Page 18 - C.A.L.L. #47 - Winter 2020/2021

see how things were going. I signed up for a visitor session and really enjoyed the
experience. I asked around if someone would sponsor me as a guest. Right away Mae offered
me a position as a wexer, or work exchanger, and my experience working on Fox Holler Farm
was excellent. I am most proud of the timber frame barn that we built that summer, led by
Cynthia Main and Thomas Kortkamp. I also moved a large steel-framed greenhouse. It was a
challenge to remove about 200 bolts!

I became a resident in August, 2018, and a member this year on May 17th. I believe in the
mission of Dancing Rabbit to showcase sustainability and demonstrate cooperative
community. The community is what I love here, with so many wonderful and helpful people.
Though I grew up on a farm 100 miles east of here and farmed for a while there, the

knowledge and experience of the folks here are a great help in eating healthy and locally.

Though I lived in Texas for 30+ years, it is easy for me to readjust to Midwest
weather. The weather does seem a little more erratic these days, with 80 degrees here

yesterday, a hard freeze forecast for tonight, and snow on Monday! I love the snow and still
wonder how I managed to live in Texas so long!

With winter coming on we have some building projects that are going well. Roofs are the

priority on the new homes which will make it possible to work inside through the winter.
Arune, with the help of Jed and three wexers, has made great progress on her home. Her
house sits on sturdy black locust timbers with about eight feet of clearance underneath.
Connie’s home is coming along, and includes a hydroponic greenhouse for farming tilapia
fish. Connie has been raising tilapia to see what needs they have and how to incorporate
them with hydroponics.

As winter approaches, eight of us are forming a dinner coop at Skyhouse. A few of the
people joining us have been eating at an outdoor kitchen which is closing this weekend. Our
dinner coop will feature a vegetarian diet with occasional meat options. Organizing
grocery shopping and cooking schedules takes time, and as we are starting from scratch
there will be a learning curve. Hopefully all eight of us are good cooks and know how to make
good-sized portions!

Cat gave me a gift last week of homemade bread, fresh from the oven (thanks again
Cat!) With the cold weather here it is a wonderful time to be baking. I think of making soup
and filling Skyhouse with savory aromas.

We are shifting to indoor activities, and though this can be cozy, we are well aware of the
risks. We take precautions seriously here and as cautious as we may be, there is always the
risk of COVID-19 infections, so we must limit outside contacts.

With holidays coming and people visiting outside the village, it is difficult to completely
eliminate risk. Social distance and wear a mask when out in public, please. That said, I hope
you all have wonderful holidays and stay very safe. Much love to all of you!

Parmejean (John) Demaree is a member of Dancing Rabbit ecovillage. He is a regular at happy hour in
the park and keeps our shared vehicles in good running order.

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