Earth Skills Gathering

Saturday and Sunday May 15 & 16th

PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS INFORMATION!!

TIMES: The gathering will begin at 9:00 am on Saturday.  Please be here at or before 9am in order to register for workshops, meet the teachers and orient yourself to the Farm.  Most of the activities of the day will be ending around 5pm.  We invite folk to stay until 8pm on Saturday only!!, and ask that on Sunday everybody depart promptly after the workshops are over.

PARKING: THERE WILL BE NO CAR PARKING ONSITE AT THE FARM OR IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE TOP OF OUR DRIVEWAY!  The only way to arrive at the Farm by car is to park in the Riverdale High School parking lot (it is just down the road from the farm: 9727 SW Terwilliger Blvd.  Portland 97219) and hop onto our shuttle (there will be signs).  Since carpooling is highly recommended, we will allow drivers to drop their passengers at the top of the driveway to the Farm before parking at the high school.

The shuttle will be running every 10 minutes according to the following time schedule:

Saturday: 8am – 11am, 5pm – 6pm, 7pm – 8pm

Sunday: 8am – 10am, 4pm - 6pm (everyone must be off the land by 6pm on Sunday!)

Hint: Riding your bike is a much better option than driving!  Onsite bike parking is available. 

MONEY: THIS EVENT IS NOT FREE!  This is a ‘pay as you are able’ event.  Some workshops will cost money to cover supplies.  This money goes directly to the teachers.  Additionally, TLC Farm will be collecting financial donations.  We are a non-profit organization that needs money in order to survive in the ‘system’.  Until major changes occur in the empire, we still need to pay our mortgage.  We are counting on each Earth Skills Gathering attendee to contribute fair compensation to TLC Farm for the services provided.

FOOD: We will do our best to get food donated for this event, but we will not be able to feed everyone unless YOU bring food for the community kitchen, too!   Food contributions will be served for lunch both days as well as dinner on Saturday for those who choose to stay for the evening.  If you have food allergies/intolerances/concerns, feel free to pack your own picnic lunch & snacks to bring along.  There is also a New Seasons grocery store a mile and a half up the road (walking distance).  

CHILDREN: There is NOT childcare provided at the Earth Skills Gathering.  We are arranging the schedule of events so that throughout the day there are workshop options that are child-friendly, but children under the age of 10 MUST be accompanied by an adult.  Parents are responsible to know where your children are AT ALL TIMES.  This is a working farm with potential hazards as well as garden and animal care that is delicate and nuanced.  Children are NOT permitted to run wild on the land. 

DOGS: ALL dogs MUST be on leashes AT ALL TIMES.  No exceptions.

CAMPING: There is limited tent camping available only for those who make reservations ahead of time (before Friday the 14th).  The cost of camping is a sliding scale: $10 - $25 for the weekend (Friday and/or Saturday nights.  NO CAMPING ON SUNDAY NIGHT.)  We do not have space for any campers/trailers/rv’s – tent camping only!!  For details about parking, setting up, timing, etc… or to make a camping reservation, please email Kelly at: talonyarrow@gmail.com.

REQUESTS:  If you have firewood to contribute to this event, please bring some along (especially if you will be working on hides or sharing a skill that requires fire).  Also, we are putting a call out to anyone with brains [extra brains - for brain tanning].  If you have hides that you are working on (at any stage in the process), feel free to bring them.  We will have a space set up for hide tanning.

Please note that there is a 23 person intentional community at TLC Farm.  Although there will be a few workshops that take place on the south end of the land, the majority of the Earth Skills Gathering activity will be focused in the area that we call the Village Green.  This is the northern-most area that has the fire pit, the outdoor kitchen, the composting toilets, and multiple other covered areas.  We have a commitment to the people who live in the community to keep our energy/activity/noise, etc… focused in the Village Green so as not to disrupt the daily lives of those living on the land.  Please do not enter any of the private residences (any building with a door except for the upstairs barn office, composting toilets, sauna and greenhouse).      

THIS IS A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT!  This means: NO SMOKING (except in the designated areas at the very bottom or top of the driveway), NO ALCOHOL AND NO NUDITY.  Please be aware of the language that you use and the energy that you bring.

Many Blessings,

TLC Farm Crew

TEACHERS: Someone will be available all day on Friday (the 14th) at the Farm in order for you to come and drop off supplies, etc…  We are happy to show you what space you’ll be working in so that you can let us know of any arrangements or needs that we can accommodate for you.