Basket Making Demo - Mark Young
Mindfulness - Patrick Draper (unconfirmed)
Abo Olympics - Andy Dobos
Closing Ceremony (4-5pm)
Thanksgiving Address

* Basics workshops are designed for folks who need work on their basic survival skills- attitude, shelter, water, fire, food

On-going Activities
Campfire Stories & Discussions (whoever is around the fire)
Projectile Range (volunteers)
Sweat Lodge Building & Sweat Lodge Ceremonies (Mike Rockwell)
Random Demonstrations (whoever feels like it)
Community Building (everyone)
Auction Collection (Chris Wood)
Wildcrafted Plant Foods (Arthur Haines)

** Schedule is subject to change