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Skilled Arts
At different degrees, the four elements, fire, wind, water and earth find their place in each Skilled Art. There is also a sense of pride and authenticity that is inherent in each of the Skilled Arts. They all rest comfortably at home in both the Fine and the Practical Arts, and in their application the one who wields the ax, the hammer, the wheel, the press and the plow, must, above all else, be a Skilled Artist.
Each area in the Skilled Arts is similar, but different. Each Skilled Art has an ancient past, from the first time man picked up a stick and drew an idea in the clay and sand. Each Skilled Art is poetry, the artists speaking with their craft rather than their tongue. Each Skilled Art created treasures and gifts that have lasted hundreds, sometimes thousands of years. In their extreme, the Skilled Arts have been used in war and in peace, have represented the feeding and starving of the world, fostered knowledge and ignorance and has been part of building and destroying entire nations.
The application of the Skilled Arts at The PEACH is approached in a three fold manner, knowledge, practice and creative. Because of the nature of these arts, experience and wisdom tells us to be more cautious in their application, proficiency is required. Therefore, our approach to the Clubs must be addressed differently and are limited with care. The Skilled Arts and Clubs are as followes: demonstration & introduction, internships & novice, apprenticeship & fellowship and mastery.
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Blacksmythe & Whitesmythe
A Blacksmythe is someone who works in metallurgy. He engages in the mineral world. In our mythic and pagan culture, he is often depicted as a gnome, and from the ancients, he is the God Thor, Jupiter and Zeus. The origins of the word Smythe come from the Celtic tribes, meaning a skilled worker who strikes.
He is also associated with Lugh, a master magician and accomplished Smythe who forged magical weapons. Lugh was often regarded as a fairy craftsman, a shoemaker and a tailor. Lughchromain — ‘little stooping Lugh’ was a bit of a cranky character, having an ill-tempered nature. Today we know him as a leprechaun.
In the Practical Arts, a Smythe works to create objects by forging metals into wrought iron. The Smythe uses tools such as a hammer, anvil, chisel, tongs, punches, swifts, fuller, swages, mandrels, hardy, drifts, vise, bolster plates, a bend, cuts, shovel, rake, poker, and a fire crucible. Skill, timing and rhythm are all important to the Blacksmythe. To watch them at work is to see art made manifest.
A Blacksmythe creates many things we need and use: gates and grilles, guard railings, fixtures and furniture, household tools and utensils, farm equipment, weapons and sculptures.
Our Smythes have their own specialties. Master Blacksmythe, Seppo Cain, is well known in the area for building gates and fences, which he and our Woodworker Christopher Emanuel created throughout the Art’s building: black iron rails draped in maple. Master Blacksmythe, Cyril Colnikto, is known for a number of great fountain structures, specifically his delightful and whimsical bronze cat holding a bird bath. You’ll also find his spinning fairy sculptures throughout the gardens. New to the Community is Roberto Cavalle. He is a new striker and apprentice here at the Peach, working to perfect his skill of horseshoeing for the Sand Point Equestrian Ranch. You’ll see many of his works above the door for good luck. During the artist fair demonstration, no one is faster than Roberto at forging iron hooks and nails. The last record count was seven six-penny, square nails in one minute. He is also a sword and knife maker, teaching young people and adults how to make swords for fencing and dancing, and knives for fishing.
From a heavy hand to the lightest touch. We have a number of Whitesmythes. This is someone who works with the more delicate and refined metals such as gold, silver, pewter and tin. These folk generally work making jewelry, amulets, decorative notions and religious talismans. Whitesmythes also tend to work in other areas of the arts, creating decorations for bookbinders, potters, woodworkers, stonemasons, seamstresses and tailors. The Whitesmythe will spend a year working with the Blacksmythe. A Whitesmythe Journeymen will also learn all the techniques of metallurgy casting: Sand, Investment, Die, Low Pressure, Centrifugal, Gravity, Vacuum, Squeezing, Lost Foam and Continuous Casting. Once all these methods are perfected, the final project will be a golden chalice.
The most common differences between the two are one who works and forms objects with a heavy hammer and one who embellishes objects with a light and delicate hammer. One who uses a furnace to bend the metal to his will, and the other who uses a torch or candle to shape an elegant curve and vanishing lines.
Process
Blacksmithing: forging, striking, foundry, smelting, hardening, die, burr, fuller, break, ductility, flux, slag, scaling, quenching.
Whitesmything: tinker, tinner, lost wax, carving, casting, hammering, welding, soldering, plating, wrapping, repoussé.
Objects
Being either a Blacksmythe or Whitesmythe can be dangerous. They are literally playing with fire, therefore a great deal of attention and focus are required.
At The PEACH our Smythes create: gates, furniture, light fixtures, chandeliers, decorative swords and knives, fibula brooches, religious and symbolic items, nails, hooks, latches, bird baths, utensils, dinner bells and horseshoes, including their own designs and sculptures. Their work can be seen in the Lotte gallery and during the artisan and festival fairs. Our Smythes will also do custom work as well. To get in touch with them, contact the office.
Blacksmythe & Whitesmythe Schedule
Spring: Holiday Demonstration, Studio Time, History Lecture, Skills Conference.
Summer: Holiday Demonstration and Studio Time.
Autumn: Holiday Demonstrations, Studio Time and Classes, Art of Sword Making.
Winter: Studio Time and Classes, Art of Iron Shaping.
Celebrations
St Clem’s Night. Saturday after Thanksgiving.
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Hephaistos, God of Fire
Hephaestus was born lame. During an argument between his mother, Hera, and his father, Zeus, he was tossed from heaven to the earth and landed on the volcanic island of Lemnos. Rescued by the Water Goddess Thetis, she nursed him back to health. This is where he honed his Blacksmythe skills. As he grew, the God Dionysus employed him to make weapons and later brought him back to Olympus.
Hephaestus, the Roman counterpart of Vulcan, became the God of fire, the divine Blacksmythe. He is the patron to all craftsmen. His workshops are located inside all the volcanoes of the earth. He fashioned all the weapons and military equipment for the Gods and a handful of mortals. Such well-known items include: the winged helmet and sandals for Hermes and the armor for Achilles, Aphrodite’s girdle, Aegis’ breastplate, the chariot of Helios, bronze noise clappers, arrows of Eros, Ariadne’s crown, Harmonia’s necklace, unbreakable chains binding Prometheus.
Homer tells us in the Iliad that Hephaestus, with the help of Dionysus, married the great beauty Charis, the Goddess of Grace (Gratiae, her Roman counterpart). Hephaistos is often depicted as stocky, strong, hunchbacked, bearded, unkempt, and scruffy. Needless to say, he had a harsh temper and often held grudges. His relationship with his wife, Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, was tumultuous. Their union was fraught with betrayal and infidelity, particularly her affair with the God Ares. Eventually, their marriage came to an end.
His temple is in Lycia.
To A Child
As great Pythagoras of yore,
Standing beside the blacksmythe’s door,
And hearing the hammers, as they smote
The anvils with a different note,
Stole from the varying tones, that hung
Vibrant on every iron tongue,
The secret of the sounding wire.
And formed the seven-chorded lyre.
-H. W. Longfellow
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Ceramist & Potters
The first art in the history of mankind was the art of clay. Pottery and ceramics are still formed in the way of God. Earth and water, air and fire, fashioned by the skilled and dedicated hands of the creator.
Prometheus the Titan was the first to work with clay, he fashioned the vessel of man from earth and water, creating mankind. Impressed by his ability, the Olympian Goddess Athena, with her breath, bestowed life onto these clay figures. Thus, allowing man the ability to wander with the world. The creation of mankind was so favored by the God Zeus that he commanded Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus to assign traits to all the creatures on the earth. Gifts such as strength, speed, courage, cunning, fur, and feathers, but Epimetheus did not have the ability to think ahead and by the time he reached man he had little to nothing left for them. Prometheus saw that all the good traits had been given to the beasts, he realized man had nothing in which to defend himself. His love for what he created was so tremendous that he flew to the sun and stole fire from the Gods and gave it to man.
Every work of clay today is still fashioned by the gesture of Prometheus. The life force is still granted by the breath of Athena, and the final creation is forever endowed with the spirit of the fire.
Much of the clay used and worked by artists today is purchased from deposits around the country. What is available on our own land is also collected and formed in the tradition inured by Prometheus.
Among our ancient people, not only was the clay used for medicinal purposes; to heal and mend their bodies, but vessels were created to store surplus grains during the seasons when there was little growth. The vessels were then marked with the particular seed or store and each vessel was also given a unifying mark to show their tribal identity.
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Sculpture
I took a piece of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day—
And as my fingers pressed it, still
It moved and yielded to my will.
I came again when days were past.
The bit of clay was hard at last.
The form I gave it, still it bore,
And I could change that form no more!
I took a piece of living clay,
And gently fashioned it day by day,
And molded with my power and art
A young child’s soft and yielding heart.
I came again when years were gone:
It was a man I looked upon.
He still that early impress bore,
And I could fashion it never more.
-Anonymous.
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Potter’s Schedule
Spring: Studio Time, Classes Potter’s Wheel.
Summer: Holiday Demonstrations and Studio Time.
Autumn: Studio Time, Classes, Slab Sculpture.
Winter: Studio Time, History Lecture, Skills Conference.
Athena, Goddess of Wisdom
Athena is one of the best known and popular Olympians. Her life began with an extraordinary birth. She, like many of the Gods, had an unnatural birth. Her father, the God Zeus, was suffering from a sharp and endless pain in his head, so they cut his head open and from the wound a fully grown woman appeared. The woman was draped in a beautiful robe, and underneath, she was dressed in full armor, including a shield and spear. Her helmet was crested, and she wore the Aegis Visage of Gorgon. Her name was Athena. She was tall, stately, the perfect ideal of a woman.
The events of her life and legend are known far and wide. She served as counselor in matters of war to Zeus. Through her breath, she gave life to the clay sculptures of men fashioned by Prometheus. She then defended the people and their towns against the wrath of Zeus for their lies and mischief. She also created and gave mankind weaving, wool spinning, and pottery, and is honored to this day as the Goddess of arts and crafts.
One of her most memorable accounts was a contest with the God Poseidon for the dominion of Athens. During this endeavor, she created the very first olive tree, while Poseidon created the first horse. The list of her adventures is long, but her connection to the clay of the earth, in all facets, is what brings her so close to pottery and working with the earthen clay.
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Farming and Animal Husbandry
I will go with my father a-ploughin’
Farming
Farming
It is believed the history of farming dates to Mesopotamia.
To the best of our knowledge, Western Man came from a background of hunting and gathering, so we can imagine when the first seeds were planted by hand. Perhaps a stick was used to overturn the soil and, by adding a sharp stone tied with leathery sinew, could have produced the hoe.
This systematic aspect of humans interacting with nature, favoring a particular species of plant, would have made more food available and population growth would soon follow, in both man and animal.
Over time, the hoe went from stone, to copper, to bronze. Animals, during slow growth or hard times, would have approached the fields of barley and wheat and, if not caught for dinner, domesticated and used for work. So it is no surprise that this unity now formed between man and animal called forth the plow. Anyone could rightly say that the development of the plow grew the population exponentially. The first crops, we believe, were barley, wheat, lentils and peas. This was followed by the domestication of animals.
Having stronger tools and animal byproducts, it wasn’t long for the creation of the wheel and the cart.
From what we know, agriculture seems to have been a worldwide phenomenon, and by 4000 BC, with the invention of the wheel, even in the far north, Europeans began using their domesticated animals, oxen, to not only pull the plow but also the cart.
A variety of tools were then created for different tasks. From the copper and Bronze Ages straight through to the Iron Age, man, animals, crops and technology marched forward. The plow became bigger and made more durable. Very little had changed until the invention of the combustion engine and the first tractor in the late 1800s.
Throughout the Egyptian Period, life on the Nile river and its seasonal flooding took care of the people. However, its population grew and diminished with the rise and fall of the river.
In Greece, things were different, hampered by rocky soil, their farming was limited to barley and wheat, olives, and grapes. Their energy was driven by the use of domesticated animals. Their staple was goats and sheep.
The Roman Empire locally used the same methods they had for centuries, or in the south adapted what was used by the Greeks.
The Romans grew the crops best suited to their lands. While some of the larger estates relied on slave labor, many small farms were owned and worked by families. These family farms were admired by Roman traditionalists. Cicero described country life as “the teacher of economy, industry, and justice” (parsimonia, diligentia, iustitia). Rome also prospered from the lands it conquered and the territories it occupied, bringing home a remarkable variety of crops, fruits, spices, and agricultural knowledge from across the ancient world.
The Indo-Europeans – barbarians occupied much of their energy on farming and started to organize their fields in rectangular shapes, using mixtures of crops and animals. Their grains were stored in pits, like the foundation of a mosaic. They were lined with twigs and stone and sealed with clay. While Roma and Greece enjoyed fine wines, the Celts began to brew beer from the excess barley.
The Gauls invented a machine called a vallus, what we call today, a harvester. It was a simple wood box on wheels that had a large horizontal blade at the front. The box was pushed forward by oxen. As the animals pushed the box forward through the fields, the blades cut the heads of the grass and the grains fell into the box.
Until modern industrial farming, this is how most farm skills were applied for centuries.
During the Middle Ages, around 900 AD, farming grew, it got bigger and better. Larger and heavier plows were developed. These plows were able to work their way through heavier clay soils that were found in Northern Europe, and by this time, the plows and harvesters became more efficient.
In time, the Celts expanded their use of crop rotation and the practice of leaving fields fallow. Peasants were also given strips of land to farm. During the Medieval Age, although the peasants were poor, they worked as a collective when it came to plowing, seeding and harvesting. Both men and women worked in the fields. Each peasant family also had a cow, goats, sheep and chickens. There was ample milk, cheese and eggs. Common land was also set aside where everyone’s pigs and livestock could graze together. When the growing season was over, pigs were let loose in the forests to eat acorns, nuts and other wild plants. Since the peasants didn’t have enough food to care for the animals during the winter, most of the livestock was slaughtered in the late autumn and the meat was preserved in salt.
From the Renaissance through the middle of the Enlightenment, very little changed in agriculture. Even as ships set sail to new and exciting lands bringing back interesting and exotic foods, it took a long time for people to adapt and change their diets. Some fruits that Europeans enjoyed were impossible to grow in this particular climate and the hard clay soils. However, the population grew and more land was needed, fens and wet areas were drained and used for farming, especially in the Netherlands.
From each new age, the Industrial Age, agriculture began to change in small but significant ways. Machines have become more important even in the farming communities. A clever machine made by a fellow named Jethro Tull was what he called drill husbandry. Seeds once sown by hand were now drilled into the earth by machines in straight lines. He also created a carriage that could be driven through the fields, eliminating the weeds between the rows. The wheels and what he called Horse-Hoeing Husbandry were evenly spaced as they were pulled by a horse through the fields. The hoe would do what it was meant to do, turn over the weeds, exposing their roots to the sun. The time saved by both inventions allowed farmers to grow more food in larger and more fields. Farmers could also keep and increase their cows, pigs, sheep and goats having enough grain to see them through the winter. By the 18th Century, most growing lands were divided into three fields. Two fields were sown while the third was left fallow. The Dutch discovered that rather than let a field lie fallow, certain crops could be planted that restore the fields back to health. At that time, it was turnips.
The Industrial Revolution that found its way through the canals in the 18th century, never stopped expanding and developing. Especially, the steam engine. Growth and improvements created ways to run factories day and night. Eventually it found its way to the farm. By the 19th century, the Industrial Age was in full swing. Land management would be changed forever. Massive projects for draining and irrigating fields, steam-driven tractors, refrigeration, steel, railroads, fertilizers, granary. Farming had never been so expansive and organized.
Now that fewer animals were needed for work, the focus shifted more to animals as food. This was also the period in time when selective breeding was addressed. The questions were quickly answered. Which animals yielded the most meat, milk, and wool?
The twentieth and twenty-first centuries saw the development of chemical farming transforming agriculture through gasoline-powered tractors, combines, refrigeration, irrigation, artificial synthetic fertilizers, more powerful pesticides, mechanized milking machines, selective breeding, artificial insemination, and, more recently, the genetic engineering of crops. Modern farming has become one of the most technologically advanced industries in the world. What do we know of its effects? We have no data or the outcome of long-term effects? For thousands of years, we followed and pushed nature along. We saw ourselves as its stewards. What are we now?
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Peach Garden Club
These days, many want to return to traditional methods of growing foods, but they have never had a garden. They know very little about the food we all eat, what we need most to stay alive, and how to do this successfully. At The PEACH, we incorporate Bio-Dynamic Farming with some standard organic methods. Demonstrations of these old and now modern methods are offered throughout the year. Moreover, during Planting Season and Settlers Days, there is a demonstration of the ancient use of the plow. The Farmer will yoke the oxen and plow the field. At harvest, there was a demonstration of how the vallus and carts were used. Farming and Landscaping are hard work, but well worth the effort. It is really a vocation with a direct mission and a chance to get your hands dirty and full of the earth. The Garden Club offers its members the opportunity to work with nature, plant and grow their own food and flowers, and thank God for the bounty. What part of the garden calls to you? Join, and find out.
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Apothecary & Medicinal Garden
For thousands of years, the Apothecary has stood at the crossroads of nature and healing. Long before modern pharmacies, herbalists gathered roots, leaves, flowers, bark, and seeds to prepare remedies for common ailments and to promote good health. Our Medicinal Garden preserves this tradition by cultivating herbs once found in monastery gardens, village cottages, and the homes of physicians throughout history. Members learn how plants have been used through the ages while gaining a healthy respect for their benefits, limitations, and proper preparation. This Garden is managed by our Apothecary Felix Koguzki with his wife Susan. They grow many of the medicinal plants used in the remedies sold at the Apothecary.
Common Plants: Chamomile, Lavender, Peppermint, Echinacea, Calendula.
Sepp Holzer’s Permaculture
Permaculture is the thoughtful design of gardens and landscapes that work with nature rather than against it. Inspired by the work of Austrian farmer Sepp Holzer, these gardens encourage healthy soil, diverse plant life, water conservation, and natural ecosystems that flourish with minimal intervention. Every hillside, pond, tree, and flower has a purpose, creating a landscape that is both productive and beautiful throughout the seasons. Both our botanist, Seth Larsen, and our silk worm and vermiculturists, Eva Huber, manage the edible forest and our local preservations around the property, if you are interested feel free to contact her.
Common Features: Hugelkultur beds, companion planting, fruit trees, berry bushes, ponds.
Shakespeare Garden
A Shakespeare Garden celebrates the flowers, herbs, shrubs, and trees mentioned throughout the plays and poetry of William Shakespeare. Walking its paths is like strolling through Elizabethan England, where every blossom carries a story and every fragrance recalls a famous line. It is a place for quiet reflection, literature, and the timeless beauty of the English garden. English Professor of Literature, Professor Daveth Nantz, manages and keeps an eye on the garden throughout the week, and holds readings of Shakespeare writings every Sunday at 2 in the afternoon, In the event of a gentle rain, simply bring an umbrella. Should the weather become truly theatrical, we shall retire indoors.
Common Plants: Rosemary, Pansies, Primroses, Violets, Rue.
Butterfly Meadow
A Butterfly Meadow is planted to welcome butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and countless beneficial pollinators. Native wildflowers and flowering grasses provide nectar throughout the growing season while creating a colorful landscape alive with movement. Besides its beauty, the meadow reminds us of the important role insects play in healthy forests, gardens, and farms. A winding path leads from the Kindergartens and Elder Apartments through the meadow to the Campus, Factory, and Dance Studio. If you wish to help manage the land or just pick flowers, we ask you to contact Eva Huber to find out if it is a shared time of the season for plants and animals.
Common Plants: Milkweed, Purple Coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Bee Balm, Goldenrod.
Botticelli Primavera Garden
Inspired by Sandro Botticelli’s celebrated painting Primavera, this garden celebrates the coming of spring through flowers, fragrance, mythology, and renewal. The pathways are filled with blossoms associated with Flora, Venus, and the awakening of the natural world. It is both a work of horticulture and a living work of art, inviting visitors to slow their pace and enjoy the quiet beauty of the changing seasons. This garden is currently managed by the Art Department of the University. After thirteen seasons we hope to take full charge and care of the garden. Our Mason, Kipling Scott, is in the process of designing stone benches so those who visit will have a comfortable place to rest. Until then, feel free to bring a blanket or lawn chair. The Botticelli Garden is next to the Atrium, and some of the plants that will not survive our winters or soil will drape the walls through the hothouses and into the atrium.
Common Plants: Orange trees (or hardy citrus where possible), Roses, Irises, Daisies, Columbines.
From Scratch Garden
There is a special satisfaction in saying, “I made this from scratch.” At the PEACH, we take that idea quite literally. Members are challenged to grow every ingredient needed for one complete meal. From vegetables and herbs to grains and fruit, each participant plans, plants, tends, harvests, prepares, and serves a signature dish of their own design. It is a lesson in patience, stewardship, planning, and gratitude for the labor that fills every plate.
For those wishing to take the challenge further, dairy products, eggs, honey, and even meat may be included, requiring participants to care for the animals that become part of the meal. This advanced project is not undertaken lightly and is offered only to those prepared for the responsibility. Every participant keeps a journal documenting the process from seed to table. The person who wishes to undertake this challenge is generally a go-getter, stubborn, willing to stand up against all odds and adversaries, will not take no for an answer, and say, “I’ll Grow it myself!”
If this is you, and you want to be one of the few members of the ‘I’ll just grow a meal!’ Club, get in touch with our Farmer and Agronomist, Johann Huber. There are three parts to this project, and it will take a minimum of a year or longer to prepare and implement.
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Lovely Things
by H.M. Sarson
Bread is a lovely thing to eat,
God bless the barley and the wheat.
A lovely thing to breathe is air,
God bless the sunshine everywhere.
The earth is a lovely place to know,
God bless the folk that come and go.
Alive is a lovely thing to be,
giver of life, we say thanks to thee.
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Demeter – Earth Goddess
Often referred to as Mother Earth, she is the giver of life, the Sito (“She of the Grain”), and the Goddess of the harvest. She embodies nature itself and stands at the heart of the Eleusinian Mysteries—life, death, and rebirth. Her trials and tribulations are among the most enduring stories of Greek mythology. After the abduction of her daughter Proserpina by Hades, with the consent of Zeus, she wandered the earth searching for her. During her grief, she withdrew her blessings from the earth, and turned instead to mankind, teaching them agriculture and granting them the knowledge to prosper.
Gardening & Small Animal Husbandry
Depending on the size of the community, each year we care for a couple of cows, nine chickens, two goats, a ewe and a lamb, and on occasion we look after a horse. All the animals are checked in on twice daily. During the dark months, the large animals are returned to their farms to be with friends and warm companions.
Our bee colonies are winterized in November. This year we hope to experiment with indoor overwintering of several hives. Silk moths and butterflies are provided with fresh branches before being sealed safely in their winter shed under darker, cooler temperatures. There they slow down, wrap themselves in their cocoons, and sleep through the winter.
All restorations, edible areas, dedicated gardens, and medicinal plants will see final seed and plant collections up until the first Frost. Then all areas are left undisturbed until spring.
Aquaponics — Steps from the atrium is an old hothouse. We are working towards building a winter home for the pond fish using their skills in producing fresh greens during mid-Autumn through Spring.
Permaculture — This is an area where most of our native foods grow freely and naturally with little to no human intervention. On occasion, we will sow seeds and encourage plant growth in order to restore the balance. Water is life.
Cultural Land Restoration — On the other side of the pond is a former prairie. We are actively working to restore native plants to this particular area, removing all invasive species and foreign plants. This requires continuous efforts and maintenance to make sure we rid the area of all invasive species that have entered or propagated. Maintaining this landscape requires a keen eye and a thorough understanding of our regional native plants. Today it has become one of the best-preserved educational areas in the Community. We hope it remains so for eternity.
Off-Grid Living — The goal is to get off the electrical and water grid. However, since this is a large living and active community, maintenance is given to an on-grid back-up system for the safety and health of the community and its visitors. Basic Log Cabin Construction with Kyle.
Landscaping — Working with nature — there are great opportunities to work with planting and upkeep of The PEACH gardens through landscaping, pond building, and instructions on gathering and using materials and tools. We have several special gardens at The PEACH, the Shakespeare and Botticelli gardens, the birthday Koi & Sunfish garden, the medicinal and apothecary gardens, herb garden, butterfly meadow, the grotto rose garden, the four seasons garden and planter garden. There is also faraway areas to grow plant dyes, near the railroad tracks.
Bush, Trees, & Holiday Treats — Near the Atrium are three lines of apple trees, a collection of yellow and red pears, surrounded by plum trees. All will be canned, jammed, and baked into pies. We will keep half the apples for Hallowe’en fun, and make it into a delicious cider. At the other end of the atrium is a large patch of strawberries, a row of raspberries, a trio of lingonberries, and the infamous blackberries along the fence. Remember, after the first frost, keep a sharp eye out for the devil in the bramble, and skip the berries. Pumpkins are planted in all four corners, and along the apothecary garden fence. When the pumpkins ripen at the end of September, you can walk around the campus looking for the right jack-o’-lantern for your Hallowe’en holiday. At the far end of the elder housing is an old grove of holly trees and balsam pines. It’s a lovely place to walk through during the first snowfalls.
Medicinal Herbs and Plants — Behind the apothecary is a large, lovely yard to sit and relax, yet a garden full of medicinal herbs, plants, shrubs, and a giant oak whose branches mistletoe dangles and hangs. The apothecary uses them for healing tinctures and teas, salves and ointments. If you need a handful for healing, we ask you to check in with the herbalist first before picking your own. There are also many of these plants in the butterfly wildflower garden for your own personal use. Always remember to take only what you need and leave the flowers for the bees.
Why Raising Animals Are Important
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The Busy Triangle
As part of our commodities, we have three small businesses.
Lepidoptera – The raising butterflies for silk thread.
Apiarist – The raising of bees for honey.
Vermiculture – the raising of worms for the garden.
In Addition
Biodome — Winter Vegetables, Out of Region Plants for the rare occasion.
Fish Pond – Carp. Because they are beautiful to watch and, strangely, they like Bluegrass.
Shakespeare Garden — Flowers, herbs, shrubs, and trees mentioned throughout the plays and poetry of William Shakespeare.
Butterfly Meadow — Native flowers planted to welcome and attract butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, ladybugs and countless beneficial pollinators.
Business
We have a field that is lying fallow as we prepare it for the expanding of medicinal herbs and plants, along with using the edges of the perma-forest. We also use the forest areas as part of collecting maple, birch syrup and to acquire conifer resins. Visit us during the Farmer’s Market, or join us in the local Food & Animal Share Co-Op and Fruit Co-Op.
Education
Bio-Dynamic Research Project — Cookbook.
Farmer’s & Garden Schedule
Spring: Tilling, Planting, & Sheep Shearing. Berry Picking.
Summer: Garden and Tending. Flower Harvest. Lessons in Animal Husbandry. Berry Picking
Autumn: Food Harvesting, Canning, Drying. Berry Picking.
Winter: Equipment Repairs, February Farming Conference, Tree Tapping, Early Indoor Seedlings, Annual Landscape Submissions..
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The Farmer
-Barr
The king may rule o’er land and sea,
The lord may live right royally,
The soldier ride in pomp and pride,
The sailor roam o’er ocean wide;
But this or that, whate’er befall,
The farmer, he must feed them all.
The writer thinks, the poet sings,
The craftsmen fashion wondrous things,
The doctor heals, the lawyer pleads,
The miner follows the precious leads;
But this or that, whate’er befall,
The farmer, he must feed them all.
The merchant, he may buy and sell,
The teacher do his duty well;
But men may toil through busy days,
Or men may stroll through pleasant ways;
From king to beggar, whate’er befall,
The farmer, he must feed them all.
The farmer’s trade is one of worth;
He’s partner with the sky and earth,
He’s partner with the sun and rain,
And no man loses for his gain;
And men may rise, or men may fall,
But the farmer, he must feed them all.
God bless the man who sows the wheat,
Who finds us milk and fruit and meat;
May his purse be heavy, his heart be light,
His cattle and corn and all go right;
God bless the seeds his hands let fall,
For the farmer, he must feed us all.
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plenty’d greatly
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Glassblowing
GlassSmything dates back more than 3000 years to at least Ancient Persia, Egypt, and Syria. Though it is hard to pinpoint exactly when glassblowing began. The evidence we do have, and the tools that were used in the creation of the vessels takes us back to First Century Rome. As the Roman Empire expanded, they were fascinated not only by the practical aspect of molten glass, but also with the development of glassblowing was able to express as an artistic expression and characteristics it created by the materials when heated. Suddenly, everyone wanted glass, and foundries started to pop up everywhere in Italy. Glass workshops spread throughout the Empire, producing everything from common vessels to exquisite works of art. Of course, there were a number of accidents, and fires often occur. However, what drove Rome to isolate and limit the industry was the beauty of the glass, its development and the uniqueness of the craft itself. Venice therefore became the isolated home and capital to the art of glassblowing.
They valued this art so much that they sent the manufacturing of the glass to a small island so no one could copy or steal their work, recipes and techniques. In order to guard their precious secrets, glassmaking was then isolated to the island of Murano, off the coast of Venice, in the Adriatic Sea. This island was then limited to families working in the art of glass.
One could imagine a secret society of glassblowers, also called gaffers, guarding precious secrets and passing them down only through the generations of family members who grew up on the island, worked in the glassblowing houses and, when they died, took their techniques and secrets with them.
For almost 2000 years, Venice and Murano were the center of the glassblowing industry, and according to law, to this very day no one is allowed to watch the Masters of Murano, who still hold these ancient secrets, at work.
During the English Renaissance, Elizabeth I decided she preferred windows. Glass then became the rage. So much so, that within a generation the British managed to disseminate their entire forests, burning wood to stoke the fires of glass and metals. Coal was not yet widely used, but wood was needed for cooking and heating, when one day an inquisitive person at court remembered a letter from a relative in the colonies abroad in the Americas. The letter stated, “Endless forests, dense with more hard wood than can be imagined.” The rest, as they say, is history, and there we have the very beginnings of the Industrial Age in the Colonies of America.
The ingredients most often used in the making of glass vessels are sand (silica), lime, and potash (glass-wort). There are three types of Glassmything: Free Blowpipe Glassblowing – 1500 BC, Clay-Mold-Blowing – 1 AD and Cracking-Off – 20 AD. All three are taught at The PEACH and demonstrated throughout the year. The two hardest techniques are, reticello and incalmo, both require absolute precision, perfect timing, and expert teamwork. Finally, the use of heat is very important. A great amount of heat is needed to generate a high enough temperature to melt the sand into molten liquid, roughly 3000 degrees. Over the centuries, wood, coal and now gas have been used to generate the heat needed to blow glass.
Glassblowing Club
The Swan Factory
The Glassblower
– By Struther
By the red furnace stands
Apollo mute,
Holding in upraised hands
His iron flute.
Slowly from back and brow
The bright sweat drips;
He sets the clarion now
Light to his lips,
And ever, as he blows,
Without a sound
His molten music flows,
Golden and round. Never from herald’s breath
In brazen horn,
Telling of strife and death
Or of peace new-born;
From silver clarinet
By fingers small
To lips of ruby set
In raftered hall;
From jilted shepherd’s reed
Plaintively proving
How he in very deed
Must die of loving–
Never from all these came
A music sweeter
Than this bright sphere of flame
With neither sound nor name,
Cadence nor metre,
That steadily, as he blows
On his iron flute,
Trembles and swells and glows,
Gold-amber, amber-rose,
In melody mute.
Glassblower’s Schedule
Spring: Lessons in Glassblowing, Studio Time, History Lecture, Skills Conference.
Summer: Festival Displays Only.
Autumn: Lessons in Fixtures and Lighting.
Winter: Lessons in Glassblowing (limit group of 6). Meetings at the Swan Factory.
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Printmaking
“Yes, it is a press, certainly, but a press from which shall flow in inexhaustible streams. Through it, God will spread His Word. A spring of truth shall flow from it: like a new star, it shall scatter the darkness of ignorance, and cause a light heretofore unknown to shine amongst men.” –Johannes Gutenberg
Philyra (smell) Kalamos (reed) Hades (coal) Phobos (soot)
From Pen and Ink
The Gods surrounding Printmaking are a bit complex. However, printmaking itself is rather complex. It is a skill, a fine art and a practical art, so the stories go. Most would say Philyra is the Goddess of all arts and crafts, and she may have brought the pen, the ink and paper together, but the story of the pen begins with Kalamos. He and his companion Karpos were inseparable, they had many adventures and journeys together. They were close, and there were never two who could trust each other more than the two of them. Though Karpos had more of a gentle nature, like a soft breeze, he would often humor his companion Kalamos by competing with him in song and sports. Who could throw a rock the farthest, run the fastest, jump the highest, hold a note the longest. Then, one day on their travels, they came upon a large body of water. The challenge was set: who could swim to the other side and get there first. Kalamos was certain he would win, since his father Maeander was the god of rivers. Off they went, Kalamos went through the water with ease, faster than the wind, and as he had thought, arrived joyfully first. He then waited with open arms to welcome his much slower friend Karpos, but Karpos never arrived. Kalamos searched the river for days, swimming upstream and down, he dredged the banks, and then he set his sights on a riparian with tall dry reeds and there was his friend. He was dead for he had drowned. Kalamos was so heartbroken that he drowned himself, and then he transformed into a reed on the bank, and to this day, when you hear the rustling of the reeds in the wind, you will hear the sigh of Kalamos lamenting the loss of his friend Karpos.
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Documenting Us
Few skills have shaped civilization more profoundly than the ability to record and share ideas. From the first reed pen to Gutenberg’s modern printing press, it has recorded our discoveries, preserved knowledge, spread and shared ideas, connecting generations, and giving permanence to knowledge. Printmaking is a Fine Art and a Skill Art documenting the art of the Folk.
More than perhaps any other art, skill, or craft, printmaking touches and reaches into every corner of the Community. It preserves our history, allowing us to share knowledge, and connect people through books, newsletters, posters, maps, illustrations, and the written word.
It reaches into Education, All the Arts, the Library, the Post Office, our monthly newsletter, and it heralds all the clubs and events that follow. It gives papermaking a purpose and reason to bind books, its influence is woven throughout The PEACH. Recording events as they happen from a distinct impression and consciousness. It preserves our history.
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Printmaker’s Schedule
Spring: Monthly Newsletter, History Lecture, Skills Conference
Summer: Monthly Newsletter, Rag Making.
Autumn: Monthly Newsletter, Ink Making.
Winter: Monthly Newsletter, Lessons in the Art of Printmaking.
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Stone Masonry
“Look at a stone cutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred-and-first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not the last blow that did it, but all that had gone before.” –Jacob Riis
Next to farming and animal husbandry, being a Stone Mason is one of the oldest Skilled Art forms throughout history. From caves, stone huts, the pyramids, to the local neighborhood brick house, and the building of massive skyscrapers, being a stonemason has been a highly regarded skill and vocation.
At The PEACH, we are fortunate to have a master stone cutter in our community, Kipling Sibelius Scott. Kip, as he is lovingly known, has created many of our most enjoyed structures. He has protected our buildings from cracking, crumbling and flooding with never a second thought. He is always at the ready to make a quick repair until the job can be corrected properly.
Though we do not live in an area with quarries full of marble, Kip will take trips out to the local quarry and mines as part of a lecture series on stone-masonry and a study in basic geology. He has been all around the world and has a wonderful collection of rocks and stones that we are lucky enough to display in our library. These are some of the most beautiful rocks and stones I have ever seen.
Though we do not work in marble as one of our greatest ancestors, Michelangelo did, our chief use for working with stone is the art form of mosaics. Kip and a number of residents are currently working on a mosaic floor in the Art building lobby, using the tried and true methods of the great Roman Architect, Vitruvius.
You’ll find all the floors, fireplaces, garden walls throughout the community created by Kip and others who enjoy this magnificent art along with simple yet beautiful creations using glass and tiles, from tables to windows, walkways and dishes for plants. People have come from across the world to see his magnificent tile and penny floors in the atrium. The work in the Art Building is extraordinary.
Kip is actually a beautiful model when it comes to work with purpose. Upon meeting him, you will understand what it means to have a calling. Kip believes people learn best by doing, he believes in real work. If you know your way around stone, he’ll put you right to it. If you don’t, he shows you how until you get it right and once you demonstrate that you have capable hands, he’ll take you with him on a job. You will learn more in a day than a semester with Kip. The skills he brings to the PEACH are invaluable, and his ongoing work is enjoyed by all.
To contact Kip, he has the teeny tiny office next to the Bike & Ski Shop, which is next to the Swan Factory. There is a mail slot in the door if you wish to get in contact with him. He also has a mailbox at the post office, under the letter K.
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Stone-cutter’s Schedule
Spring: Stone Cleaning and Preparations, History Lecture, Skills Conference.
Summer: Mosaic Making.
Autumn: Outdoor Wall and Floor Repairs.
Winter: Indoor Fireplace and Floor Work and Repairs.
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Woodworking
There are many branches of woodworking. One question people often ask is whether there is a difference between woodworking and carpentry. Woodworking is simple enough to figure out one who works with wood. To find out the meaning of carpentry we look no further than the origin and meaning of the word. The word carpenter comes from the Late Latin word carpentarius, meaning a maker of wagons or carts, derived from carpentum — a two-wheeled chariot, carriage or cart. Wood was very important in ancient Rome: wagons, chariots, ships were so important that the maker of this specialized and advanced technology was given the honors and title, carpenter.
As time went on, the words Wainwright and Cartwright were used by the Celts and Anglos. Wain, meaning wagon or cart, and Wright, meaning a worker in wood, much like a smith is a worker in metal.
When thinking of the past, imagine how the wheel, the chariot and Poseidon’s horse (Hippocampus) changed the world.
Throughout history, mankind has been blessed with great forests shrouded in woods. From the gift of fire given to mankind by Prometheus, to the development of the prehistoric Stone Age, and advancing to the Bronze Age, wood has been at the heart of all that man possesses today. With the development of metal tools surrounded by such valuable and plentiful resources, everything from homes, furniture, ships, plows, and weapons are all fashioned with a little curiosity and wood. Wood is an easy material to work with and shape. There are soft and hard woods, brittle and aromatic woods, and some woods that are so hard it is like cutting stone. Even after discovering the petrified forests, Western man did not stop from taking his skills and talents by creating some of the most beautiful decorative pieces and sculpture, all from wood. It is no surprise, and so sure, in their development, that most of the hand tools carpenters use today have changed very little since the Bronze Age.
Woodworking is not only appreciated at The PEACH, it is a resource we could not live without, and the men who build and shape our world are greatly valued in our community for their skill, talent and creativity.
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The Forest
Our master, Carpenter Christopher Emanuel, is not only an expert in the ways of woodworking, he is also a bit of an expert when it comes to those who live in the forests and woods.
He can identify any tree by sight and most by smell and, best of all, he is in charge of making our tree syrups. Over the course of the month of February and early March, while cooking up the delicious sap, he will tell you many stories of the Roman God Silvanus, God of the woods, and all who live there, from the creatures to the fairies. He will tell the story of how and when he met his first wood-elf, and how he learned to call a Tomton.
In addition to these fascinating stories, he can recite Longfellow’s Evangeline, quote Cicero by heart, and talk about nature both in beauty and in anger. He often speaks of the creatures who live in the Tulgey Woods there, and of their moral and immoral characteristics and traits. He will tell you the story of the dragon’s blood and how it allows you to uncover and understand the secret language of the animals and what their sounds, songs and words mean. Furthermore, he also knows all the nature deities by name and what gifts to bring them in return for a safe trip. He claims to have even met a few. He can go to any forest and find the deities and fairies, he knows who to trust and who to keep an eye on. He can find the source of ills in the wood, the best place to rest, and knows what foods we humans may eat. Both he and his wife Rose will tell you the stories of the Seven Wood Kings. Their adventures over the years have been very exciting and a little more than interesting.
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Woodworker’s Schedule
Spring: History Lecture, Equipment Tutorial, Basic Woodworking Skills, Skills Conference, Studio Work.
Summer: Festival Displays, Outdoor Repairs, Cabin Building, Studio Work,
Autumn: Tree Felling, Lumbering, Furniture Making, Wood Carving, Wood Bending, Studio Work.
Winter: Indoor Repairs, Studio for Children and Adults: Bird House Building, Simple Furniture Making, Syrup Collecting and Cooking.
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Studio Time
Studio time is very important when working on a project, especially in the skilled, practical and fine arts. Studio time can also be complicated, making sure people have access to these areas with little to no scheduling conflicts. It is important in all areas that those who use the studios are trustworthy and responsible. Some areas have a higher threshold for safeguards while also being respectful to others working in the studio and those living in the surrounding area, especially concerning noise.
All studios require training in certain procedures, and some studios will require a professional in the room at all times. Areas such as dance, music, painting, quilting will require a class or orientation regarding scheduling and room maintenance. Other areas, such as woodworking, printmaking, iron-casting, glassblowing will require a professional on site at all times. There are other areas that will require a professional for only part of the working procedures, such as, ceramics, bookbinding, spinning, candlewicking. Understand these rules, always have your safety in mind. People who help to clean, assist, or maintain a watchful eye will also be able to bank time or waive fees in other areas.
There are no fees for time in the studio, but we do require that you sign up for the time you wish to use any particular studio and that you leave it clean and in order for the people who follow. Studio rules will be posted and if you have any suggestions, please let the office or assistants know.
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Living Pan-European and American Cultural and Heritage Community Center
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EMAIL: peachcommunity yahoo.com
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Quick Links
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