Kites, Art, Community--coming up!

(an image from the South Knowlesville Kite Festival, 2010)

Ai. It was with *such* a heavy heart that Sandra and I made the decision to postpone the Soapmaking workshop. It seemed almost outrageous that the last (the last, I know it!) storm had to have happened the night before. And what a lot of snow there was! It certainly would have been tricky and dangerous for most of us to have made the trek out to Knowlesville this morning.

We had such a wonderful response to the soapmaking workshop, and we will certainly be offering it again later in the season--possibly late May or early June. We will let all you keen soapmakers out there know as soon as possible.

In the meantime, don't despair. You will all be digging in your glorious gardens soon.

The KAN centre activities will be slowing down just a bit over the next 6 weeks, (Yolande will be off with Lee, Horus and Treva to do an to an artist residency in France! Follow their adventures at www.burntnormal.blogspot.com) to resume again with the annual Knowlesville Kite Festival on Sunday, March 29th, the "Verdant Visions of Carleton County" visual art exhibition, also opening on the 29th, and a potential Strawbale house foundation work bee...Lots going on, so stay tuned!

Farewell note from Pauliina – KAN volunteer

While organizing the last books on the shelves and wrapping up odds and ends in the freshly opened library space, I am listening to the sounds of a melody floating in from the Church space. Cecile from the neighbor is at the piano, playing a tune. She is on her own, after finishing a long and stressful study project, and she just came to play for a while. Mark, who has been away and now come back to Knowlesville - maybe to settle - is working, plastering the walls on the other side of the room.

I enjoy this space, feeling it is alive. This is community, I think. This space is for the people, for us to come when we are tired, read a book, play music, participate a workshop or organize one in any topic one could think of. There are so many opportunities it can bring. Soon there will be another organ in this body, the community Energy Co-op, inhabiting the upstairs.

I’ve heard this before during my stay here in Knowlesville – singing and piano lessons creating a background into the landscape of my mind while working, whether it was with books, firewood, or with the straw, plaster & paint in the new extension space. It feels good to have sounds of joy and life around me while working. It’s been exciting to be a part of this evolving community for a while, and to meet its youth and elders. I’d like to thank everyone who has shared their time, opened up to discussions and friendship.

KAN to me, as an observer and visiting volunteer, has a clear aim to create facilities towards a local life style. It appears as a space promoting locality, a resource that can be useful to families and people of any age. Hopefully its presence will eventually give incentives for more people to settle in this landscape.

I would like to express my feeling of KAN as a platform where anyone from the community can come and create what they would wish to see. I believe this to be so important at a time where societies are built on high &fast inputs, high &fast expectations and high &fast consumption, including goods and people constantly traveling back and forth long ways in order to meet everyone’s needs. What if a person’s needs could be more slowly, and locally met? Could the things and knowledge we have right here be cherished, and the ability to create life with our own hands and bodies (even if they were not trained in a university)?

As a volunteer, I have only made a small input and stayed for a tiny moment in time. Apart from KAN activities, I have been learning to take time for my own life explorations, and this journey will still take me on, enjoying the travels of continuing youth. However, Knowlesville has provided me with important encounters, friendships and a platform to investigate my interests and ways to function. For that I am very thankful.

Take care, everyone in Knowlesville community - until we meet again!

All the best from Pauliina

Knowlesville visiting resident since Nov 2010, KAN volunteer from Jan to March 2011.

KAN Library and Membership Registrations now in Function!

Dear KAN friends,

KAN Community Library is now in function in the new extension space, and we have begun the process of registering official memberships for KAN!

The library currently consists of 1210 e-catalogued books. It hosts a broad variety of books for kids and adults alike, including fiction and literary masterpieces, arts, philosophy, history, natural science, geography, social/political science and economics. As a treat for curious kids and home schooling families, there is a wealth of educational material for kids &youth - time-tested by our community elder and home schooling specialist Jean Reed. Special books on homesteading, child rearing, traditional crafts, wilderness skills and homeschooling are among some that can be hard to find from a regular municipal library. There is also an interesting variety of periodicals (an array of National Geographics from the 60’s until 90’s, Time Magazines stretching throughout the period of WWII and Mother Earth News dating back from the early days of the magazine).

KAN membership entitles you to borrowing these books from the library, along with other benefits. To register as a member or for more information about the library, please contact Shannon Herbert at 506 – 246 5204 or email speckledhengarden@gmail.com).

KAN team expresses warmest gratitude to our generous book donors and anyone else who wishes to donate books and /or funds in the future. This is an abundant community resource that Knowlesvilleans can be proud of!

(note: plastering is still going on in the KAN extension, so for a little while, the homesteading /arts/crafts department will still be covered to save the books from a wet clay decoration!)

Library Opening!

Hello friend of the KAN centre, and Happy Spring!

Many of you may have met Pauliina Tuominen, our international volunteer from Finland. Pauliina has been with the KAN for going on six months now, and her presence has been a such a gift to our centre and our community. She has brought energy, intellect, and organization to numerous projects around here, as well as some beautiful writing and documentation to go along with our recent workshops and events (please check out her evocative descriptions of life in Knowlesville here, on our blog), as well as her hard labour helping with the physical renovation of the KAN centre building. Among her many contributions has been the hugely exciting South Knowlesville library project--yes, South Knowlesville now has a library! This project, undertaken by Pauliina with enthusiasm and alacrity involved a considerable amount of work; gathering, organizing, and digitally categorizing every book that has been donated to the KAN (incidentally, we are continually welcoming further book donations).

In celebration of the imminent opening of the KAN centre library, we would like to invite you to a library opening/gathering this Sunday, the 27th of March, at 5pm. This gathering at the library will be followed by a potluck supper at the Artful Acre's cottage, Yolande & Lee's home. All are welcome. This will be a wonderful opportunity to meet Pauliina, check out our selection of books, and spend a lovely evening with your community.

Also, at this time, KAN centre memberships will be available for purchase, at $10 per family for one year. The benefits of membership include library access, and a discount on certain workshops and classes.

And...I just want to remind everyone of the fantastic Soap & Salve-making workshop (with fabulous soap-maker Sandra Habold) coming up on April 2nd at the KAN, from 10am-2pm. The cost of this workshop is $40 per person, includes a home-cooked lunch, and spaces are quickly filling up. Please email me, Yolande, to confirm registration.

Have a wonderful day, enjoy the blissful sun, and we hope to see you this weekend!

Sincerely,

Yolande

Soap Making Workshop!

Soap-making workshop, April 2nd, 10am-2pm, at the KAN centre, 111 Simms Road

Spring Cleaning? Come to our soap making workshop at the KAN centre! Not only is it important to put natural substances IN our bodies, but our skin is a highly sensitive and absorbent organ, and it is equally important to avoid harsh toxins and chemicals topically. During this workshop, acclaimed Woodstock-based natural body product craftsperson Sandra Habold will lead us through the steps to creating beautiful, natural and sensuous soaps, and healing salves. Each participant will leave with a few natural soaps made with whole ingredients and essential oils, as well as at least a pot of healing salve. Cost is $40 per person, and this includes a home-made lunch. Workshop will be held at the KAN centre meeting space--the new addition at the back. To register, please email yolandeclark@mail.com, or call Yolande at 391-6120

New Postings from the KAN Winter experiences!

Enjoy reading more details about the things we did to kick start the ongoing year!

Spring sun from the KAN volunteer

Pauliina

ASH BASKETS, STORIES, COMMUNITY – Crafts workshop success at KAN on Feb 19th (see pictures in KAN blog archive February!)

Describing Victor Bear’s ash basket workshop with just a few words I feel I’d be better off writing a poem. Trained to the craft thoroughly since he was just a little child on his native Maliseet reserve, he now weaves his life stories and embodied knowledge into his baskets and to our 20-headed community of people listening and learning from him.

“First thing you gotta remember is it is You who is weaving the basket – and not to let the basket weave You. Otherwise, you will never make one!” Mr Bear is quiet and firm, with a laughing sparkle in his eye.

With our more than 20-headed group of kids and grown-ups, we get just a glimpse to the world of traditional ash basketry. We play with our readily provided materials from the annual rings of brown ash, we laugh, we eat a hearty and colorful lunch and weave some more till we’re done with our little masterpieces.

As a demonstration of what it takes to provide the materials, we get to witness Mr Bear pounding a log of ash with the back of his axe. Traditionally, a child would be taught the pounding first, and any new step in the process will be taught only after the previous is thoroughly mastered. Even today, Bear continues this tradition as a visiting crafts teacher for the children of his tribe. “I used to hate the basket work as a kid – other kids were outside having fun while we had to weave. But as I have gotten older, I have learned to appreciate my art.”

From this workshop I bring with me a sense of joy in community, doing things together and practicing old but useful crafts together with people old and young.

*

TIPS FOR BASKET MAKERS:

Tree: Pick brown ash. White ash is too hard, black ash is too brittle.
Pounding: dirt water spread out on the ash log will help you see where you have already pounded and thus be concise of not to hit the same spot twice.
Tools for making ash strips can be made by soaking pieces of yellow birch for 3 hours, then push in some razor blades to a wanted distance from each other (breadth of the to-be strip). Soaking will have made the birch wood porous, and it will re-harden and tighten around the blades to fix them when dry.
The outside annual rings are the strongest strips you can get for a heavy-duty basket.

Educating your kids – Educating yourself: First homeschool discussion evening at KAN centre Feb 15th, 2011 + more resources from March meeting

When I first met Jean Reed, our discussion touched on education. “The school system came around along with the industrialization”, she remarked. Jean and her family escaped the system by deciding to homeschool all of their four kids, later on putting together a business selling books, kits, globes, and reviewing the most inspiring resources they could find specifically for homeschoolers. Her husband created the first catalogue just for homeschoolers.

Coming from a country where home schooling has till recently been extremely marginal or nonexistent, I was excited to meet such an experienced elder well weathered in the subject, and decided it would be very worthwhile to have a discussion group for sharing the knowledge in this rural area of motivated young parents.

Jean was eager to host such a meeting, so we arranged it to take place as an opening event for the brand new KAN extension space at the back of the main church building. In the soft candle light, accompanied by some delicious food, we shared ideas and questions between a small group of local mothers. Jean was well prepared with resource materials and a compact handout of knowledge, also available from her at jean@brookfarmbooks.com.

UNSTRUCTURED FOR YOUNGER KIDS - GOOD STRUCTURE WITH INSPIRING MATERIALS

“Better Late than Early”, Jean stated in the beginning of our discussion, spreading an atmosphere of relaxation. “When your kids are ready to learn something, they’ll let you know.” Most of Jean’s kids were reading by the age of 6, apart from her son who struggled with reading until finally succeeding at the age of 9. Then, suddenly, he quickly evolved to a speed reader with almost perfect retention and at high school level! The standardized school environment would have been a catastrophe for him.

Jean mentioned that many kids need to be “de-programmed” if they are taken out of public school. “One of our kids loved books since she was very young but after exposure to school suddenly didn’t even want to see a book!” According to Jean, there is also no need or hurry for structured learning for young children. “They are busy learning other things”, she states.
Jean advises parents to find mentors for their kids in the subjects they don’t feel comfortable teaching. This could be done, possibly, without expenses by e.g. attending meetings of a local amateur astronomy club and the like. In other words, reaching out into the community which in itself is a good lesson.

Yolande Clarke shares her experiences on more structured but easy-going reading lesson materials. Her mom used to teach kids with Down Syndrome, and used a book called “How to Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons”. With one of her older kids, Yolande began to use the program despite her first doubts of a structured coursebook . “It worked miracles – at 3,5 years, he was reading! Now with my youngest son Horace (2,5 years) we read 25 books a day. He loves even books meant for older kids!

TALK ABOUT STUDY HOURS

Tegan suggested that in our small but growing community, each family could take a morning leading a program for all the kids in the KAN Centre or in people’s homes. This would allow time for other parents to take care of other activities, give them a break, and it would give the kids a chance to spend time together. The cooperation involved in such an effort would create a tight bond between families with the sharing of their mutual responsibilities.

Jean recalls that the most hours they ever did structured work with the kids was about four hours a day. “Sometimes we un-schooled and everybody was really busy doing and learning their own thing. Sometimes we took up a more formal structure for a while, working e.g. from 9 am to 1 pm.”

Tegan has run a semi-structured pre-school for her own two kids for a couple of years now. “With Leona we began pre-school when she was around four.” Now Michael, 3, and Leona, 7, are both in their own homeschool.

HOMESCHOOL STUDIES HAPPEN ALONGSIDE LIFE

Many homeschooling parents are farmers, homesteaders, gardeners, or other people who work at home. Structured learning time can be allotted but most learning happens simply alongside life itself while gardening or other activities self-inspired by the kids. With resource books many kids find it easy to study on their own. They soon reach the ability to do things and have the confidence to function self-directed manner. Jean says that living in more rural or isolated areas often helps kids develop their own inner resources so that they have a much better idea of who they are as individuals much sooner than kids going through the public schools.

In the 1970’s and early 80’s big movements of homeschooling families arose, and some of them bear fruit today. Someone in our group remembers the Farm, which inspired thousands of young people in the early 80’s to pass through their site in Tennessee. Today, around 180 residents continue to live at the site, and among other things they still host a thriving tempeh business. As they grew up many kids from the Farm escaped swearing they never want to go back. But now many of them are in their thirties and suddenly cherish their childhood home. Many have returned to raise their kids in the same, familiar surroundings.
***
Another homeschooling meeting was held on March 6th, and the next one will be held in May. Please see coming newsletters for more info or contact Yolande babycowlickedme@hotmail.com or Jean at jean@brookfarmbooks.com. See below for resources!

HOMESCHOOLING RESOURCE RECOMMENDATIONS:

*Jean recommends The Question is College, by Herbert Kohl as a great book for developing your own philosophy of learning based on your own goals and lifestyle. Kohl does not take college as a goal in itself but asks questions of the reader so that each reader can determine if college is necessary for their individual goals. Written for teens and parents, Jean still thinks this book will aid parents of young children to develop their own philosophy of learning and define their own goals. (see more recommendations from Jean below!

*Shannon Herbert tells about her encounter with Last Child Left in the Woods - a book coining the term ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’ present in the kids of the present time. The book was received by Shannon and her partner, wilderness educator Jeff Butler as a part of an outdoor education package put together by Thomas Elpel, and sold through his online store “Granny’s Country Store” http://www.grannysstore.com/Experiential_Education/index.html
Shannon praises Elpel and his books to be amazing references for all things nature and primitive skills related.

The package now in question is called Connecting Children with Nature, and it includes
- Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature by Jon Young
-Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv
-Sharing Nature with Children and Sharing Nature with Children II by Joseph Cornell
-Rediscovery by Thom Henley
-Classroom in the Woods DVD with Thomas J. Elpel
-The Educator's Empowerment Pack Tools to Reconnect Kids with Nature!
-Nature's Playground by Danks and Scofield

*Tegan recommends books by Jean George Craighead, featuring animals in their natural environments and people’s adventures alongside them. In these books, one can truly learn about the animals and their real habits along with enjoying an exciting storyline. The writer has experience as a naturalist since youth and does not “cutify” the animals in order to make them human-like.
*Yolande mentions a school called Wondertree in Vancouver, BC as a place where many of her friends went and share good memories of.

BOOKS SUGGESTED BY JEAN (all of these now available in the KAN center library!):

The Home School Source Book by Jean and Donn Reed.- The original catalogue compiled Jean's husband.
What Really Matters by David H. Albert & Joyce Reed - Thought-provoking discussions between two exerienced homeschool parents
Living is Learning by Unschooler's Network- Gives grade by grade idea of where kids "should be" in comparison to ordinary school curriculum. Grade guidelines also exist on "World Book" on-line for a typical course of study.
Have Fun. Learn Stuff. Grow. By David H. Albert.- Quaker family homeschooler tells about what his extremely talented kids have learned and done during their home school time. Features e.g. Albert's daughter, master class pianist who was invited to famous concert halls in NYC but was only willing to play for charities or just for fun - never professionally.
Homeschooling: Patchwork of Days - Share a Day with 30 homeschooling families by Nancy Lande- Variety of experiences of homeschooling families, study logs etc, to give an idea of how differently home- or "un"-studies can be organized. A follow-up on the same families has also been made 5 years later (not in this book, but one called the "Homeschool Open House)
The Homeschooling Handbook by Mary Griffith- Practical information to help create a fruitful learning environment
Homeschooling and the Voyage of Self-Discovery by David H. Albert- "David always makes you Think, he's good in that way" (Jean Reed)
Alternatives in Education by Mark and Helen Hegener- A tour of different pathways and schools of thought in alternative education.
Good Stuff - Learning Tools for All Ages by Rebecca Rupp- Selection of learning materials
The Lifetime Learning Companion by Jean and Donn Reed- The freshest distillation of the author's knowledge, giving a wide overview of the options available for the non-conventional learner.

Healing with Nutrition in February

Nutrition group had a great February meet-up with some of us from last time along with one new participant.

Yolande recounted her experiences of healing/improving autoimmune disease (sarcoidosis, arthritis) in her family with the help of nutrition. At the base she used her research on traditional diets, alkaline and raw food disciplines. For her, a big help has been cutting down grain, refined, processed foods and sugars, her dietmainly focused on vegetables, nuts, seeds, meat and fruit.

For milk,Yolande only uses raw, unpasteurized cow's milk as well as milk fromher own goats. Nut, seed and vegetable oils are not as much a part of her diet as arethe more stable fats raw butter, olive oil and duck fat, none of whichgoes rancid as easily as vegetable oils. Yolande praises duck fat forits high smoking point, which allows higher heat cooking (when fat smokes, it has changed its constitution to a more unhealthyconsistency.)

As we had many mothers of young children and babies participating this time, focus of conversation shifted to an interesting discussion on breastfeeding and treating children's allergies and skin problems.

We concluded many self care products include just as many artificial elements to them as processed foods do, making what our skin "eats" often ends up being unhealthy as well. Emily Hoyt recounted making salves, shampooing, conditioners and other body care products by herself with simple, natural and inexpensive raw materials.

Next meeting will be held in May - we will then hear Emily’s tips on making your own body care products! Meeting will be held in the Knowlesville Arts and Nature Centre new extension space, 111 Simms Road, Knowlesville NB, see directions at http://www.knowlesvillenature.ca/directions.html

For more details on date and time, contact Yolande babycowlickedme@hotmail.com or frequent our blog and newsletter to get the latest information.

Everybody welcome, along with friends!

Talk about Nutrition!
– First KAN nutrition evening on January 20th in Artful Acre

Talk about nutrition can often lead to confusion: some schools suggest no meat or dairy, others promote saturated non-refined animal fats, some tell you to cook everything and others swear by having it all raw.

These questions in mind, we became warm, tucked in a cozy circle around the Artful Acre living room wood stove. Here, an enthusiastic group of 11 grown-ups and several little babies came together to discuss our eating habits. Opening circle revealed wonderings on topics such as soaking grains, preserving without excess salt or sugar, meals free of grain or dairy, and mothers wondering how to introduce healthy eating for their children in the world abundant with processed foods.

It was a pleasure to see such thriving interest here in rural New Brunswick in one of the most crucial things: the matter of what we put into our bodies. It means that we have capacity to build group power for brainstorming and idea exchange. Within the group that got together this time, knowledge existed on Candida treatment, no-grain diets, fermentation and food preservation, raw foods, scientific background studies on nutrition, etc.

Being enthusiastic learner of raw foods, I opened our first meeting with a little presentation based on my research, backed up by some raw treats: kombu-sea lettuce salad, pumpkin-ginger soup, raw borsch and a coleslaw. Ideally, we could continue presenting different ideas and practical solutions. It’s all about getting together, presenting our knowledge to each other, sampling each other’s health treats, comparing and seeking answers from our different nutritional, theoretical, practical and philosophical backgrounds.

This is a monthly meeting that has now gathered both in January and February. Next meeting will happen in May with Emily Hoyt talking about home-made, inexpensive body care products from natural raw materials. All ideas on future program or presentations are welcome to Yolande Clark at babycowlickedme@hotmail.com

Knowlesville’s history alive through its people
- local history night and inter-generational Jamboree Feb 1st 2011
*
I walk in the darkness towards the cozily lit-up Church. The shades of warm orange and red alongside a cooling turquoise reflect through the windows.

As the space fills with people, old and young, one gets a glimpse of the makers of Knowlesville history: we are a group varying from the elderly, whose roots in the area stretch generations back, into the back-to-the-landers of the 60’s and 70’s and the more recent newcomers of today.
As the group begins to discuss their memories of times gone past, a wealth of stories pop up. Terry Bromley recalls his grandmother’s house as the one where the telephone was – his grandmother being the operator “24/7”. Every Thursday, a grocery truck would come from Hartland. Terry remembers the shelves of salt, sugar and other staples moving “on wheels” and stopping at each house in his childhood neighborhood. George Wasson, from his part, remembers train lines that were active close by and a train that used to run from McAdam to St John every day.

Time has brought many changes. Donna White, a schoolteacher born in Armond, recalls the changes that have happened in school system. Back when several age groups were in the same classroom, kids had more freedom and could help each other. “Now they all need to be spoonfed. Earlier, they learned a lot more.”

NEWCOMERS’ STORIES

Jean Arnold, a newcomer of the 70’s, shares her and her partner Ernst’s adventurous meetings with a porcupine family living upstairs of their new home, as well as their first chicken coop set up in the upstairs bed room (Don’t try this yourself, Jean advises young homesteaders).

Today, many young people have entered Knowlesville through the doors of Falls Brook Centre, a sustainable living and education centre, a realization of Jean Arnold’s long-lived dream. Pioneers for this younger generation are Leland and Tegan Wong-Daugherty, who even have built several straw bale houses to the community. Tegan remembers being impressed by the practical life style in Falls Brook, after her long and theoretical college studies.
Today, a straw-bale house has even been raised to Alison Shurvell and her partner Dana Kittilsen, who both found Knowlesville through Falls Brook.

Emily Shapiro tells he remembers well how she attended the birth of Triva, a new born baby for Yolande and Lee Clark. “I grew up in Vancouver, BC”, Yolande tells, “and my friends told me I’d hate it here in this isolated place. But I feel so fortunate to be in this spaciousness, to see the stars”.

Our sharing ends in an open jamboree where the old and young are playing and singing together. Many people agree Knowlesville to be a special place, where people still gather and do things together. This evening has proved the common activities can also stretch through generations.

CHERISHING KNOWLESVILLE LOCAL HISTORY

The KAN Centre wishes to have any recollections, pictures, clips and stories you might have in store of the colorful Knowlesville past. Please share your experience with all the rest of us – this way we can gather and present this knowledge and local lore in our beautiful community space!

A more thorough write-up of the stories shared during history night will be posted on the wall in the KAN centre and stored in the KAN computer archives.

Firecraft!

Thank you to everyone who came out to our fantastic Firecraft workshop and Blacksmithing demonstration on Saturday the 19th. Jeff Butler led an enthusiastic group through fire-crafting and wilderness survival skills, and Dana Kittilsen and Owen Flewelling demonstrated their blacksmithing skills. Lots of helping hands made this day a success. Alison, Shannon, Pauliina, Mark, Chelsea and Horus; you're all wonderful! (Please keep reading for Pauliina's take on learning with Jeff, and mastering the bow-drill.)

Hanging out and meeting each other in the morning. Charles shows everyone his very impressive chain-mail shirt.

Pauliina heads into Dana's blacksmithing studio.

Owen heating steel...

Getting ready to shape his piece...

Our beautiful lunch--Shannon's delicious baked beans are in the oven...

Lunch in progress.

A beautiful leaf key-chain made by Owen.

Pauliina tries her had at the bow-drill.

* * *

FIRECRAFT!

by Pauliina Tuominen

KAN centre meets survival basics with Jeff Butler.

After yesterday’s rain, Jeff Butler says, it is a perfect timing for a firecraft workshop – all the wood will be soggy or frozen. Today is a cool morning below zero degrees C and sun is shining with a full blast. According to Jeff, firecraft is the most important element of survival skills after having handled first aid. Other important factors to think about are finding shelter – which could be as simple as a tree to stay under -, signaling material and water. Food will come last and, according to Jeff, is mainly a convenience, as a human being in reasonable shape can go for 40 days without food.

I am glad to have an instructor so experienced and full of knowledge – it feels easier to have the theory enter my brain after some previous experience in fires. We do some experimenting with magnesium sticks and igniting cotton swabs impregnated with Vaseline. This, together with his knife, is all the fire making equipment that Jeff feels essential for a good survival pack.

With the help of a stone and a strike anywhere match we light our tinder bundles smeared with fir sap and a hidden jewel of more chunky spruce sap tucked within. After a delicious community lunch we head out to be more physical, namely dealing with preparing a bow drill set and initiating a fire. Initiating smoke, that is, this time around, but luckily we now have our bow drill set to keep us busy at home. Jeff reminds this is a pastime one can well practice indoors, and is mainly about technique rather than force.

Bow drill, to me, seems like a perfect way to create stamina and physical capacity. Each time trying it I notice its requirement of true centeredness and capacity to work in co-operation with one’s breath. This is a practice I would, apart from survivalists and bush craft enthusiasts, recommend for city people and body workers alike. I see great value in bow drill, although would be glad not to rely on it in survival circumstances. Jeff emphasizes bow-drill to be a great way to enhance one’s understanding of fire, but suggests us to take along the magnesium stick, nonetheless…

Could you survive outside on a cold winter's night...?

FIRECRAFT WORKSHOP and Blacksmithing Demonstration

Saturday March 19th, 10am-4pm

call 391-6120 or 375-8623 for more information

Fire, that all-important element, is beautiful, warm and comforting…but also ethereal and elusive, as well as a potentially ferocious and destructive force, especially when hungry and on the prowl.

The ability to harness and control fire is one of the central aspects of our humanity. In fact, firecraft is an essential survival skill, especially living, as we do, in a rural, often cold, and sometimes harsh environment.

Fuel, finesse and technique are required to properly and effectively start and tend a good fire. And often in times of emergency, when the power goes out, or when we are out in nature, a good fire is absolutely required in order to stay warm, and to prepare food.

Many of us have forgotten--or have never learned--how to create a fire for survival.

The KAN centre's upcoming workshop, Firecraft, brings acclaimed survival expert Jeff Butler to South Knowlesville to guide you through a day-long workshop on firecraft and other related wilderness skills. We are also very pleased to have, on the same day, a blacksmithing open house with Dana Kittilsen and Owen Flewelling, who will be demonstrating blacksmithing techniques, answering questions, and giving tours of Dana's blacksmithing studio.

There are still openings available for this exciting workshop.

Don't get left out in the cold!

The cost of the day-long workshop is $60 including a delicious lunch. This cost is on a sliding scale for anyone who can't afford the $60 at this time. No worries. Please contact yolandeclark@mail.com for more information, or call 391-6120.

See you there!

Yolande

Do You Have Extra Books?

Dear Carleton County,

KAN Center library is welcoming your book donations! If you wish to donate, you can do it anytime. However, I am planning to finish the library to a state where an initial classification and borrowing system will be established by the end of March, and for reasons of classifying and placement of books it would be great to have as much of the near future collection together as possible. So if you know you Do have books that you wish to donate and know will be able to get together within the next week or two, please let me know right away when you get this, so I know more is coming before I begin to do finishing up work.

KAN centre thanks You!

(you can send this mail to anyone else who may be concerned!)

All the best from Pauliina

Sandman Viper Command

Earlier in March, the KAN centre hosted the band "Sandman Viper Command". It was a beautiful evening. Thanks for coming out, everyone.

Tracy's Hurtin Heart

Last Sunday, a bunch of us gathered at the KAN centre for Tracy Anderson's beautiful concert in support of her EP "Squirrel on a Wire" that she will be recording later this month. She performed the songs raw, accompanied only by her acoustic guitar and the piano, and it was a gorgeous show. Tracy's songwriting talent is immense, and her voice is gorgeous, transitioning brilliantly from smooth and sultry to outback holler, to folk-roots sound. I urge you all to head to her website: www.tracyandthehurtinhearts.com, and pre-order her new recording. And those of us who saw her play at the KAN centre, of course, will be able to tell everyone we knew her when...

Basket Making with Victor Bear!

Thank you to everyone who came out to make the Basket-Making workshop with Victor Bear a success! Everyone had a wonderful time--and a special thanks to Victor Bear for his presence, patience and expertise.

Educating your Kids, Educating Yourself - Tues. Feb 15th @ 6:30pm

Tuesday night (not Wednesday) - come out for the opening of our new resource library at the KAN centre and meet Jean Reed, co-author of the Home School Sourcebook and experienced homeschool mom for an informal tea and discussion on how to find the resources, approach and support to help you on the journey of homeschooling your children. Come on out - everyone is welcome.

Jean and her late husband Don, homeschooled their four children right here in Knowlesville. Here is a short excerpt from their book:

We never taught our children to read. When they were very young, we read to them. When they were three months old, they gurgled happily as we read nursery rhymes, poetry, and even captions of “first interest“ animal books. At six months, they smiled and pointed at interesting shapes and colors. When they were a year old, we read books with them, discussing the pictures and answering millions of questions. We often asked each other, "Where is the truck?" "Can you put your finger on the nose?" "Which flower is red?" and similar questions. The kids weren't reading words yet, but even picture books with no words involved verbal communication and a growing vocabulary, including concepts of space, size, color, action, and direction.

Between eighteen months and two years, each of them spent many hours each day with books, not yet recognizing many words, but studying the pictures. Despite the kids' early interest in books, we never pushed reading. We read to them every day, but they also chose to look at books on their own every day. It was unimportant to us if they learned to read at the age of two or six or ten. When we were reading to them we made a point of moving our finger along under the words we were reading. It wasn't long before the questions were about the letters and words as often as about the pictures....

(Read full excerpt at www.besthomeschooling.org )

Upcoming Event at the KAN centre: Snail Mail Party!

Snail Mail Party--Letter Writing Night! - February 7th @ 6:30pm

In our era of digital everything, the art and pleasure of writing and receiving hand-written letters sometimes falls by the wayside. Join us at the KAN centre Meeting space (the new addition at the back) to work on letters to those long-lost friends or make a paper craft for your special Valentine. FREE event.

Community Heart

Thank you to everyone who came out to our History sharing night and Jamboree on February 1st. We had an amazing time, heard some great stories, and listened to some excellent music.

The KAN community newsletter is out now, and the February schedule will be posted here and on our website at www.knowlesvillenature.ca.

As many of you may know, there have been murmurings and meetings about the possible closure of the Juniper elementary school. Please read Tegan's article, below, and join us at the next meeting to discuss this issue, on February 8th at 7pm, at the Juniper elementary school.

"When you take the school out of a community, you take out its heart"

by Tegan Wong-Daugherty

I met with Tom Dodd of Windsor in January and he shared some reflections of coming to the Glassville - Knowlesville area back in the early 1970s. Tom moved to East Glassville from Fredericton in December of 1971 to one of the coldest old farmhouses in Glassville. There was ice on one of the walls, it had no heat, no water and no power. They bought a $15 woodstove from ____ and tried their best to survive the ' good life'. The book by the same title "The Good Life" by Scott and Helen Nearing was one of the books that influenced the strong desire by Tom to move to the country and live off the land. Those first two winters were rude awakenings to how hard it could be to achieve, but the desire never left Tom despite the challenges. In the 1980s, Tom was known thoughout the area as a skilled blacksmith. He ran the blacksmith shop for a few years in Glassville and continues his craft at home still to this day. He reflected on how Glassville and Knowlesville have changed over the years and feels that the loss of the village schools really impacted on community life. ""When you take the school out of a community, you take out its heart". This sentiment was shared by Donna White at our local history night held on February 1st. She said the loss of the one-room school houses was something she missed as she felt that those schools kept the families together and did a good job in educating the kids. "The younger kids could see what the older kids were learning and learned more then than I feel they do now". It is interesting that this debate over the community school continues right up to today. Juniper Elementary is one of the last schools of it's kind in the area. Small, yes - but with multi-grade classes and a great teacher to student ratio, it is a great school to hold on to. Donna laments the decision to close the one-room schools back in 1950s. Tom laments the decision to close the Glassville school in the 1970s. Hopefully we don't lament the loss of the Juniper School in the 2010s. But maybe we need to come up with some innovative solutions that will keep Juniper school running in the long-run and not post-pone just by one year. Some of the proposals that people attending the consultation meetings came up with include: 1) Enlarging the enrolment area for the school to include Knowlesville and maybe even Glassville; 2) Considering the French community in Juniper, looking to expand French language instruction at the school - French immersion or a variation that would allow for kids coming in to get instruction in both French and English; 3) Waiting to see if new jobs in the area will bring in more families and promoting the school as a community asset.

I hold on to Tom Dodd's quote "When you take the school out of a community, you take out its heart". If you can, please come out to the next consultation at Juniper Elementary on Tuesday, February 8th at 7pm.

Family Nature Walk & Pottery Glaze Painting--Success!

It is a bright and chilly day as we set out for our nature walk. The kids are bundled and snowshoes are strapped on, in order to navigate through the still-thick snow. Our crew, three adults and seven kids, begin at the KAN centre on Simms road. Alder trees grow by the side of the road and Tegan shows us all how to identify Alder catkins, a sometimes-shelter for insects in winter. We turn down South Knowlesville Road and into the woods across from Fallsbrook centre. We are all thrilled to see a dark shape bouncing around in a thicket of trees...and no less thrilled to discover that this is in fact Curly, beside herself with joy to be included in the fun--as always. Within only a few feet of the edge of the beginning of the path, Tegan discovers a beautiful, delicate and tiny bird's nest. "A bird's nest held together with poo." Horus repeats after her, awestruck. We will ask Sal what kind of bird. Tegan pockets the nest, and it will be added to the nature table at the KAN centre. Horus has already lost his snowshoes about eighty seven times, and has relented to being pulled by Leland in the sled. We learn now to identify Fir trees, with their flat needles and smooth yet bubbly bark which contains a naturally healing sap. Leona and Sammi roam ahead. We cross the brook, and then up a steep and rather narrow path over rock, then come through to Simms Road again, past the rec hall. At this point, the boys have had enough. Horus abandons his mittens altogether. The risk of frostbite is real. The girls have disappeared. Tegan goes back, and we hurry ahead to the KAN centre to put the hot apple cider on the woodstove. Back at the centre, Lee and Linda have arrived, so we hang out, until the Wong-Daughertys return--safe and sound. Several porcelain dishes are then beautifully painted with bright glaze colours, and everyone will have their bowl or mug in a few days. A good time was had by all.

The Family Art & Nature day will be a regular event, held on the last Sunday of each month, and will include a potluck gathering and family art project.

See you on Sunday, February 27th. at 3pm, for a walk, followed by an early potluck.

History Sharing Night--February 1st

On Sunday, February 1st, at 6:30, the Knowlesville Art and Nature Centre (111 Simms Road, Knowlesville) will be hosting a history night for the Knowlesville, Glassville, Windsor and Armond communities of Northern Carleton County. This event is the culmination of a project by Tegan Wong Daugherty that was initiated in order to explore and document the experiences of seniors in our rural environs. Although the greater Knowlesville area is historically a farming community, many of our elders moved to the hills of Ketchum Ridge and Skedaddle Ridge in the 1960s and 70s, to go "back to the land", seeking a greater connection with the natural world and a more self-sufficient lifestyle. In recent years, the demographics of Knowlesville, Glassville, Windsor and Armond have changed--like many rural communities, fewer young people who grew up in these regions remain to pursue agriculture or traditional trades. However, community, the spirit of self-sufficiency and love of the land remain central factors for a new generation of younger families who have chosen to make their homes here. Join us on Sunday to hear stories and to share ideas about practices and traditions from the past that can enrich our rural communities into the future. The history sharing event will be followed by a musical jamboree at 8pm. Everyone is welcome!

For more information, please contact Tegan Wong-Daugherty at 375-8623.

Learn to Sing!

Horus, my two-year-old and I love to sing. But before our first singing lesson with Tracy Anderson at the KAN centre a few weeks ago, I was feeling a little bit apprehensive for a number of reasons. I had taken private singing lessons as a kid, and the experience was somewhat anxiety-producing, and I certainly didn’t want to pass any of my music fears onto Horus. As soon as we began our first lesson though, I knew we were in very good hands. Tracy is an extremely patient and very easy-going teacher, and both Horus and I have been enjoying our lessons immensely. We begin with a short warm-up, and then we sing some kids’ songs for Horus, who then tends to head over to the bookshelf or the pile of blocks so that I can work on some of the Italian arias I’m working on. It’s a lovely arrangement, and Tracy is a wonderful, encouraging teacher. It just so happens that she also has up to 3 more half-hour spaces available for students at the KAN centre on Tuesday mornings/early afternoons. For more information, please call 391-6120.

Nature Walk Postponed!

Yes, It is *very* cold out there. Minus twenty, or so they say. I just popped out to tend the goats--they're quite shaggy this time of year, and they told me they were doing fine, but I nearly froze, and I don't think the Littles would have much tolerance for these temperatures...

So we are postponing the Family Nature Walk until next week, Sunday the 30th of January, at 2pm, at the KAN centre, 111 Simms Road.

Hope to see you all there!

Family Nature Walk Tomorrow!

Step out into winter tomorrow afternoon...Knowlesville is still and quiet under its thick white blanket, and the forest is mesmerizing: austere, yet full of life and vigor. Can you read footprints in the snow? Learn with Tegan and Sal. Be outside. KAN centre 111 Simms Road, 2pm, hotappleciderandtea, family, 5 bucks.

Nutrition Talk Report

Thank you to everyone who came out to make our Nutrition Talk night a success! We all got to know each other a little bit better, and enjoyed a very interesting presentation by Pauliina on raw foods and feasted on some of her delicious raw food creations.

And we have decided to make this a monthly event!

Next nutrition talk night will be held on Wednesday, February 23rd, at 7pm, also at Big Red (Tegan and Leland's house at 107 South Knowlesville Road). Thank you to Tegan for hosting this fun and informative event!

See you next month...

Welcome!

Welcome to the KAN centre and community blog! This is the place to find information on past and upcoming programming for the Knowlesville Art and Nature Centre, as well as other community events happening in the region. Check out the page at the top left, that will take you directly to an information page featuring classes, workshops and events at the KAN centre, and watch our links section to the right, to connect with local organizations.