The Donella Meadows Quest

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by Sandy

Cobb Hill now has its very own Valley Quest - the Donella Meadows Quest!

You may be wondering - what is a Valley Quest? Well, the Valley Quest Program is a 25 year old program of the non-profit Vital Communities that offers over 160 Quests throughout the Upper Valley. These Quests are opportunities to bring us into special places, may they be historical, environmental, or cultural gems of our region. Following educational clues, you will learn about the place you are in and you will find a treasure box at the end. You can collect stamp impressions from the unique hand carved stamps in each box and sign-in to the log books you find in the boxes. All the Quests are found on the Vital Communities website.

The Donella Meadows Quest, one of the Quests featured in this year's Climate Connections Super Quest, starts at the kiosk in front of the farm stand. It takes you by the welcome garden, to the greenhouse and market gardens. Then back by the barn and up to our public walking trail that takes you to Dana's bench at the top of one of our pastures before coming back down to find the treasure box. On the way you will learn about the many ways Cobb Hill is using practices and technologies that help the residents live lightly on the planet, emit less carbon, and adapt to climate change.

Donella Meadows was the visionary who brought Cobb Hill to life and her writings are highlighted throughout the Quest. She was one of the pioneering system thinkers, an author, and a climate activist. Her book, Limits to Growth, has inspired millions and is still used in universities today.

So check out the Donella Meadows Quest here and a Questing you will go!

Early Spring Artwork

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Stephen Leslie, long-time community member and owner of Cedar Mountain Farm with his wife, Kerry, shared some of his recent drawings. Many of the colored pencil artworks are inspired by our land.

Stephen says, “I have always loved to write and draw. I went to art school and I am a painter. I’m attracted to the artisanal quality of scale of the farming we do. It’s an aesthetically pleasing place to be in: a healthy, functioning landscape with beauty. Farming is not so far removed from art.”

“Lull Brook” and “Sugar Brook,” Stephen Leslie

“Hemlock Sunset” and “Sumner Falls,” Stephen Leslie

Is Community Living Right for You?

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Unsurprisingly, we've received a lot of inquiries from curious folks in the past year. Having been isolated due to the pandemic, people from all over are reaching out, seeking more rural living and more connection and community.

What does it mean to live in a cohousing or intentional community?

Well, it means a lot of things, and means different things to different people! Here on the Hill and at many other intentional communities nation- and worldwide, it might mean:

  • Receiving multiple offers when you put out a request to borrow something, even if it is the most obscure item

  • Doing any number of kind favors for your neighbors

  • Disagreeing over the right way to handle pandemic precautions (and any number of other things)

  • Honing and using your best communication skills...or sometimes your worst, and regretting it later

  • Cooking a community meal or organizing a BBQ

  • Being part of resolved or unresolved conflict and tension

  • Finding "your people" with shared interests, values, vision, goals, hobbies, and making life-long friends

  • Using consensus decision-making and coming together on a final decision everyone can get behind after lots of discussion in a long meeting with fellow community members

  • Organizing a community celebration of some kind (holiday cookie swap, karaoke, birthday party, for example)

  • Being part of a committee working toward shared goals

  • Bringing all of your baggage with you, for better or worse (it doesn't just go away)

  • Playing various community roles in addition to your day job and household needs

  • Learning new skills and maybe stretching outside of your comfort zone

  • Taking on too much because you want to be involved with everything or you have a problem saying "no" or you feel obligated

  • Facilitating a difficult discussion with support from others

  • Stepping up to do something because no one else is doing it

  • Realizing that life doesn't slow down here, it's just busy in different ways than you may be used to

  • Leaning in because this place is only as good as we all make it

  • Trusting that the agreed upon process benefits the greater good

  • Working to change a policy that isn't working or writing a proposal to introduce a new project

  • Keeping a growth mindset

  • Learning how to live lighter together on the earth

Thinking about community living and want to learn more? We are part of a larger movement.

"People choose to join intentional community for many reasons – better quality of life, sense of purpose, connection with people, opportunities to make a difference. The process starts with learning as much as you can about communal living and the various kinds of community models." (ic.org)

Wildlife Brush Pile Creation

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Project on January 16, 2021

by Bill, photos by Sarah

During work day last month, four folks built a wildlife habitat structure. They started by getting the material – felling and bucking up a weevilled-pine tree in pasture to give more light to shaded-out apple trees (above).

Operating the skidder to get the material to the construction site. Design engineer starts building the habitat. Log crib begins to form interior. Brush pile is tied into existing fallen tree, which adds diversity to this habitat.

After the crib was built, other features were added to enhance habitat complexity, reinforce stability & increase “live-ability” (e.g., logs piled on side at angles and old wool for nesting, insulation, flooring).

We stock piled branches during the tree felling process, which were added for the habitat roof – wind/rain protection weather, insulation, and hiding cover.

The completed wildlife brush pile is about 6-7 ft tall & 15-18 ft in diameter. Located along edge of field, forest, and wetland/stream to provide opportunities for food, water & foraging. Now open for business! Plus, three happy apple trees have more light and we’ve increased the field area.

More info on brush piles for wildlife habitat here (Natural Resources Conservation District).

Vermont Hot Chocolate Week

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It’s Vermont Hot Chocolate Week! Perfect for a snow day at Cobb Hill.

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Meet “Whipped Cream” and “Coco” with Maeve!

The Great Cobb Hill Baking Show

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Is there a way to have your cake and eat it too? How do we bring people together for three fun days during a pandemic? Can you bake over Zoom? While dancing and singing?

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From January 16-18, 2021, Cobb Hill took inspiration from The Great British Baking Show and ran a baking contest for adults and families. We followed the format of the Great British Baking Show: Day One, The Signature Bake (pies - sweet or savory); Day Two, The Technical Challenge (Paul Hollywood's Fruit Turnovers); and Day Three, The Showstopper (a layer cake with a social justice theme in honor of MLK Day and current events).

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Nine households baked and two judges ("Rollin Pein" and "Stella Rose") carefully sampled their creations and declared the winners of the Star Baker Awards. We met over Zoom at 8:45 AM for the kickoff (jokes, instructions, advice) and bakers had from 9 - noon to complete each bake. Baking happened in individual kitchens. We had a grand time while the bakers were hard at work, with three MC's asking questions and encouraging contestants to sing, dance, and share stories.

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The Technical Challenge recipe was tested and adapted for U.S. cooks by judge Rollin Pein and the contestants were provided with the recipe (abbreviated for all adult teams) and all ingredients. It was the first time most households had made a rough puff pastry, and all were successful. The bakers surprised themselves and impressed the judges!

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The finished baked goods were brought to an outdoor table where the judges examined and cut into them. Observations were made, taste samples taken and prizes awarded. The contestants produced the most delicious, beautiful and creative result all three days – quite worthy of the TV show! They really outdid themselves on the third day, however. Showstoppers featured a tempered chocolate bridge, a stash of hidden treasure, up to seven different layers, and hand carved decorations. Exhausted and sweet tooth satisfied, everyone hung up their aprons and dreamed of ... perhaps an annual bake show?

“My cake is rainbow, and imperfect - like people!” -Kai

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"My heart shines and my face smiles when I think of all the incredible joy and connection that emerged from this event! I am filled with immense gratitude for Lorie, who created this activity and all the other community members who joined the effort. Loved cooking with my 19 year old son and his girlfriend! First bake, pure fun and excitement! Second bake for us was tense and down to the wire, as we had to temper chocolate for our chocolate bridge." -Karyn

Stay tuned for the film of the whole event!

Cedar Mountain Farm: 4-H and Showing Cows

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Taken from the full article written for DigInVT.com by ZL.

Cedar Mountain Farm is a working family farm in Hartland, Vermont. Located at Cobb Hill Cohousing, owners Stephen Leslie and Kerry Gawalt (with their daughter, Maeve) have been farming for decades.

We caught up with Maeve Leslie-Gawalt to learn about her involvement in 4-H and showing cows. At the time of writing, Maeve is 13 years old and has grown up on the farm. She is a core part of the Hartland 4-H Cattle Club, a local group of students that generally meets after school on Wednesdays at the farm.

Tell us about 4-H in Hartland

The club was started 5 years ago, when Maeve was 8 years old. It’s an official club, comprised of a handful of students (the numbers have fluctuated). The members do fundraisers and go to fairs. In a normal year, the club would attend 5 area fairs, staying in a camper for 4-5 days. This year (2020), the club has been meeting by Zoom once per month and doing quiz bowl. Maeve only attended one show, the New England Holstein Show, this year.

Maeve on the far left and showing through the years.

Maeve on the far left and showing through the years.

To prepare for fairs and shows, Maeve walks the cows she is working with 2-3 times a week; they practice show walking. She also washes them once a week to get them used to it, as the cows can find it stressful. Then, there’s the grooming! Maeve explained how clipping works, that it enhances and accentuates various aspects of a cow’s body: some fluff is left on the topline, fading is done on the stomach, and the legs, head, and ears are clipped neatly. Every component of the body is judged in showing. Maeve says it takes hours to do, 1.5 to 5 hours per cow...5 for “Whipped Cream.”

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Who is Whipped Cream?

The farm has 60 Jersey cows, and standing out in the crowd are two Holsteins. Maeve really liked the idea of owning a Holstein and working with a larger cow. So, in 2016 when she was in 3rd grade, having saved up her money, she bought the Holstein that she named Whipped Cream. Maeve says Whipped Cream has quite the personality and is a spicy gal!

How are the cows named on the farm?

The first letter of the mother’s name is used. The strongest lines right now are C, B, and D names. Some letter lines have died out or been sold, but each family line is known for their own personality and beauty. D’s have a loving, go-lucky vibe and B’s have more attitude!

“For instance, last year I took Chanel to the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin. Her mom is Coco and she has a daughter, Champaign, that I hope to take next year.”

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