Planting Seeds in Happytown

Happytown: a little community bridging the corners of Ellsworth, Dedham and North Orland. Filled with neighbors who labor as farmers, artists, poets, teachers, lobstermen, lumbermen, librarians, carpenters, small business owners and everything in between--sprinkled with more than a healthy dose of fun-loving musicians. It is a special place that has a rich history of developing connected community that waxes and wanes (and waxes again!) with the ages. The news here is that we are really coming into our own as we seek to ward off big business and future environmental problems through our  Friends of Dodge Hill project and through the recent community acquistion of The Bald Mountain Community Center. We already have a giant land trust (Great Pond Mountain Wildlands) in our backyard and a snug little town nearby for groceries, local made items, and light entertainment (http://www.bucksportmaine.gov/) , but we needed a place to invite others in-- to begin to grow our little community into its potential. Happytown isn't a secret to you keep for yourself, it bubbles up in you and you just want to share it!  More than a year ago, we had started organizing to take over a defunct grange hall-- the one pictured above, The Victory Grange. Hosted at our home, we had an exciting turnout from the Happytown area.

Here is us, starting small, at our first meeting, held at The Nancy Place

We thought hard, imagined big and took many challenging steps to bring the Grange Hall under new management. However, for the aged population of members, the time for revitalization had come and gone and nothing could be done to sway them as they turned the property over to a nearby Grange in Blue Hill. We even got the state involved to try to halt the transfer, but little could be done and the Halcyon Grange, aware of our troubles but in the midst of a capital campaign, promptly put the property on the market. Knowing the property was received at the cost of nothing, we borrowed money from family, put it in the bank and made an offer as individuals-- hoping to get it paid off and then turn it back to the community. However, at the same time, Halcyon received another offer, slightly larger than ours and that was that. What might happen next was anyone's guess. However, there is just no question that Spirit moves in mysterious and generous ways-- because now, at just about a year later-- here  we have it! The most amazing luck; the greatest gift! A community member was the purchaser and although no one really knew him, he took a risk on this little part of the world and began working to manifest the Victory Grange's return to the community-- now known as The Bald Mountain Community Center. So much gratitude, such a generous spirit, and my, aren't we having fun (!) raising money for fixes and upgrades, meeting new friends, dancing, playing music, having bonfires & EATING a ton of delicious, shared, food.

We are still so under-organized and all a little confused about how it will all work, but we are fueled by endless ideas and so, SO, much gratitude! Concerts, community gardens, game nights, Grown-up proms, HS throwbacks, playground games, winter soccer, sliding, yoga classes, art classes, music classes, service window for snowmobilers, our own gas station (come now, that is getting out of hand! but, yes, it was mentioned!). We know well that when we plant the seed, and dream a little while it sits cold in the soil, then we nurture it as it struggles to emerge-- we know well that this creates strength, resiliance, health, and abundance. We will nuture it well, to be sure. We can't wait to share it with you!

A Brand New Community Center
by Maizey

The day before yesterday we had a New Years Day party at the Bald Mountain Community Center.We also had a Solstice party a few weeks earlier. I think a party can be a lot of different things for different people. For instance, to some the meaning of the party is the most important part, like dropping the ball or throwing the Yule Log into the fire.To some a party is just a party-- but to me its about hanging out with your friends and having a good time! 

Are you a crocus flower?

Today's blog was absolutely intended to be an ode to Fiona Rainbow, the pig pictured here. I thought I'd write her obituary and fancied Shawn writing a bit about his experiences in her journey to the "Big Farm". But, other things are on my mind today.

The news is glum, as over half the world motivates to help a tiny nation I am urged to pull up my boots and walk across this large country and swim to its borders, just to hold a grieving child. We have no television at home, which I am so grateful for. The images would burst my heart. The technologically driven world has this way of making us all neighbors, our hearts connected with our common humanity. The feelings of connection; of neighborly duty are overwhelming, urging us to reach out our hand in support-- yet our physical bodies are unable-- we are so far away.  Enmeshed in the complexity of grief and need, the shadowy siblings of jealousy, anger and want are clinging, looking for an opportunity to be heard.  I pray that our neighbors, not just in Haiti, but all over this world, will find strength and love through the simplicity of each day's movement-- the in and out of one's breath, the beat of a heart, a tender kiss, the gentle breeze, a setting sun, a spoon stirring-- the movements that make up a day, however troubled, give us something to grasp hope and love with.

The depth of winter in Maine is cold and lonely. It irritates and its silence deafens. It is easy to fall into the grayness of the skies and the chill in the bones. Wake us up, we call to spring-- wake us up, we call to our selves. But soon, the sap will run, the sound of bird chat will be everywhere and the crocus will rise, through that depth of cold and lonliness, to welcome the sun's warmth back to our little corner of reality.

The crocus flower is on my mind-- its metaphor staggering.  The crocus calls to the challenges of the world and of the soul. This beauty forces its way literally through frozen ground, ice and snow even, and bursts open -in spite of- all that stands against it. Its determination to bring change, beautiful change, to the world around it, is inspiring. The crocus brings spring ready or not-- inevitably breaking patterns and worn out woes and wishful for, but not dependent on, the world's embrace.  The vastness of the world is but an amplified reflection of the small communities that we move about our daily lives in. Community is what we make it, how far we can hold it authentically is up for each of us to create. Its not quite time, but I hope someday that this little farm can reach its hand across the wide land to help a faraway neighbor. For now, sights are set on bursting forth from this frozen ground into our own little Maine community.

Spring Flowers ~ Crocus

Crocus flowers daring tiny warriors

Fighting their way up through

The winter ice

Crocus darling early Spring harbingers

Promising days will soon

Be turning nice

Tiny Crocus flowers grow in close groups

Strength in numbers seeking

Where winter snows still may lie

Encircled encampment of floral troupes

“We march onward to spring”

They raise this brave battle cry

Bold strength contained in Crocus so small

Should winter challenge again

They simply refuse to die

Delicate blossoms possess such wherewithal

I cannot help but wonder then

Should not likewise you and I?

Mary Havran