what´s new at chirusco...

Hi everyone. i´m gina, a volunteer here in never never land. tina asked me to give yáll an update on what we´ve been up to in our little mountain oasis so, here it goes.

right now we have some british honeymooners staying with us who are helping build a honeymoon suite. charles is a painter and he´s decorated the walls, ceiling, and i hear even the floor is going to be done. His work is amazing and he´s even incorporated likenesses of some of the people on the farm into his work. tina plans to name the room after him when he´s done and we´ll have a little dedication ceremony complete with ecuadorian moonshine.

we had a rain storm here a couple of days ago and it looks like another is coming. everyone here was quite unprepared as it never rains here in july. this is supposed to be right in the middle of the dry season. but, alas, rain came down in buckets and soaked three bags of cement that we had left over form cementing a floor. so, what did we do? we cemented another floor! we made a patio for the building that will some day be tina´s personal space and it took tina, 5 volunteers - me, james, charles, natalie, britney - and two of the guys who work on the farm - carlos and andres - more than eight hours to do it. the end was done by candle light, but it´s done, the cement was saved and all of us are nice and sore from a hard day´s work.

Last week we spent some time learning how to build with cob and in the next couple of weeks when the weather is stable we plan to build up the walls of this space. cob is a fascinating resource, look it up, learn, and then come down here and help us out!

take care everyone, live in harmony and invite peace into your life as much as you can.

Economic needs and domestic abuse issues

Hi all! Just a fast note to update some things. I am in need of some help. I cant make payroll. This isnt too new news, happens now and then. However, Patricio is suffering. He has not been paid in two months and I was just told if he doesnt pay his tuition he cannot graduate his english class. $40. for tuition and he needs gas money for the daily back and forth. Graduation is July 28th from part 1 of english for guides certification. I also owe Carlos a bit and Andres a bit more. I guess we will have money coming in in a few more weeks, going to the US in a week to collect. But its a struggle and I want to ask for help.
So I am asking. Any offers please just Western Union me, Christina Marshall, Quinara Loja Ecuador. And send me a note to let me know to pick up.
Other things happening. Charles Cutting of www.charlescutting.com is here to paint up the place (he is on his HONEYMOON with Natalie), he is doing murals all over the upstairs house, including all sorts of fantasy stuff and water faeries and capt hooks pirate ship and so on. Its gonna be absolutely amazing! We will even be able to sell prints of his works from the farm on line (and his painting s of the creek are so beautiful as to make you wepp)!!
Gina is here for three months now, a midwife in the making and all round great help, and really pretty- we gotta post some pictures of her. But she is taken already. She is a childbirth educator and I needed the help! Our Wendy left last week, and its too bad. I had not realized how much we needed a Wendy at NeverLand, the place wont be the same without her- Wendy! Come back! I miss you! I miss all of you, Barnaby, Scott, Lloyd, the Johns, Micah Tyler, Colleen, all of our lost boys and girls. I am lost without you all, You should ALL come back home now! But lots of cool folks here now as well.
The new construction has come to a complete halt until money arrives. But we are eatting well off the gardens and everyone is loving life in Neverland. All the animals are doing great, the Yaegwa is fat and happy and running like the wind to town now and then and our Yapita is preggers (Barbie, too, I think).
IMPORTANT! JOYFUL NEWS!!
The most touching thing happened this week. First the history- A few weeks ago (months?) I was driving into Tumianuma in a truck and we saw a young boy lying beside the road, apparently bleeding. We stopped the truck and checked him out. Small boy, bleeding from a bruised face and from the ear, semi concious. Another little boy trotted over to tell us his mother had beatten him. Another man came by and said something like shouldnt that be illegal? In this culture it is not OK for me to touch a child that is not mine without permission. And it is generally really unacceptable to involve authorities. You are supposed to look away when someone beats thier child (or wife). The conspiracy of silence that exists everywhere, you make enemies, they say, by calling the cops!
So, I could no longer look away. I got the cops. Don Quishpa, the police from Tumianuma. When the cops came I could do no more and had to walk away and let them do thier thing. And I heard no more about the matter except for a few of the women from town thanking me for doing something that noone else felt they could do...
This Sunday I was sitting on the patio and we all heard a small voice calling. Hola Hola. Took a few minutes to locate the little guy, he was hiding from Barbie (those of you who know barbie realize how unneccesary THAT is!). Finally little guy comes up to house and introduces himself. Slater. And when I asked how I could help him he told me I already had. He held out his hand and formally thanked me for getting the police and helping him when his Mom had beat him so badly. It was a beautiful and awful moment for me. He explained that the police had removed him from his home and that finally one of his cousins was taking him in and he was going to live there. You guys will never know the shock I had on hearing what cousin was taking him in. None other than our own Carlos!! Carlos is parenting an 11 year old. Those of you who know Carlos realize the challenges in that one! But its a done deed and Soyla, Carlos´ beloved Abuelita, has got herself another boy to raise. He has problems this kid. Been abused. A lot. And now has some deafness in his left ear (gotta get that checked out). But how sweet. A new neighbor. Charles showed him his paintings and Slater wants to learn to paint! His lessons have already begun! Charles and natalie are here for 7 weeks and pretty wonderful folks.
So FYI, this new neighbor is gonna need clothes (as does Carlos). And he will need school uniform, shoes and sometimes food, but I bet Carlos brings him for most meals with us (thats it, we need to serve more protiens!). Also I am gonna have to come up with a few dollars a year to pay for his school registration, some notebooks and so on. Finally a child living in the valley again. Just thought I would share our new joy!!!
So You All- WRITE SOMETHING! Let me know how you are, send me more pictures, or look at the cool ones someone just sent. I miss you all! Tina

Life away from peace and quiet

oh how I miss the days of early mornings, hash browns, creek water induced dreams, reading in the hammock and working with the earth. The soil in the states does not turn your hands silver...thats for sure! So, you asked me to blog you about my life away from the farm, here goes. I came home terrified because I fell in love in Ecuador to more than just men. I thought I was ready to face Southern California culture shock because I was feeling so righteous and alive, but nothing can compare a peaceful soul for the rude awakening of good old US consumption. Needless to say, i could only stay around my parents house for about a week before I had to move on. While pondering my life on the NNL farm I got really excited about moving back up to san francisco. I felt so powerful in my decisions and ability to rock the city. However, I didnt move into the city right away and ended up with free rent in Alameda, and a life that was dramatically slowing down. To spare you all the drama and depression, Ill just say that Im happy to be moving into an 8 person coop in a week and a half in San Francisco! Right next to golden gate park and Haight Ashbury...thank GOD! But in my time in alameda I adopted a kitten who is now my world...Attila Lumi. Black and white and a total killer. Reminds me almost too much of marlon's dog like personality. I make $600-750 a week selling blueberries all under the table and feel really lost, though enjoying the farmers market community, not knowing what it is I love most and where I want to devote my energy. Havent even been on a date with a man since my return. I long for the days in Ecuador when I was turning down marriage proposals! Que Paso? So, Ive been thinking about buying land, traveing to New York, Jamaica, and Japan or just giving into my parents attempts to normalize me...aaaahhh! But hey, I turn 23 this friday, viva a la fiesta!

peace and blessing, Colleen