Things are Building at Turtle Rock Farm

There came a community

to build a straw bale hermitage

Steve and Mollie of MudStrawLove give an introductory session
Cookout on the farmhouse lawn

Contra Dancing in and outside the old roundtop barn,
thanks to callers and musicians from the Oklahoma City Traditional Music Association.

The hermitage, day one, with just post and beam and roof.
Stacking the straw bales.

Stomping clay, sand, straw and water in the mud pit to make cob
which is then applied to all spaces in the bale walls.

Lime plastering the outside walls
and applying earthen plaster to the inside walls.

Mollie and Steve next to a niche in the inside wall.
The team gathered for supper every evening.

The best straw bale and mudding team ever assembled. (Back row from left) Tom, Linda, Scott, Clayton, Steven, Gardner, George, Alice, Jim, Terry, Doug, Steve, James. (Front row) Nelda, Marissa, Cass, Ann, Pat, Mollie, Tori, Jae (Denise, Dorothy and Lonnie not pictured.)

It was a remarkable week, the week we came together to set the bales and begin mudding the hermitage. It was remarkable for several reasons: the weather was predicted to be very hot and, instead, we had a mild week with early-morning storms and rain which didn't slow us down for long. Remarkably too, in only one week, we got all the walls up and a good start on the plastering. But most remarkably, doing this good work together and reflecting on it together each morning before we started again and taking our healthy meals together at one long table and dancing and playing music together in the evening, we became a little community.

It was indeed remarkable that strangers could work together so well as we learned how to do what we were doing. Of course, we had a great sustainable designer and builder in Tom Temple and great teachers in Steve Kemble and Mollie Curry. Ann and I had great support from our interns Clayton and Jae. But I think it was mostly what we were doing that made the work and the community remarkable. We were all aware all week that a group of people who care about Earth so much that they are willing to make the sacrifices (and have the fun!) of building out of natural materials - wheat straw off the farm, mud from out in front of the hermitage - is the best way to build.

There is still mudding to do, so if you want to join in the fun and the learning, let us know. We've scheduled mudding days the first three Saturdays in July - July 3, 10 and 17. Just call or email us to let us know you're coming. Come get a feel for the great work of building naturally. We're at 580.725.3411 and 580.917.6011. annmcferron@hotmail.com; pathoerth@gmail.com

We extend our deep and enduring gratitude to the wonderful people who spent a week of their lives here with us working on the hermitage. And we hope to be able to help them when they build their straw bale and mud projects.

Read about the daily progress of the week of June 6-12 on our blog www.turtlerockfarm.wordpress.com and see lots more photos here.

Also in June....

Women on the Prairie Retreat
...took the Cosmic Walk and watched the sun go out of view...

...hiked along Doe Creek learning about prairie habitat...

...and learned how to make Cherokee double-walled baskets
thanks to our great teacher, Renee Hoover.

The harvest began in June: here, mulberries, apricots and potatoes

June is a beautiful month in north central Oklahoma. Everything is vibrant green, the wildflowers are blooming on the prairie and the fruits and first vegetables maturing. We have had an abundant crop of strawberries, mulberries and apricots (oh my, the apricot sorbet is good!) There is harvesting in the garden now.

Too, we're happy to report that the kildere who were being hatched in the middle of the pondhouse driveway did indeed hatch and some little ones have been spotted rushing around on their tiny little legs. Sadly, we must also report that our first batch of guineas did not fare well when they met up with Joe, one of our dogs. A friend has brought three mature guineas who are now safely acclimating to the farm. We hope to be able to protect them well. The hens are still producing eggs and enjoying some roaming time outside their chicken tractor. Mr. Darcy, who, unlike Biak Bay, did not like the pellet treats we offered every day, is now loving them. He's also enjoying cooling his heels in the water tank. There is constant change.

Besides the mudding in July, we will be offering the Earth Dinner Retreat, which is a great experience because most of the day is spent cooking fresh food from the garden - and learning how to cook in a way that is healthy for people and Earth. In August, we will offer another Earth Dinner as well as a workshop in which you can learn to make a raised bed garden and/or a turnable composter and grow some of your own food. Too, there will be an Earth Plunge, when families can spend one last weekend on the farm before school starts and, at the end of the month, a Living in the Moment Retreat. The practices experienced in that retreat are helpful in our hectic, multi-tasking, constantly stimulated lives.

We still have dates open during the week for summer mini-vacations, group and individual retreats. We can offer great hikes on the prairie, kayaking, labyrinth walking, great summer food and a quiet, beautiful place to reconnect with nature.

In Peace and Beauty,
Pat & Ann

P.S. Save the date: Green Connections' fabulous Prairie Dinner
and Concert is October 2. Kamala Gamble will be chef of our local foods dinner and Kyle Dillingham, famed Oklahoma fiddler, will be in concert. You can buy your tickets now, on the home page of our website: www.turtlerockfarmretreat.com