THE

MANITOUPROJECT

NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS & FRIENDS • August 2006

Founder’s Reflections

Recently we’ve changed the wording of our

Manitou Mission Statement – for various good

reasons, but chiefly because it became clear that the

word ‘sanctuary’ held different meanings for different

Manitou Council members. As Manitou founder and

designated ‘vision keeper,’ I’ve needed to reflect on

this. What was the vision in the beginning – nearly

thirty years ago when David and I bought the first

portion of the land? At first, it was simply in order to

protect it, become familiar with its inhabitants, and

learn what we could about responsible land

ownership.

Although sensitive conservation has always been

our primary commitment, over the years a particular

sort of education has become central as well.

Originally named ‘eco-psychology,’ then ‘eco-

spirituality,’ it is now widely known as Deep Ecology.

Our specific intention, as the Manitou organization

came into being, was to model Deep Ecology

principles – which meant honoring the

interconnectedness of all life by teaching and enabling

a harmonious relationship between human activity and

the natural environment. We understand this to be a

two-way exchange: we human members of Manitou

doing what we can to enable ongoing communication

between human seekers and the non-human beings

who dwell on and within the land.

We discovered from our own experience that this

exchange can be profoundly healing. We began to use

the word ‘sanctuary’ to describe Manitou- a place

dedicated to the sort of healing which is possible for

people who open themselves to it. Thus a third vision

was added to our overall educational purpose: 1)

‘ w i s e c o n s e r v a t i o n ’ . . . 2 ) ‘ i n t e r a c t i v e

communication’...and now 3) ‘healing.’

Of course as humans we can’t be sure what

constitutes true ‘sanctuary’ for the non-humans. In

fact one of our emerging envisionings has to do with

exploring precisely that. What might such a non-

human sanctuary look like?

Meanwhile, we’ve composed a new Mission

Statement circling in closer to the original intention of

the Manitou Land.

–Pam Mayer

Revised Mission Statement: July 2006

The Manitou Project celebrates the sacred interdependence of humans and nature. Throughexperiential education and mindful land conservation, Manitou integrates spiritual and practicalecological awareness. Manitou seeks to awaken its members to new ways of being inrelationship with the land, its inhabitants, each other, and the wider community.

q Printed on Recycled Paper

From the President

The last few months at Manitou have shown how

much can be accomplished working with a small

group of dedicated people. One prime example is the

John Seed event that Manitou sponsored at the Hooker

Dunham Theater in May. It was a great success bearly

filling the theater during this event. Attendees were

feted to song, poems, and inspirational stories that

delved into the notion of deep ecology as activism. I

cherished the time listening to one man’s soul-felt

journey that has been warmed by deep commitment

and compassion – a compassion that simply melted

away many difficult social, financial, and political

obstacles that were placed in his expanding path.

Truly amazing! The evening was followed by a day-

long workshop on the Manitou Land attended by 18

people. Another amazing turnout, especially for a

weekday program.

We are now well into our summer program

calendar of events. For us and the rest of the country

it seems, the weather has not been terribly

cooperative. Wet, raining days have caused some

cancellations of certain planned events – we hope to

reschedule these. Others, though, have persevered to

appreciative and steadfast participants in spite of

drippy conditions. On one relatively nice day, a

beautiful sweat lodge was built in the Manitou woods.

It lies just opposite the Labyrinth. Please feel free to

check it out. (The Program Cluster is currently

considering schedules and guidelines for member use.)

For the first time in the history of Manitou, we

have stewardship volunteers assigned to all of the

mapped trails on the land! Everyone at Manitou,

especially Pam, gratefully thanks those folks who have

stepped forward to assist with the never-ceasing

stewardship duties required to care for the land. We

have also formed a Gardening sub-cluster intent on

enhancing and beautifying the welcome area at the

entrance to the Manitou woods. They are working to

caretake in a conscious way native plant species and

educate members and visitors about the native plants

that live at Manitou. Their next steps include an

educational garden area near the Manitou Entrance

and investigating permaculture for long-term projects.

As a new addition to our scheduled summer

programs, we have, coming up the end of August, a

mural art camp taught by Karen Becker, local artist

and well-known muralist. Under Karen’s thoughtful

direction and instruction, the campers will celebrate

the flora and fauna of Manitou by painting large

permanent murals – one of which will become part of

a kiosk at our welcoming area. The Camp will run for

four days just before school jumps into session. (See

enclosed flyer for more details). And these are just a

smattering of new things that are happening at

Manitou!

We’ve discovered that the land speaks in many

ways to many hearts; come hear what it has to say to

you. We invite you to experience Manitou!

--Em Richards

Participants with John Seed at Manitou during “Earth, Spirit,

Action” Daylong workshop. May 24, 2006

Possible blurb on John Seed workshop:Submissions anyone??? With some editingand moving around, there will/can be morespace for the article.

Stewardship Cluster:The Manitou garden group formed this season. Members include Amy

Hyatt, Claudia Diperi, Frances Herbert-Poma, Jeanette Pfeifer, Judy

Agule, Nancy Compton, Reeve Gutsell, and Tara Gordon.

Four areas have been designated for growing and weeding. At

Manitou’s entrance a stone planter has been built. This container will be

planted with showy ethically propagated sun-loving wildflowers, which

can be found on Manitou’s land. Slightly further near the entrance to the

parking area we will construct a fenced off area. Here the native plants

and wildflowers growing will be identified. Near the picnic area an arc

bed has been made. Ethically propagated woodland wildflowers, which

are found on the land, will be planted.

Claudia, Tara and Fred Taylor are currently compiling a list of

wildflowers they have observed growing at Manitou. Em Richards has

offered her GPS for the mapping of their location.

Amy and Reeve are gardening in beds around the house. Additionally

they are maintaining a meadow habitat for wildlife and medicinal plants.

We are also exploring the possibility of working with United Plant Savers

and propagating endangered plants.

We invite you to visit the areas as our plans come to fruition. We also

welcome your participation. Please call Jeanette at 802-387-2487 if you

are interested.

Member Benefits: Manitou LibraryDid you know that Manitou has a small library of books in the

basement of the Manitou house for the use of members? We recently justadded Dave Jacke’s Edible Forest Gardens: Ecological Design andPractice for Temperate Climate Permaculture Volumes 1 & 2. As newadditions for use by the garden cluster, you can browse these books at theManitou Library. The rest of the collection is available for check outincluding such titles as the “Healing Wisdom of Africa” by MalidomaSome and “Dharma Gaia” edited by Allan Hunt Badiner. You can signthem out yourself. If you have any books that you would like to donate,please contact Claudia 254-8834 or cdiperi@sover.net.

Listening to the Land:(Resident Observations 2006) April. 14 : Wood Thrushes return..th

April 21 :: Hairy Woodpeckers arest

courting. The older Beech trees areleafing out. Red Maples areflowering.May 19 : Ovenbirds andt h

Hummingbirds have returned. TheHummingbirds are feeding on theblooming fruit tree in the caretaker’shouse yard. Goldthread blooming..May 26 : Hear a Veery for the firstth

time at Manitou. Rose-breastedGrosbeak and Red-eyed Vireo havereturned the past week along withEvening Grosbeaks. Mosquitoes alsoback in force.June 4 : Three Pink Lady’s-Slippersth

blooming. Scarlet Tanager andVeery marking territories with song..June 13 : Baby Toads abound.th

Buttercups, Raspberries, Cinquefoiland Red Clover are all blooming..July 1 : Found a spring peeper at thest

edge of the Manitou woods. Alsofresh deer scat.July 8 : Deer browsing at edge ofth

the woods in the morning. Thirdsighting in as many weeks. Lilliesblooming. Broadwinged Hawk isactive in the area. Mosquito activityhas died down a bit.July 11 : Observe two deer movingth

up from the stream and past theLabyrinth. July 13 : Young ravens hanging outth

in groups at Manitou. Very raucousearly in the morning and throughoutthe day.

Butterflies & Flowers blooming in June.

Council and Cluster Contact People:StewardshipPam Mayer, 603-643-4034Development & OfficeAmy Hyatt, 802-257-1832, smokyshrew@peoplepc.comMembershipClaudia Diperi, 802-254-8834, cdiperi@sover.netProgramsFred Taylor, 802-387-2681, r_taylor@antiochne.edu

Manitou CouncilEm Richards, 802-387-4286, emriched@yahoo.com

Words from the Beltane Celebration

We had a really nice turn out for our Beltane Celebration on Saturday, May 6 led by Fred Taylor & Benjaminth

Robin. We celebrated the season of sprouting, budding, and flowering, midway between the Spring Equinox andSummer Solstice. Our ceremony included a meditative wildflower walk from the Labyrinth to High Point.

Participants were invited to write “question poems” inspired by Pablo Neruda's "Book of Questions." Here onsome of the poems inspired:

When the trees bend lowand whisper to each otherof the coming stormDoes the earth hear?Or did She already know?

–Chandra

How long does it take the wind tosweep clear the sky?Do you think the spring beautylaughs as it shimmers in the breeze?Solomon's seal, so slow andpatient. Do you ever get tired of waiting?Could it be that the ferns unfurlfrom an inner spiral?What flowers are about to bloom inthe labyrinth of my heart?

–Fred Taylor

Tree makes itself heardAs it falls: speaks by falling.Rock sits in water now,Shining brightly in the flow of life.I keep wanting to move on;Tree and Rock lie quietly still.

--BenjaminRobin, Beltane 2006