Sarah reports on our 'Official' Gate-opening Ceremony Sunday 16th September 2007

'Exactly 9 calendar months since that cold, wet January evening when we first viewed Orchard Barn, we officially opened the gate! It was a long, patiently born gestation. Many thanks to all who have helped in the birthing of our heart-centred community project.

Prior to the opening of our rejunenated gate, which had been duly hung on Elm posts, cut by hand, by community, from the site (read full story) the gate was decorated with Ivy. OBee friends and supporters decorated the gate further with yellow Clematic flowers and spoken wishes for the project. Kaaren Whitney read Orchard Barn Acre (which she had written to commemorate the opening). A big honey Bee pre-empted the official cutting of the Ivy by flying straight over the crowd and into the site. (More about Ivy and Bees to follow).

After cutting the Ivy with shears and following the Bee onto the site, the group went on a ceremonial tour of the site. With sticks, staffs, song and flute, we 'beat the boundaries of the land' (or as much of them as we can currently get to!)

A shared lunch followed. Water and pitta bread were heated over a small wood fire. Washing-up was a community activity at our 'temporary' kitchen sink. All waste water being collected to water our baby trees and the beans in the raised bed (ex-muck spreader).

Then followed some quiet individual time in nature to reflect on what our personal and collective harvests for the year were. These harvests were then marked by hanging 'found' objects from nature on a large hoop woven from Ivy roots and hung in the large Ash just outside the farmyard. To close the occasion, we sang the Celebration Stomp - a raucious stomping song written by Andi Povey (formerly Gibbons)

 

Please contact Sarah if you would like to get involved in the project.

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This project encourages and supports community in re-learning how to work, rest and play together - co-operatively with nature - for the greater good

www.orchardbarn.org.uk © 2007 Wildfire Designs

Photographs © Tony Mounter and Sarah Partridge