ROCK ON IN -New front Entrance!In an effort to stop marauding cattle from ‘the long paddock’ (the road) coming in every winter, a cattle grid was necessary. Even I am amazed at the result of a dream to create an aesthetic statement from the road. The efforts of local artists, father and son team Dennis and Guanji Monks, on the rock wall; Dennis’s beautiful gate made out of recycled chair backs; Trevor Wolstenholm’s chunky Brushbox fence - all combined makes a sublimely graceful entrance.
Having finally nailed the labelling issue for ES, with designer Peter Jeffrey, the original sign is now re-painted and stands out a treat against the green of the vegetation!
The crown on this creative entrance will be AnA Wojak’s ’02 ‘Sculpture by the Sea’ project, ‘Chorten’, planned to be erected early in the New Year.
Seeing will really be ‘believing’, especially if you arrive at ES after dark!
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HOT STUFF – COB OVEN. Thanks to my daughter Rebeh, and the combined efforts of the Cert V1 Permaculture students through the Permaforest Trust at Barkers Vale/Byron Bay, for the wonderful addition of a cob pizza oven. The process of making a traditional cob oven is full of hard ‘stomping’ and much slapping and patting, which amounted to loads of fun and a full weekend. There are still some teething problems to be fixed, but the ability to offer groups the use of the oven as part of a function, is fun and sustainable especially if salad stuff can be sourced fresh from the gardens.
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CREATIVE PROJECTS and IN THE GARDEN ’08Robbie Burton has been busy creating another fabulous quilt for the Cedar room. This time on a silk/hemp fabric, using natural dyes and plant material sourced mainly from the farm - it is a great process that Robbie is happy to show any small group anytime. The outcome is stunning.
I have managed to create a few signs around the place in different media, and visiting Kiwi metal artist stayed and manifested the dancing girl out of star pickets, thanks Wayne.
Peter Maher my fabulous builder and I, have put the finishing touches on Heaven, leaving a couple of stumps for Jude to top, with her Aussie bird mosaics.
In the Garden ‘08
It has been an incredibly wet year in ’08, which has been good for the 250 odd trees planted en-mass in 2 main areas thanks Rebeh, Marty, Les and Kennith. Regeneration has continued in bursts over the years, but a walk to the waterfall, impossible to get to 12 years ago, always inspires me to just keep on reclaiming…….. whatever the struggle to maintain!
A whole winter at ES, the first in 4 years, and help from Gail and Adam has developed some more garden areas. The stairway-to-heaven is filling out well.
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PUBLICITY ‘08 and PRICES PUBLICITY ‘08
It has been a good year for publicity. The Sunday Telegraph article by the fabulous Sally Macmillan published first in March ’08, and then repeated in local papers such as Brisbane’s Daily Mail - the response was good. It was by far the most noticeable result from any publicity so far. Thanks Sally for choosing to stay and cover a story about ES. Word of mouth is still the only way to go….. so keep passing on the good vibes!
Thanks also to Adam Hicks who wrote an article for local travel in our Northern Star. Adam got me onto my dream of sending people out to graze on the fruit trees for breakfast salad……which is, in fact getting closer to truth.
PRI – Permaculture Research Institute
There have been 2 lots of students staying this year, attending the PRI PDC course here in The Channon with Geoff Lawton. ES works well as a comfortable alternative to roughing it on the farm, and gives a leisurely breakfast, and some welcome space away from the busy class-room atmosphere.
PRICES
Reluctantly there will be some changes to pricing (which hasn’t changed since ES opened 7 years ago now). There will be a rise for 1 night stays but I hope to be able to keep the prices the same for 2 night stays and more. The Lotus Cabin will only be available for 2 night stays and more. Look under ‘accommodation’ for pricing changes on the website.
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FUTURE PLANS ‘09My solar power wish from the last newsletter has almost come to pass. Due to Solar Roll-out initiative of a couple of locals, ES is one of hundreds of residences to join together to get a better deal to install solar panels to sell back to the grid. (Part of a government rebate system, which needs to continue in an aim to reduce green house gasses - solar verses coal-powered electricity).
More cold breakfasts on the back (south facing) veranda finally forced me to find a warmer breakfast spot to thaw out in the warm winter sun. I’ve got a long marble slab as a tabletop with Hebel legs, and I aim to have the site levelled, paved and planted with breakfast fruit well in time for next winter. Now that’s in writing I better get on to it!
The Channon Ukulele Collective will continue to meet every 1st Tuesdays on ES back veranda and The Channon Folk Club meets on the 4th Sunday afternoon at the Tavern. Hope you can join us for either of these great local events.
Peter J and I are working on a new DL card with price update. Should be printed early in the New Year. The new business cards, taken from the front sign, are already in circulation.
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OVER VIEW ‘08 has been a time of technological changes and all the upheaval that brings to the technically challenged.
ES has finally been granted ADSL status for faster Internet connection and we will be able offer wireless Internet in time.
Mobile phone coverage is still patchy even on the latest digital models, which is good news if you want a complete rest from any beings moving so fast through life, that the roses are being forgotten to be smelled, and there is no time to languish in insect lives! Hammocks are ready and waiting on the back verandah………… YOU just make the time!
Eternity Springs inspires connection so bring your favourite people together and just hang out and observe a different life. We had the 5th wedding in Heaven this year. Congratulations to Rimfire and Michael who where married on Winter Solstice ‘08 under a star filled sky.
Remember…
There is no better place than Heaven to enjoy: some morning stretches, yoga or Chi Quong; a sunset drink; a gaze at the fabulous milky way, to spot your favourite constellation in unpolluted night sky; a walk through the Labyrinth; a party; a wedding or any other special event – A Celebration of being Alive.
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