Page 17 - C.A.L.L. #47 - Winter 2020/2021

Celebrating Our Land:

A Dancing Rabbit Update

October 26, 2020
by Parmejean (John) Demaree

Dancing Rabbit’s six founders purchased 280 acres in Scotland County, Missouri, on October
1, 1997. They chose this location because it was close to Sandhill Farm, an intentional
community that had been in the area for over 40 years, the land was cheap, and there were
few land restrictions. Every October, Dancing Rabbit celebrates our founding on Land Day,
with events to commemorate our good fortune to live simple lives in community.

Parmejean here, relating to you the
doings of our village of late. Land Day
began with a muffin breakfast,
sponsored by Alline and Kurt in the park

outside the Milkweed Mercantile.
Besides Alline’s muffins and cider, we
had banana muffins made by Dorothy
and corn bread muffins made by several
people, including myself. The weather
was lovely to boot. This outdoor celebration drew a nice crowd and lots of lively conversation.
The large pin oak shading the park was planted by Kurt and Alline, symbolizing their 20-year
commitment to living at Dancing Rabbit.

That afternoon we had a formal Land Day celebration in our town center with several
rounds of singing, including the song, “We’re Building Dancing Rabbit.” Alyson brought a
large collection of flowers from her home at nearby Red Earth Farm to share with all the
participants. We also had a round of individual testimonies, sharing why we love this land and
this community. It was emotional for me to hear the heartfelt comments of long term
members as well as new arrivals. The common values we share to live lightly on the Earth
gave me a renewed commitment to quit driving my personal vehicle and use our ride

sharing vehicle cooperative for any trips I might need.

My connection with this land goes back to a brief visit here with my family in the year
2000. The land was quite open around the village then, with just a few trees around the

edges and now it looks like we had to clear a lot of trees to build the homes that are here.
After our visit in 2000 I started getting the DR monthly email newsletter, the March Hare,
and so kept loose track of events in the village. I remember reading about a third intentional
community, Red Earth Farm, being established on land abutting Dancing Rabbit, thus creating
what we refer to as the tri-communities.

When I retired two years ago and started traveling, I thought I should visit DR and

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