Hi Folks,
Unfortunately, we have had a crisis with our Lebanon, Maine location. Last week a pony on the property died of Eastern Equine Encephalitis. This is a mosquito born virus, like West Nile, which if contracted has a 35-50% fatality rate. Due to the fact that it is known the virus is on the property and the MPG site is bordered by a river and two hardwood swamps (where the species of mosquito which carries EEE breeds), I cannot responsibly hold the Gathering there.
My neighbors who own the beautiful Oliver West Farm have graciously agreed to host the MPG. We have not worked out all the details of siting for the Gathering on the property, but it has great potential. I don't think it is any further away from those folks heading North, and it is just as easy to get to being only 4 miles off the Maine Turnpike (I95). I will post directions below.
I want to make everyone aware that Triple E and West Nile are still an issue, as it is established from Southern Maine south all along the Eastern Seaboard. I spoke with the Director of the Maine CDC this week, and she stressed the importance of using bug repellent and wearing long sleeve shirts and pants at dawn and dusk. Mosquitoes have been minimal lately, but they are still out since we have not had a hard frost, so everyone is advised to take precautions to not get bitten. Please educate yourself to the dangers of these two diseases: Maine CDC. If the link does not work, cut and paste this to your address bar: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/index.htm
Since we are only a week away and the site is not prepared, anyone who can help me out this week would be an angel. Even if you could show up a day early would be hugely helpful. Not only do we have to brushhog an entire overgrown field, but the ridgepoles and firewood need to be moved from the old site and set up at the new. Give me a call or shoot me an email if you can help. Thanks.
I would like to send condolences and thanks to the Colwells, as they are great horse lovers, and have been very gracious and apologetic while facing their own troubles and grief. Thanks to the Oliver West Farm owners, John and Randy, for their immediate generousity.
Pleae pass this information along to anyone you know of who plans on attending. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to call or email me.
Sincerely,
Mal
Mallory L Stephens
Organizer
Maine Primitive Gathering
mallorystephens(at)yahoo.com
207-646-1856
9/26/2008
Workshop Updates
Jeff Gottlieb emailed to say, "Don't forget to tell people about the Trade Blanket: bring stuff of interest to a primitive skills person such as tools, books, crafts, raw materials, foods, etc." Trade Blanket will be on Saturday at 4pm. This is a really fun event.
Bob Berg has graciously offered- "I would like to contribute by doing a class on primitive fishing. It would include fish line making, hook making from bone, thorn and bamboo, and also simple fish traps. I would like to also cover making and using harpoons and harpoon throwers. It is a long class so it could be broken up into sections. It would be good if people who take the class could get a fishing license but it is not necessary. If we catch anything we can eat it. I will bring a modern canoe and extra life jackets if its OK." Thanks Bob! We don't have the Salmon Falls River anymore, but we do have two farm ponds if we are allowed to use them and a small stream with native brook trout in it a short walk away. If it is alright with Bob, we will run his class starting Sunday morning.
I made mistake with Jeff Neuman's class. It is supposed to be Bow Tuning & Hunting not Bow Making & Hunting. This is what he sent me "Looking forward to this!! The only thing... I'd be happy to do a bow-tuning workshop, but putting me down for bow making is a baaaaaad idea!! Hahahaha!! I've only made 2 and the second one snapped and shattered into a zillion pieces!! Hahahah!! Can't wait...." -Jeff
Will Sampson wanted to clarify about his forging Class- "Primitive Forging (working with metal in the field)." I wonder if people might be misled by that description. What I had intended to do was a traditional blacksmithing demonstration. That's certainly primitive by 21st century standards, but the techniques and equipment I use are closer to 1850 than they are to early primitive people. I had planned on bringing my forge, which has a hand-cranked Champion blower, and my anvil, forging vise and various hammers and tongs. It would be forging in the field, so to speak, but not completely divorced from the industrial world.
Arthur Haines will be running ongoing primitive foraging and cooking demonstrations at the cooking fire pit all weekend. If you do not know Arthur and his knowledge of plants, you are in for a treat.
I'm asking everyone who is a primitive skills practitioner to bring their handcrafted items to layout as a display during lunch on Saturday. We will leave them out for everyone to see until the Trade Blanket at 4pm. Please bring hides and blankets to put your stuff on.
Bob Berg has graciously offered- "I would like to contribute by doing a class on primitive fishing. It would include fish line making, hook making from bone, thorn and bamboo, and also simple fish traps. I would like to also cover making and using harpoons and harpoon throwers. It is a long class so it could be broken up into sections. It would be good if people who take the class could get a fishing license but it is not necessary. If we catch anything we can eat it. I will bring a modern canoe and extra life jackets if its OK." Thanks Bob! We don't have the Salmon Falls River anymore, but we do have two farm ponds if we are allowed to use them and a small stream with native brook trout in it a short walk away. If it is alright with Bob, we will run his class starting Sunday morning.
I made mistake with Jeff Neuman's class. It is supposed to be Bow Tuning & Hunting not Bow Making & Hunting. This is what he sent me "Looking forward to this!! The only thing... I'd be happy to do a bow-tuning workshop, but putting me down for bow making is a baaaaaad idea!! Hahahaha!! I've only made 2 and the second one snapped and shattered into a zillion pieces!! Hahahah!! Can't wait...." -Jeff
Will Sampson wanted to clarify about his forging Class- "Primitive Forging (working with metal in the field)." I wonder if people might be misled by that description. What I had intended to do was a traditional blacksmithing demonstration. That's certainly primitive by 21st century standards, but the techniques and equipment I use are closer to 1850 than they are to early primitive people. I had planned on bringing my forge, which has a hand-cranked Champion blower, and my anvil, forging vise and various hammers and tongs. It would be forging in the field, so to speak, but not completely divorced from the industrial world.
Arthur Haines will be running ongoing primitive foraging and cooking demonstrations at the cooking fire pit all weekend. If you do not know Arthur and his knowledge of plants, you are in for a treat.
I'm asking everyone who is a primitive skills practitioner to bring their handcrafted items to layout as a display during lunch on Saturday. We will leave them out for everyone to see until the Trade Blanket at 4pm. Please bring hides and blankets to put your stuff on.
Directions to Wells MPG site
Take Exit 19 (Wells/Sanford) off the Maine Turnpike (I 95). At end of exit ramp take a right onto Route 109 (towards Sanford). Go 2.4 miles. Take a left on to Bragdon Road. Go .8 miles. Take a right on to Bald Hill Road. Go .8 miles. There will be signs on the right as to where to turn for parking. If you have problems call 207-646-1856 (my home) or 207-604-2390 (my cell)
9/04/2008
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
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
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