So after quite a challenging ride from Crawford Bay, I have been in Nelson now for a day. It is the town that I have heard such a great deal about - from the hippie eco culture to the weather and geographical surroundings, it has met all it's anticipated qualities. It's an extremely hilly town, on the side of a mountainous hill that dives into the west arm of Lake Kootenay. Focused largely on cooperative lifestyles there are a ton of co-operative business structures. From the Kootenay Co-op radio station (that three of my fellow tour members were interviewed with earlier today!) to the Co-op health food store, to the Community Forestry Management Co-operative that we learned about yesterday, the area seems to pick up on the community lifestyle, where all members have an equally important say in operations and proceedings. The group of ten of us are staying in the Katimavik house here in Nelson, (for those of you who haven't heard of this uber cool program, check out the website www.gokatimavik.com - it's basically a year long volunteering experience for young Canadians in Canada). They have been ever so welcoming and generous.
Today we had the pleasure of preforming three times. Two at the local high school and one to the Katimavik group and friends that we are staying with. We were soo well received in the school presentations, and could not get over how much energy and fun we had preforming. The students were so receptive, and although they were already aware of many of the issues we put forth to them, when we challenged them to suggest changes that they could make outside of those we suggested, they rose to that challenge suggesting innovative ways that they could make their school community more liveable (but to me - Nelson doesn't have a problem with this - it seems amazingly liveable in my thoughts, there's always room for improvement though right?!).
I wish I could more easily describe the vibe of this city to you. It's just amazing, fresh, progressive, yet totally down to earth. Every cafe is locally owned, and provides sustainable coffee options, they have two year round markets, they label everything as to it's whereabouts, and has some stellar hemp clothing shops, used clothes shops, and unique restaurants, spots to hear live music, and places to browse and buy art. They have a beach, a mountain, and a waterfall. The community of Nelson has normal people who have chose to live a little differently, and everyone just seems so, so very happy. It's so nice to know that cities like this exist. It's just too bad the rest of Canada knows it exists as well, and there are no jobs to be had...but lot's of volunteering opportunities.
After another performance tomorrow at a different school we have some time off - we are a talking about climbing a mountain, and exploring the town, maybe going farther afield to some hot springs. It's sounding like tonight we will go to take in some local talent at an open mic night at a pub around the corner, and tomorrow, there is a bloc party - where streets are filled with people who just dance! I'm excited to dance - like no one's watchin'!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Can you smell Creston?
Creston was filled with beautiful blooming fruit trees, a wonderful sense of community, beautiful mountains as a back drop, and lusciously sweet smelling lilacs around every corner. As we biked from Yahk into Creston we stopped at the very first "local asparagus and rhubarb" sign we saw, up until this point I had been missing these early season Ontario veggies and fruits. My bike buddie and I stocked up for the group knowing that likely every other group mate had done the same thing. As we continued out ride into the valley town of creston, we saw sign after sign advertising fruit stands, waiting to be filled, at the front of blooming orchards. We saw many more signs for rhubarb and asparagus and got a free taste of some of last years apples.
Creston gave us all the feeling that we had been suddenly catapulted into summer - the weather was beautifully summer like, and the town of 5000 had a main strip that was reminiscent of a beach town, only instead of seeing flat water on the horizon, you saw tall mountains in all directions flanking the lush valley town. The United Church in Creston welcomed us into their awesome facility, made us delicious vegetarian dinner, and then we were welcomed into the homes of some of the parishioners for the use of thier running water. A number of us took the opportunity to get clean after a sweaty day of riding, and no showers in a number of days...It was nice enough in Creston to sit outside of the church on the cushy grass, listening to my fellow group members play songs on the guitar that we purchased last week, used, from the cafe we preformed at. On Sunday, the United Church made a pancake breakfast for the group of us, and we preformed our theatre performance for the congregation while they ate their breaky's. We went to their service and two of our members shared their stories of how they came to be on the Otesha journey. I was amazed, absolutely refreshed by this United Church service - almost everyone had a chance to speak out to the group, for announcements, celebrations,or otherwise. People clapped to the songs, and giggled when people goofed up. It was nice. Really nice. After this, the United Church continued their fellowship by after service tea and coffee. Next, our group had the afternoon free, so I rode my bike 15km to the Idaho border, and relaxed with my buddies at the top of a hill in a blossoming apple orchard. We ate a relaxed dinner and went on a loooong walk around Creston after dinner, saw their eco garden, grain towers, and smelled the lilacs once more. When we came back from our walk, Lucy and I experimented in the kitchen - I prepared the crisp for the rhubarb crisp breakfast (made with quinoa flakes, hemp hearts, oats, cane sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and canola oil) and we made delicious gluten free - vegan cookies while we were at it! They were a delicious treat at the end of the day.
Today was just as beautiful as the last. We cycled about 70 km from Creston along the eastern side of Kootenay lake. The scenery was absolutely stunning, again, and I counted 46 springs/creeks/and rivers that were flowing into the Lake. We stopped at a beach and hiked out a rocky point to eat our lunch. The scenery actually reminded me of the freshwater lakes of Algonquin in Ontario, though the small hills of Algonquin are shrimped by the mountains we were eating beside. The highway was not busy with traffic, which we were all thankful for because it had a narrow shoulder and twisted and turned, moved up and down, all the way to the small town of Crawford Bay. And this is where I write you from now. A beautiful school in a small town, on the east side of Kootenay lake, after a tiring, fulfilling and extremely amazing day of cycling. I am grateful, and I could not imagine any better way to have spent this 25th day of May, 2009.
Peace.
Creston gave us all the feeling that we had been suddenly catapulted into summer - the weather was beautifully summer like, and the town of 5000 had a main strip that was reminiscent of a beach town, only instead of seeing flat water on the horizon, you saw tall mountains in all directions flanking the lush valley town. The United Church in Creston welcomed us into their awesome facility, made us delicious vegetarian dinner, and then we were welcomed into the homes of some of the parishioners for the use of thier running water. A number of us took the opportunity to get clean after a sweaty day of riding, and no showers in a number of days...It was nice enough in Creston to sit outside of the church on the cushy grass, listening to my fellow group members play songs on the guitar that we purchased last week, used, from the cafe we preformed at. On Sunday, the United Church made a pancake breakfast for the group of us, and we preformed our theatre performance for the congregation while they ate their breaky's. We went to their service and two of our members shared their stories of how they came to be on the Otesha journey. I was amazed, absolutely refreshed by this United Church service - almost everyone had a chance to speak out to the group, for announcements, celebrations,or otherwise. People clapped to the songs, and giggled when people goofed up. It was nice. Really nice. After this, the United Church continued their fellowship by after service tea and coffee. Next, our group had the afternoon free, so I rode my bike 15km to the Idaho border, and relaxed with my buddies at the top of a hill in a blossoming apple orchard. We ate a relaxed dinner and went on a loooong walk around Creston after dinner, saw their eco garden, grain towers, and smelled the lilacs once more. When we came back from our walk, Lucy and I experimented in the kitchen - I prepared the crisp for the rhubarb crisp breakfast (made with quinoa flakes, hemp hearts, oats, cane sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and canola oil) and we made delicious gluten free - vegan cookies while we were at it! They were a delicious treat at the end of the day.
Today was just as beautiful as the last. We cycled about 70 km from Creston along the eastern side of Kootenay lake. The scenery was absolutely stunning, again, and I counted 46 springs/creeks/and rivers that were flowing into the Lake. We stopped at a beach and hiked out a rocky point to eat our lunch. The scenery actually reminded me of the freshwater lakes of Algonquin in Ontario, though the small hills of Algonquin are shrimped by the mountains we were eating beside. The highway was not busy with traffic, which we were all thankful for because it had a narrow shoulder and twisted and turned, moved up and down, all the way to the small town of Crawford Bay. And this is where I write you from now. A beautiful school in a small town, on the east side of Kootenay lake, after a tiring, fulfilling and extremely amazing day of cycling. I am grateful, and I could not imagine any better way to have spent this 25th day of May, 2009.
Peace.
Friday, May 22, 2009
An old Oteshite had a farm, and a Yahk too.
Wow, British Columbia is a taking my heart by storm. We spent two short nights in Fernie, B.C. and it was fabulous. People were astonishingly friendly, saying hello always and striking up a conversation usually. Everyone seemed to be cycling. They have an eco-community garden in town and it seems to be a rather progressive community in terms of environmental movements. Though it seemed to be quite a touristy centre, it certainly felt like we were there in the off season, and that those people that were around were the real Fernie folk. B.C. has continued to impress me with the beautiful generosity of the people on this planet; from kind Otesha-alumni bringing us treats after a long cycling day, to generous health food store owners who let you go shopping in their aisles for free because you have a 'beautiful mission'. The scenery was stunning on our journey from Fernie to Cranbrook, might I add. We are in the Kootenay's now, and I am impressed by the wooded mountains, hills, rock outcrops, lush river valleys, and natural springs from the mountains.
Our group continues to have a good deal of performances. In Cranbrook yesterday, we preformed for three different schools in three one hour slots. Just yesterday alone, we reached about 900 Grade 7-10 students with our message. Though all of these students might not start making tangible changes, if even one of those 900 students makes a commitment to change, we have made a difference. Judging by feedback, I imagine we have impacted and inspired many students already to be aware of issues, and know that they have the power to change things if they desire! Our performances usually include an introduction of what Otesha is all about, a seriously impactful sideshow demonstrating some issues that we wish to bring forth, our play about a young high school student who is trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life, and in the process is made aware of a number of injustices in our society, an open floor for discussion, and a concluding empowering slide show. As a group, we spend a great deal of time discussing how performances went, and how we can improve our whole show to make it as powerful as we possibly can. Aside from our performances, we recently had a meeting regarding group dynamics. It gave each of us a chance to express how we felt the group was melding, and point out any things that were bothering us or that we think could be improved. I'm learning such a great deal about community living, about communicating effectively and being an open listener and acceptor. It's totally empowering when the group sits down to a meeting, and each person is given the undivided attention of the rest of the group. Long ago we established polite hand signals that we use to indicate when we wish to speak, when we want to propose something, or when we agree or disagree with a group proposal. I'm really enjoying learning so much about consensus based decision making and living without any sort of 'leader'. It's a shame really, how so many 'communities' in North America lack just that: community. There is often no connection, no sharing, just the odd whisper about how ugly Bob's grass is or a gossip about how a cop car was at number 88 last night. I am thoroughly enjoying the communal experience I am having now, the intricate consensus meetings, and the family that I am growing to rely on here, when I am away from my family at home. I certainly feel the community in this group, and I'm loving it.
So today we are in the verrrry small town of Yahk. It has a population of about 350, and we are sleeping and cooking and interneting at their little elementary school, which houses their 13 students. It is between Cranbrook and Creston, and the town is on a beautiful river which we cycled along for the majority of the day today. The river is moving quickly and is briskly cold as the mountains clear themselves of their winter snow during this beautiful spring day. After biking just under 70 kilometers today, we will cycle about that distance again tomorrow to make our way to Creston. I will share some photos with you as soon as I am technologically able!
I'm thinking about you all back home, hoping you are all doing well. I am also smelling dinner cooking, as one of the other cooking squads prepares our vegan stir fry in the other room.
Our group continues to have a good deal of performances. In Cranbrook yesterday, we preformed for three different schools in three one hour slots. Just yesterday alone, we reached about 900 Grade 7-10 students with our message. Though all of these students might not start making tangible changes, if even one of those 900 students makes a commitment to change, we have made a difference. Judging by feedback, I imagine we have impacted and inspired many students already to be aware of issues, and know that they have the power to change things if they desire! Our performances usually include an introduction of what Otesha is all about, a seriously impactful sideshow demonstrating some issues that we wish to bring forth, our play about a young high school student who is trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life, and in the process is made aware of a number of injustices in our society, an open floor for discussion, and a concluding empowering slide show. As a group, we spend a great deal of time discussing how performances went, and how we can improve our whole show to make it as powerful as we possibly can. Aside from our performances, we recently had a meeting regarding group dynamics. It gave each of us a chance to express how we felt the group was melding, and point out any things that were bothering us or that we think could be improved. I'm learning such a great deal about community living, about communicating effectively and being an open listener and acceptor. It's totally empowering when the group sits down to a meeting, and each person is given the undivided attention of the rest of the group. Long ago we established polite hand signals that we use to indicate when we wish to speak, when we want to propose something, or when we agree or disagree with a group proposal. I'm really enjoying learning so much about consensus based decision making and living without any sort of 'leader'. It's a shame really, how so many 'communities' in North America lack just that: community. There is often no connection, no sharing, just the odd whisper about how ugly Bob's grass is or a gossip about how a cop car was at number 88 last night. I am thoroughly enjoying the communal experience I am having now, the intricate consensus meetings, and the family that I am growing to rely on here, when I am away from my family at home. I certainly feel the community in this group, and I'm loving it.
So today we are in the verrrry small town of Yahk. It has a population of about 350, and we are sleeping and cooking and interneting at their little elementary school, which houses their 13 students. It is between Cranbrook and Creston, and the town is on a beautiful river which we cycled along for the majority of the day today. The river is moving quickly and is briskly cold as the mountains clear themselves of their winter snow during this beautiful spring day. After biking just under 70 kilometers today, we will cycle about that distance again tomorrow to make our way to Creston. I will share some photos with you as soon as I am technologically able!
I'm thinking about you all back home, hoping you are all doing well. I am also smelling dinner cooking, as one of the other cooking squads prepares our vegan stir fry in the other room.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
I am alive! Very, very alive.
Dear Readers, my apologies. It is stunning how I can go from my lifestyle at school in front of a computer for 10 hours at a time surrounded by materials, surrounded by stuff, to having extremely sporadic Internet access and living my life with things only filling up just two panniers. It's a reality check really; it's reminding me the joys of simple living. But alas, I love my dear friends and family and I am sorry for the disconnection.
I would love to share with you all how my journey is so nicely progressing. It's been a real joy thus far to cycle, cook, eat, preform, clean, learn and live with these 9 unique individuals. Since we set out after our training week, it seems we haven't had much free time. Our first stop was Okotoks, where my bike buddie and I got miserably lost on route in the cold, pouring, busy, Calgary. Luckily, the warm hospitality of community members rose our looming core temperatures after this 95km wet cold day. We billeted with families in the community preforming our play during the United Church Service. We got a tour in town of a beautiful sustainable house and the Okotoks recycling depot. I began to be amazed by the utter beauty of the mountainous backdrop which never ceases to be stunning. After bidding farewell to our first amazing hosts, we continued ton to Nanton where we camped in the backyard of two young writers. Sharing with them the vegetarian chili we had cooked, they shared with us, their interesting pasts and how they ended up living in this quiet Alberta prairie town. I think my very favourite part of meeting new people is learning from them. Listening to their unique stories, and taking it all in.
The next morning we cycled southward to Fort Macleod, another small Alberta town, where we stayed in the United Church hall (thankfully in from the pouring rain). We did a performance at the local high school. After that we began our westward haunt - DIRECTLY into the westerly winds. Oh what a challenge. As the Alberta prairies faded away, ranch land began, complete with rolling hills. A mentally difficult ride, we felt a great sense of accomplishment when we arrived in Pincher Creek; we were stoked to see the drivers of the day had cooked us a hot meal, in a beautiful strangers home. Another generous, interesting individual. We did two performances in this town, at the foothills of the Kootenies, and in Ranch land Alberta. We all wanted to learn more about the area we were now living in for a couple days: conservative cattle raising Alberta. This made us rethink a scene in our play that deals with factory farming and steroid use. Se, to ensure accuracy, we asked around, and set up a tour of a typical ranch in the area for the very next morning. It confirmed a great deal of what I had learned about the industry and where my worries lie. It helped us to develop our scene more accurately: emphasizing the huge land use that cattle take up, land that is used to grow crops for the cattle that we could be eating. We speak now of the growth hormones, and small feed lots that are common to the area (where in my opinion, cows are fed to death). We learned of the stark culling methods, breeding methods of the cattle, and learned that since BSC has affected Alberta (read: Mad cow) the farmers are now burying the heads, hoofs, guts and hides of the cattle on their property. Sick. What about our groundwater I ask? Furthermore, there is absolutely no requirement in Alberta for riparian buffers, so cattle are allowed to wander in creeks, and poop where they may. It was stark, and it was reality, and it confirmed my commitment to vegetarianism. In the afternoon, we got a tour of a different farm: a wind farm! Certainly a much different use of land, and a quickly growing industry in the area.
Yesterday we cycled a windy 55km, into the collective area of Crowsnest pass. The day was beautiful, bike ride stunning as we entered the Mountains for real. We cycled through Frank Slide, a famous spot where the side of Turtle mountain experienced a drastic rock fall, killing 70 people in the early 1900's. We explored the extremely windy town of Blairmore, and then did a performance one town over in Coleman. It was in a uber funky cafe called the blackbird; the crowd was great. The building is an old catholic church turned trendy cozy hangout. Today, another performance at the Frank Slide Interpretive centre, a shopping trip to make some veggie pasta. Oh, and I climbed allllllllll the way up Turtle Mountain. It's all in a day's experiences on this journey, and it was stunning, amazing, invigorating.
This journey so far has opened my eyes to the extreme generosity that exists in some peoples hearts. It's something I have not been overly exposed to in my life and it is extraordinarily inspiring . I have been touched already, in these short weeks that we have been en route for, by the strangers who have donated food, time, or homes to making our Otesha group oh so welcome. I'm so grateful. And I will pay this forward some day soon, and share my privilege with others the same way. It is these people along the way who are making it easy for us as a dedicated group to spread the word of sustainability and social justice through out performance, and I bid them all thanks.
Life is beautiful. Sending my love your way, family and friends.
I would love to share with you all how my journey is so nicely progressing. It's been a real joy thus far to cycle, cook, eat, preform, clean, learn and live with these 9 unique individuals. Since we set out after our training week, it seems we haven't had much free time. Our first stop was Okotoks, where my bike buddie and I got miserably lost on route in the cold, pouring, busy, Calgary. Luckily, the warm hospitality of community members rose our looming core temperatures after this 95km wet cold day. We billeted with families in the community preforming our play during the United Church Service. We got a tour in town of a beautiful sustainable house and the Okotoks recycling depot. I began to be amazed by the utter beauty of the mountainous backdrop which never ceases to be stunning. After bidding farewell to our first amazing hosts, we continued ton to Nanton where we camped in the backyard of two young writers. Sharing with them the vegetarian chili we had cooked, they shared with us, their interesting pasts and how they ended up living in this quiet Alberta prairie town. I think my very favourite part of meeting new people is learning from them. Listening to their unique stories, and taking it all in.
The next morning we cycled southward to Fort Macleod, another small Alberta town, where we stayed in the United Church hall (thankfully in from the pouring rain). We did a performance at the local high school. After that we began our westward haunt - DIRECTLY into the westerly winds. Oh what a challenge. As the Alberta prairies faded away, ranch land began, complete with rolling hills. A mentally difficult ride, we felt a great sense of accomplishment when we arrived in Pincher Creek; we were stoked to see the drivers of the day had cooked us a hot meal, in a beautiful strangers home. Another generous, interesting individual. We did two performances in this town, at the foothills of the Kootenies, and in Ranch land Alberta. We all wanted to learn more about the area we were now living in for a couple days: conservative cattle raising Alberta. This made us rethink a scene in our play that deals with factory farming and steroid use. Se, to ensure accuracy, we asked around, and set up a tour of a typical ranch in the area for the very next morning. It confirmed a great deal of what I had learned about the industry and where my worries lie. It helped us to develop our scene more accurately: emphasizing the huge land use that cattle take up, land that is used to grow crops for the cattle that we could be eating. We speak now of the growth hormones, and small feed lots that are common to the area (where in my opinion, cows are fed to death). We learned of the stark culling methods, breeding methods of the cattle, and learned that since BSC has affected Alberta (read: Mad cow) the farmers are now burying the heads, hoofs, guts and hides of the cattle on their property. Sick. What about our groundwater I ask? Furthermore, there is absolutely no requirement in Alberta for riparian buffers, so cattle are allowed to wander in creeks, and poop where they may. It was stark, and it was reality, and it confirmed my commitment to vegetarianism. In the afternoon, we got a tour of a different farm: a wind farm! Certainly a much different use of land, and a quickly growing industry in the area.
Yesterday we cycled a windy 55km, into the collective area of Crowsnest pass. The day was beautiful, bike ride stunning as we entered the Mountains for real. We cycled through Frank Slide, a famous spot where the side of Turtle mountain experienced a drastic rock fall, killing 70 people in the early 1900's. We explored the extremely windy town of Blairmore, and then did a performance one town over in Coleman. It was in a uber funky cafe called the blackbird; the crowd was great. The building is an old catholic church turned trendy cozy hangout. Today, another performance at the Frank Slide Interpretive centre, a shopping trip to make some veggie pasta. Oh, and I climbed allllllllll the way up Turtle Mountain. It's all in a day's experiences on this journey, and it was stunning, amazing, invigorating.
This journey so far has opened my eyes to the extreme generosity that exists in some peoples hearts. It's something I have not been overly exposed to in my life and it is extraordinarily inspiring . I have been touched already, in these short weeks that we have been en route for, by the strangers who have donated food, time, or homes to making our Otesha group oh so welcome. I'm so grateful. And I will pay this forward some day soon, and share my privilege with others the same way. It is these people along the way who are making it easy for us as a dedicated group to spread the word of sustainability and social justice through out performance, and I bid them all thanks.
Life is beautiful. Sending my love your way, family and friends.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Brainstorming...
I have met my new family! I have learned the technicalities of group living and consensus based decision making and am looking forward to putting these equal opportunity living styles into action. It's an interesting and new realm of living to me, but one that I already have come to appreciate, it is so extraordinarily respectful and considerate, and I think group living will really educate me and add greatly to my experience bank.
We have learned the Otesha play, we have established group mandates: we decided that we will be eating Vegan for the two months of the trip, have regular meetings, and set out roles and tasks that each community member will be responsible for completing during our journey. We discussed our fears, and our life states, often having rather intense listening and speaking sessions that I never knew could occur between people who were strangers less than a week ago. We have ate deliciously vegan and gluten free - with completely donated food that would have otherwise been trashed by the Calgary grocery stores (Freeganism at it's best). We have all had an enormous amount of fun already - getting to know one another enjoying songs, games and laughs together already.
Our first performance will be at a highschool on Friday, and we are excited and nervous all at once. I am currently in Bragg Creek, gateway to Kananaskis Country, and 15km down the road from the camp where we are staying for our training week. I hope you are all doing well - I will hopefully be able to tell you much more when I have more adequate Internet time. Peace and bicycle grease!
We have learned the Otesha play, we have established group mandates: we decided that we will be eating Vegan for the two months of the trip, have regular meetings, and set out roles and tasks that each community member will be responsible for completing during our journey. We discussed our fears, and our life states, often having rather intense listening and speaking sessions that I never knew could occur between people who were strangers less than a week ago. We have ate deliciously vegan and gluten free - with completely donated food that would have otherwise been trashed by the Calgary grocery stores (Freeganism at it's best). We have all had an enormous amount of fun already - getting to know one another enjoying songs, games and laughs together already.
Our first performance will be at a highschool on Friday, and we are excited and nervous all at once. I am currently in Bragg Creek, gateway to Kananaskis Country, and 15km down the road from the camp where we are staying for our training week. I hope you are all doing well - I will hopefully be able to tell you much more when I have more adequate Internet time. Peace and bicycle grease!
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