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News from Reevis Mountain School
February 2010
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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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Sign up soon for Bigfoot's
Wild Edible, Medicinal, and Useful Plants class
at Lost Dutchman March 20!
With the recent rains, we anticipate beautiful specimens at Lost Dutchman State Park for Bigfoot's plants class on March 20. This may be the last class at Lost Dutchman for a while, as the park (located north of Apache Junction, at the foot of the Superstitions) is due to close June 3. The class fee includes a plant study book with information on more than 150 plants and space to add your own samples ($20 value!). Attendance is limited. Please see below for more details.
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 Rain! This morning, the last day of February, rain is dropping gently ... Reevis Mountain is hidden by woolly clouds ... and the wintry pomegranate tree outside the window is decorated with tiny spheres that reflect the silver sky. We are full of gratitude for the soft rains we've received this month, after the stormy floods of January. We are already seeing cleavers (pictured) springing up around the farm. Cleavers are one of our favorite herbs, used in both our Liver Tonic and Kidney Tonic remedies. It has been several years since we had enough rain for us to gather a crop of cleavers. We are looking forward to happy, beautiful plants this spring for harvesting and our plants classes.
We were sad to say farewell to Mary, whose spiritual path is taking her to other places ... but delighted by the return of Travis, who was here for two months last year and is wonderfully skilled at seeing what things need to be done and actually getting them done. We also are happy to welcome Matt, who arrived on foot last week - we especially appreciate his peaceful energy and his willingness to dive into any job ... including digging outhouses!
We had a lovely week at Winter Count, catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. Peter taught a plants class, friction fire making, and natural healing; Patricia learned to make Cherokee-style moccasins; and we brought back a Kenyan welcome song.
This month we also spent two days in New River learning to facilitate the linkage of the human body's energy meridians to the grid lines of the earth. The Reconnection, as it is called, brings in new lines that draw energy for the renewal of the body and for spiritual growth. Peter and Patricia are able now to facilitate The Reconnection as well as Reconnective Healing sessions. (One of Patricia's highlights for the month was experimenting with the Reconnective frequencies with our chickens, and coming back a week later, after Winter Count, to find that they were laying much bigger eggs - most are "jumbo" size now - and even one with a double yolk ... which Peter says we have never had here before!)
Please check out our slate of spring classes - we are offering two dates of the plants class at Catalina State Park (north of Tucson) and, on March 20, what might be our last class at Lost Dutchman for a while, as the park is due to close June 3. We will also give a weekend Homestead Living class at RMS, in addition to our annual RMS plants class, Wilderness Survival, and Stone Masonry. If you would just like to visit the farm for a quiet weekend of hiking or meditation, please consider coming for our Nature Retreat in April. Peter will be giving one-hour lessons in natural healing, meditation, and plants during the retreat.
We are very excited to be exploring ways we could offer Bigfoot's classes online, through webcasts or webinars, so that people around the world can learn his herbal knowledge and wilderness wisdom. If you have expertise in this area and would like to give us a hand with developing these classes, please email Patricia - we will be delighted to hear from you!
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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
Wild Edible, Medicinal, and Useful Plants, Catalina State Park, May 1, $85
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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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 or May 1 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 (single $25 per night, double $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
We are seeing the first signs of spring in the orchard ... many trees have flower buds swelling, the blackberries are leafing out, and the elephant heart plum tree and some apricots are blossoming! We have been continuing to plant crops of cold-weather vegetables and will begin to sow warmer-weather crops in April. Thanks to the January and February rains, we are seeing lots of young cleavers, wild oats, and cliffbreak fern and have hopes of bountiful wild herb harvests and beautiful plants class specimens this spring.
What We're Harvesting
We are continuing to enjoy root vegetables and winter greens from the garden - beets, carrots, turnips, and especially rutabagas, which are big and beautiful this year. In the wild, we have been munching on wild desert rhubarb (canagrie) stalks, which are thriving along the forest road thanks to the recent rains. What We're EatingEvery meal at RMS is built around greens, whole grains, and meat or eggs. Steamed winter greens and dutch-ovened root vegetables are staples now. Elk or turkey often provides the protein for both breakfast and supper - we don't eat eggs much in the winter, and the hens don't lay many, either. Here's how we cook elk ribs and neck (or any tougher cut). Oven Cooked ElkPreheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a dutch oven, sear the meat on all sides with sea salt and black pepper. Set aside on a plate. In the same pot, saute lots of chopped onions and carrots in olive oil and butter, over medium heat. When the vegetables have begun to brown, add plenty of herbs of your choice - we like thyme, oregano, tarragon, and a pinch of dried lavender blossoms. Fill the pot halfway with water and add a bay leaf or two. Bring to a boil and add the meat. Cover the pot and cook in the oven until the meat is tender - it might be two to three hours, depending on the meat. Once or twice during cooking, turn the meat so that it all gets a chance to cook in the broth. Please visit our website for lots more farm recipes! |
| Wilderness Retreats at RMS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RMS is a sanctuary free of most modern-day distractions and pollutants (including television and cell phones!), 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 email us for information. |
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How to Purchase RMS Remedies
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peter
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 division of the PAAK Foundation, an Arizona 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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"One cannot bid the wind and waves to cease, but one can learn to navigate treacherous currents by conducting ourselves in harmony with the prevailing processes of transformation - and thus weather the storms of life." - John Blofeld, I Ching
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