Village Fair Highlights

Hello again and we've made it through day two! And it was a fabulous day! We are now used to our routine and there was much less shuffling throughout the day. We finally achieved a nice easy flow that helped boost the peace-loving atmosphere. Activities changed to mix it up a little and today's surprises included a special drumming workshop! You could feel your heart syncopate to the irresistibly catchy beat. And this afternoon we, of course, had our wonderful Village Fair. It is such a fantastic addition to a camp we thought couldn't get any better! Some of our highlights today included taste testing, ceramics and vegetable carving.
Taste Test was an incredible learning opportunity that one doesn't always get through all the social media. Campers got to taste the difference between natural, locally grown foods and their counterparts, the same foods, but processed and imported from far away. There were cherries and green beans and many other delicious local delicacies. We got to decide for ourselves which of the treats was better. Furthermore we learned to make our own granola (containing 8 ingredients) and compare it to a popular cereal brand (Fruit Loops - 35 ingredients!). Campers also got to make hand-squeezed orange juice and hold it up to Sunny D, possibly not a fair contrast. We also got to dye T-shirts with confetti sprinkles to see how long the dye lasts. A frightening concept don't you think? So basically a fascinating thing to think about!
Another afternoon activity was Ceramics. We were making pinch-pots today. A wonderful exercise that helps to center us and guide us towards inner peace and understanding of our inner selves. The beautiful red clay is local and the little pots can be fired in a kiln in Hood River for very cheap if a finished product is desired. Making these lovely works of art is also a peaceful and healthy way to deal with frustration and anger. In all comes together to create a peaceful world.

Our final highlight of the day was vegetable carving. The art is fabulous way to express oneself creatively while making something completely biodegradable and eco-friendly. In fact all the finished products will be composted and given to the chickens. Vegetable carving also teaches cooperation, team-working, and loving support. We cheer each other on because the best art is born in a healthy, loving, and supportive environment.

So overall today was a great day for learning peaceful ways of living. We are excited to see the art that comes from all this creativity floating around. I feel honored to be a part of the next step towards a safe and peaceful world.

Martha