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News from Reevis Mountain School
December 2009
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A Division of the PAAK Foundation, an Arizona 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Peter Bigfoot, Founder and Director / Patricia Sanders, Office Manager and Editor
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 We're sending this newsletter a little early this month, so that it can carry our wishes for happy and beautiful holiday celebrations to all. We wish you joy and love.
Here, we will be enjoying a quiet day blessed by the presence of a few good friends. Bigfoot has a 50-pound turkey ready to go in the oven tonight, Patricia will be making a pie or two, and our dear friend Cynthia is decorating the porch in holiday colors and candles. We are very happy to have interns David and Mary with us for the holiday, and our friend Thaine arriving tomorrow.
A highlight of December was the return of the irrepressible Mary, who was with us in September and October of this year, left for California at the beginning of November, and then found herself drawn back to Reevis. She is a joy to have here and will be a stellar example to the new interns we are expecting in January.
David, who arrived at the beginning of November, has become indispensable around here for his help with chores and projects. We're delighted that he plans to stay until late spring. With two or three more interns expected in January, we will have a full crew to undertake some major construction projects and various maintenance and repair tasks around the farm this winter, and allow Bigfoot and Patricia time to work on writing projects and all the tasks we can't seem to get to during growing season.
One of our favorite stories from December is about the elk hunt. Peter and Patricia left on December 4 for Williams, AZ, for the antlerless elk hunt in area 10. Following directions from a friend in Roosevelt, they camped in the Ford van just north of town. The first night out was 5 degrees Fahrenheit - brrrr! After three days, Bigfoot had had a few good opportunities but hadn't got his elk yet (possibly because Patricia was jinxing him with her recent vegetarian tendencies).
The weather continued cold and it was only on the third night that they were sleeping cozily in three sleeping bags and a wool army blanket ... when a strong wind suddenly set one of the windows to banging, and woke Peter at about 1 a.m. He lay awake thinking about something he'd heard from a local hunter - that a big storm was forecast for the next day. And how he and Patricia were camped far from any paved road ... and that the farm would probably get heavy rain, maybe flooding. About 1:30 he woke Patricia to get her opinion. She popped open her Internet-enabled cell phone and brought up the local weather forecast. The heading was: BLIZZARD WARNING! Up to twenty-eight inches expected, starting now!
By 2 a.m. Peter and Patricia had crawled out from under those cozy sleeping bags, got dressed, packed ... and their hearts sunk as the engine failed to start. Peter did some quick mechanical magic under the hood, and they hit the road for home - in the nick of time. Snow was already falling heavily on I-17 ... and rain was just beginning to fall when they reached home, at 7 a.m. (We got three inches of much-needed rain!)
Peter went back to area 10 the following Saturday for the last two days of the hunt. After a luckless day of waiting in the snow and wind, with just a half day left in the hunt, he took a chance and hiked away from the van. He caught sight of a small herd of elk a hundred yards away - he could just see their legs under the tree branches. Then one cow stepped out into a clear spot. When Peter got to it, he found that the elk he'd shot weighed about 600 pounds! (We're enormously grateful that our friend Lee Ann's parents just donated a chest freezer!) Dragging the elk out to the snow-packed road and then loading it onto the roof rack on the van was a feat of wilderness engineering.
For more
information (and pictures!) about the farm, Peter Bigfoot's herbal remedies, and classes and events, please visit www.reevismountain.org.
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Coming Events
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Winter Count Primitive Living Skills Rendezvous, Feb. 14-20, Maricopa, AZ
Oriental Acupressure, at RMS, Feb. 25-28, $238
Wild Edible, Medicinal, and Useful Plants, Lost Dutchman State Park, March 20, $78
Wilderness Survival, at RMS, March 25-28, $238
Nature Retreat at RMS, April 9-11, $178
Wild Edible, Medicinal, and Useful Plants, Catalina State Park, April 17, $85
Wild Edible, Medicinal, and Useful Plants, at RMS, April 23-25, $178
Homestead Living, at RMS, May 13-16, $238
Stone Masonry, at RMS, June 7-12, $143
Please see below for more information.
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Winter Count Primitive Living Skills Rendezvous, Feb. 14-20, near Maricopa, AZ
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Teachers and artisans in primitive technology gather every winter at the Backtracks Winter Count Rendezvous to share ideas and methods as well as spread their arts through hands-on workshops. This is an opportunity for you to receive skills instruction from some of the nation's top primitive technologists and artisans.
Bigfoot will teach bow and drill fire starting, useful plants, and natural healing; others will be teaching a wide variety of primitive skills. Contact the event organizer, Backtracks, for more information and registration: dwescot@aol.com, www.backtracks.net, (208) 359-2400.
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Oriental Acupressure, at RMS, February 25-28, $238
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A doctor may not be available when you need one - now you can learn to take care of yourself! Oriental acupressure is a simple and profoundly effective healing art founded on the understanding of the human body as animated by life force energy that constantly flows through meridians in and around the body. Most illness is caused by a restriction in the free flow of life force. Oriental Acupressure is an art designed to reestablish that free flow and return us to our natural state of being: painless, joyous, and loving. You will learn the philosophy of Oriental Acupressure, the meridians and pulse points, diagnosis through reading the pulses, techniques of touch healing, and first aid with Oriental Acupressure. Includes Bigfoot's Book of Ancient Natural Remedies. Three days. |
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Wild Edible, Medicinal, and Useful Plants, at RMS, Lost Dutchman, or Catalina ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Our Sonoran desert plants, bushes, and trees harbor many secret treasures, from healthy nourishment to remedies for illness, injury, and venomous bites and stings. We make it easy and fun to learn ... and, of course, you'll get Bigfoot himself answering your questions, and his fascinating stories of healing and survival. You will receive a personal plant study book that contains information on more than 150 medicinal and edible wild plants (a $20 value!) plus room to add actual samples that are gathered during the class. Easy hiking through the desert, exploring the plant life as we go. Dress for the weather, including a wide-brimmed hat for protection from the sun. Choose from March 20 at Lost Dutchman State Park (north of Apache
Junction), 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., $78; April 17 at Catalina State Park (north of Tucson), 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., $85; and the two-day class at RMS, April 23-25, $178.
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Wilderness Survival, at RMS, March 25-28, $238
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is a comprehensive desert skills course. Experience life on a working homestead in the mountains of the Superstition Wilderness while acquiring wilderness skills and nature awareness in a desert environment. Skills covered: bow and drill primitive fire making; knife sharpening; all-natural emergency first aid including wilderness healing of venomous bites and stings; rope and string made of natural fibers; emergency shelters; land navigation; traps and animal preparation for food; and so much more. Meet new friends, eat home-grown food, enjoy evening campfires - a unique, life-enriching experience. Maximum 14 students. Three days. For this class, shuttle pickup on the first day is at 3 p.m.
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| Nature Retreat at RMS, April 9-11, $198
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Enjoy two days and nights in RMS's magical wilderness sanctuary - a place of inspiration and peace, a space to experience inner tranquility. Includes lodging in a cabin or yurpee (as available); a one-hour herb walk, one-hour natural healing lesson, and daily meditation lessons with Bigfoot; healthful and hearty organic meals from our garden; informal nutritional counseling; and ample time for relaxation or hiking in nature's beauty. Bigfoot's meditation lessons will aid you in learning and practicing several meditation techniques on your journey to achieving inner peace and a tranquil mind. Peter Bigfoot has been practicing meditation for over 35 years and will share his experience with you.
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Homestead Living, at RMS, May 13-16, $238
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Learn how we live on RMS's off-the-grid homestead in the Superstition Wilderness. We cover the farm's solar and water systems; heating and cooling; how we care for our garden and orchard; care and processing of livestock; how we manage waste and garbage; use of a solar oven; self-care and healing; attitudes that are important for survival and happiness; and much more. Three days.
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Stone Masonry, at RMS, June 7-12, $143
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hands-on experience in the art and skill of stone wall construction: selecting native stones, mixing concrete, placing stones, esthetic and structural considerations, choice of tools and materials. Bring work gloves and work clothes. Help build something that will virtually last forever and never need paint. Five days. For this class, shuttle pickup on the first day is at 10 a.m.
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Planning to attend a class or event?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Classes held at Reevis Mountain School include: meals (arrival night meal is a potluck party - bring a healthful, natural dish to share!), class supplies, hot showers, and campsite. Camping is free, or stay in a yurpee ($10 per night) or cabin (singles $25 per night, doubles $50 per night) - availability permitting. Yurpees and cabins have beds and pillows; bring your own sheets and blankets or sleeping bag.
Complimentary shuttle service from Roosevelt, 10 miles one way - or caravan in your own 4X4. Shuttle pickup is at 4 p.m., first day of class (please note exceptions listed in class descriptions), at M&S Marine, Hwy. 188, Roosevelt (between milepost 233 and 234).
Early Registration: 10% discount if you register with full payment 30 days prior to class date.
To Register: 3 ways: visit our website and register online; or mail your name, phone number, postal and email addresses and full payment or a 50% deposit to the address below; or email us with this information and mail a check or request Paypal instructions. Indicate whether you will need shuttle service from Roosevelt and/or wish to rent a yurpee or cabin instead of camping. Balance due prior to class.
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What We're Growing, Harvesting, and Eating
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 We'd like to share with you what's going on in the garden, the orchard, and the kitchen - the vegetables we're planting, the bounty (fruit, veggies, livestock, and herbs!) we're harvesting, and how we turn our harvest into nourishing, delicious meals.
What We're Growing
With the cold weather this month the garden has been growing very slowly. But we still have winter greens (collards, bok choy, turnip greens, and rutabaga greens) and plenty of root vegetables (carrots, beets, rutabagas, turnips)! The parsnips, garlic, onions, cabbage, and new crop of chard Bigfoot planted last month are a few inches tall ... and we have lettuces and bok choy in the greenhouse that will be ready for harvest soon.
What We're Harvesting
It's all about winter greens and root vegetables this time of year! We're amazed by the rutabagas, which are deliciously sweet, and some are the size of small children (see the picture)!
What We're Eating
Every meal at RMS is built around greens, whole grains, and meat or eggs. Again, winter greens and root vegetables are staples now ... along with dishes made from our own corn. Elk or turkey provides the protein for both breakfast and supper (we don't eat eggs much in the winter, because the chickens produce very little, and eggs' energy isn't warm enough, anyway). We've just enjoyed the two rounds of cheese that Patricia made back in September, and looking forward to the next batch!
Bigfoot's Favorite Carrot Cake
We don't advocate consuming sugary foods too often, but for Bigfoot's birthday this month we made an exception. Here's our favorite recipe. We use homegrown or organic, locally produced ingredients wherever possible.
3 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups Demerara sugar
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups olive oil
4 large eggs, beaten
1 tablespooon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
2 cups finely grated carrots
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and butter your pans well. Sift dry ingredients together and beat in the oil, eggs, and vanilla. Fold in nuts, coconut, and carrots. Pour batter into pans and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until done. Cool on a cake rack. Frost according to your discernment, put a few slices in the mail to us, and enjoy.
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| Wilderness Retreats at RMS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RMS is a sanctuary free of most modern-day distractions and pollutants (including television!), a place to reconnect with Earth and Spirit, while enjoying the school's organic/whole foods cuisine and wilderness surroundings. Yurpees and cabins are available for overnight, weekend, or longer retreats. Please visit www.reevismountain.org or email us for more information. |
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How to Purchase RMS Remedies
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Bigfoot's herbal tinctures and salves are available to order by email
(orders@reevismountain.org), phone (928) 467-2675, on our website (click on Country Store), by mail (7448 S. J-B Ranch Rd., Roosevelt, AZ 85545), or at retailers in Phoenix (Healthy Habit, 6029 N. 7th St., and Total Body Awakening Legacy (602-774-0160), Scottsdale (The Natural Medicinary at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, 8010 E. MacDowell Rd.), Mesa (Preparing Wisely, 144 S. Mesa Dr.), Tempe (SWIHA's
bookstore, 1100 E. Apache Blvd.), Flagstaff (New Frontiers Market and
Village Healing Center), Sedona (New Frontiers Market), Cottonwood (Mt. Hope Foods), Camp Verde (Healthy Thymes), and Globe (Back to Basics, corner of Broad and Cedar).
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We Welcome Donations
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RMS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization; donations may be tax deductible. Currently our highest priority to is replace our gasoline creek pump with a solar pump, and any assistance toward that goal will be greatly appreciated. Cash donations are always welcomed with deep gratitude and will be put toward the pump fund, ongoing expenses, or the costs of housing and feeding our interns, who pay for their stay here in work rather than money.
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Quick Links...
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To live content with small means;
To seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion;
To be worthy, not respectable, and
wealthy, not rich;
To study hard, think quietly,
Talk gently,
Act frankly;
To listen to stars and birds, to
babes and sages, with open heart;
To bear all cheerfully,
Do all bravely,
Await occasions,
Hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden
and unconscious, grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony."
- William Henry Channing, "My Symphony"
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