Current Newsletter
On this page you will always find a copy of our most recent newsletter(s) to our mailing list - if you are interested in joining our mailing list, please use Mailing List or send an email to info@bowdenhouse.co.uk.
Newsletter 9 March 2010
Dear Friends
We have several hundred trees to plant here to restore the original shelter belt which became the overspill car park for car boot sales and which we have named Hope Wood. To achieve this, we are setting aside next week, from Tuesday 16th to Saturday 20th March. We would love help from anyone who wants to come up here from 10am-1pm on any of these days. We can guarantee tea & biscuits, hopefully fun & companionship too! Of course you are welcome to bring a lunch and stay on if you wish - some of us will probably keep going all day. On the Saturday, we will hold our usual Community Action Day and work all day anyway (please let us know via info@bowdenhouse.co.uk if you are coming to the Action Day, other days just turn up).
Help plant something that will change our landscape, and last for hundreds of years!
Hope this strikes a chord
Love
Nick & Jason (for the Bowden gang)
Newsletter 20 February 2010
Dear Friends of Bowden,
Here we are connecting again in the week after our fifth anniversary. We were told that it would take years to establish a strong community with a purpose, rhythm and culture… and it has. What a challenging journey it has been, but I for one feel deeply satisfied by what we have accomplished together. My sense is that we are more rooted now with ever-strengthening connections to each other and the wider community. At the same time it feels as if we have only just begun, especially when I think of the Main House and the enormity of the task of co-creating a centre that hopefully will be a beacon in some way. Then there’s all that we have planned for the grounds…
So, what news do we have? There have been major changes since I last wrote. Firstly, all seven houses/flats in the old museum/café building have been sold and are well under construction – hopefully ready for the big move by the end of spring. Consequently, many heads here are bulging with kitchen design, electric circuits and the like. (Anyone fancy helping any of us with painting or ferrying our belongings when the time comes?)
Also, three of the six Coach House flats have been sold. This means we are well on the way to the long awaited co-ownership of the estate.
Are there still spaces? Yes, there are. We have two flats and Tryst Cottage awaiting sale and the possibility of renting rooms coming up for those who are smitten with the idea of community living and who connect with both this land and our extended ‘family’. We are also willing to rent one flat and cottage short term until the right buyers appear. See the website for steps to membership then contact info@bowdenhouse.co.uk if still interested.
Some residents have moved on. Haluk, Tracy and children had to move back to London to deal with selling their business. Romeck has relinquished his room to go off on working adventures in Cambodia and Tigga and Miguel have also gone adventuring in the wider world. We will miss them all in various ways.
Our newest resident is Jason Courtis who is full of life and has thrown himself into care of the grounds and tree planting. Woodland management, gardening and conservation work are his great loves.
Other new residents include Peaky (my uncreative name for him) the peacock who arrived out of the sky in the summer and never left. He has obviously decided to live with us now and is a magnificent vibrant symbol of great vision. We also have five funny ducks who waddle about as a quintet of ‘duck consciousness’ reducing the slug population and blissing out in the rain and muddy pond.
We have been excited of late with our decision to include a Wisdom Council in the management structure of Bowden. This will be a regular opportunity to sit in a circle with the issue at hand placed in the centre of our metaphorical chalice. We then speak when the ‘spirit’ moves us from a space of silence, and not until it does. Our intention is to enhance our intuitive skills and create ‘group wisdom’, which transcends the sum of our individual perspectives. Feel free to speak to any of us about how this is working.
Our veg gardens have been flourishing. Thanks to all of you who have added your energy. We even managed to grow and harvest enough quinoa to add to our chestnuts for a giant nut roast at Christmas. We love people joining us for gardening mornings on Thursdays and most visitors talk about the simplicity of the work feeding their souls. Do join us if you can, also on Action Days just for the fun of it. Our head garden gnome, Nick Prater, is away sailing with green-fingered David Addy at the moment in the Caribbean (recharging themselves) but other capable gnomes have stepped in until they are back.
Hopefully, we will get into more of a rhythm of newsletter writing from now on but to discover what events are coming up you can always go to our website at www.bowdenhouse.co.uk which is regularly updated with events info. Our new website, which will include lots of pictures, is under construction.
That’s all from me for now. Doug's written a bit about his Woodshed project below and after that you'll find the events listings - there's some great events coming up, so have a look!
Very much look forward to seeing you here at some point.
Love from
Carmella (on behalf of the Bowden ‘family’)
WORD FROM THE WOODSHED BY DOUG
http://www.woodshedcollective.co.uk
*** Studio space for hire at woodshed - 3 month Spring let of warm desk for clean work and colder desk for messy work***
Up by the walled garden of Bowden community lies a quiet hub of creative activity. Alongside Peter's candle studio, Minty Designs, and Geraldine's Cauldron studio there is the old tractor building, now converted into The Woodshed, a sculpture studio and community artspace - affordable studio space & outdoor cob-oven & green-woodwork space.
Well - it's not always quiet... Music and woodchips can create quite a buzz... This spring Doug and Rowan are busy building a kitchen for the Eden Rise project in Totnes from an array of locally grown timber - Beech, Yew, and Oak as well as locally sourced reclaimed timbers. We have seen quite a lot of sawdust building up! Beki Doe is braving the cold with wet fingers and slaps of sloppy white goo for a life size sculpture... and Jon has just arrived.
2010 has also seen a few workshops and groups meeting here. Doug has led Green Woodwork and Overtone Singing
Workshops and has a few more booked up. Also regular Mbira nights with Chartwell Dutiro gather on alternate Mondays, TTT Garden Group uses the space to teach organic gardening methods with Nick Prater, there is a growing Great Freedom community (http://www.greatfreedom.org) using the space for open meetings and introductory teachings, and we have resident artists Beki Doe and Jon Chattaway making use of the space.
Doug has been invited to go make sculpture in Japan this Spring, so there is an opportunity to rent desk space for a 3month let to keep it covered while he is abroad. Anyone interested in a small and beautifully located studio space (with some shared use) for the Spring then get in touch with Doug (tel 07976589927)
EVENTS LISTINGS
Regular Events at Bowden House:
Community Action Days - every first and third Saturday of the month. (see information below)
Bowden Choir - every Thursday 7.30-9.30pm
Dances of Universal Peace - once a month on every second Tuesday, 7.30 – 9.30pm
Taize Singing - on the last Sunday of the month, 7.30-9.30pm
BOWDEN CHOIR
Thursday evenings, 7.30-9.30pm
Come and enjoy singing in our beautiful Angel Hall with its amazing acoustics. This is an informal group of people with no ambitions (as yet) to perform. All songs are taught by ear by our expert resident teachers Nick Prater and Ian Hague.
Suggested donation: £5
Contact: Ian on 01803 862376, ianhague@phonecoop.coop or Nick on 01803 849001, Nick@prater.totalserve.co.uk
COMMUNITY ACTION DAYS
Our Community Action Days continue to happen every first and third Saturday of the month from 10am-4pm. These are for anyone interested in working with us for the day to find out more about the community. The next Community Action Days will be on Saturday March 6 and 20.
Please contact us before you come via info@bowdenhouse.co.uk. Thank you!
FEBRUARY 2010
Friday, 26 February, 6-11pm
Acoustic Haven
Amazing feast of guitarists! Lee Westwood (exquisite!), Matt Petherbridge & Ben Grubb (awsome!), Phillip Henry (jaw dropping!)
Come early for soup and chai... and a chance to get a ticket as Acoustic Haven often sells out. Don't forget your slippers!
Tickets in advance from Backtrax or Drift Records in Totnes. £8 (£10 on door).
For more information contact Doug: e: dougkingsmith@yahoo.co.uk
Sunday, 28 February, 7.30-9.30pm
Taize
led by Nick Prater and Ian Hague
An evening of inspirational singing, drawing from the rich chants from Taize with additions from the Iona Community, Harmonic Temple and others. All songs are taught by ear and no previous experience is needed.
Suggested donation: £5
Contact: Ian on ianhague@phonecoop.coop or 01803 862376
February/March 2010
MONGOLIAN OVERTONE SINGING with Doug King-Smith
At The Woodshed, Bowden House, Totnes Booking essential. Call Doug 07976589927
Learn to sing Harmonics in this style traditional to the western Steppes of Mongolia. Explore a range of harmonic singing with a particular focus on Khoomii (mongolian throat singing). Explore the breath and have good fun learning this very special sound... singing two notes at the same time... and entering a space of pure sound. For all those who love singing, come and share in a unique workshop where you will learn to sing two notes at the same time!
Doug King-Smith has been teaching the art of Mongolian overtone singing since 1999 and has taught thousands of people this unique vocal technique.
Dates: January 7th and 21st & February 4th and 18th, 6pm to 8.30pm (cost £25/£20 conc.)
Full Day Intensive March 6th (Saturday 10am to 5pm) (cost £70/£50 conc.; veggie lunch included)
Booking in advance is essential! Please contact Doug on 07976589927 for more information and booking
MARCH 2010
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Dances of Universal Peace led by Nick Prater
From the beginning of time, sacred movement, song and story have brought people together - at times of seasonal ceremony and celebration, as part of everyday life and life passages, in daily renewal and meditation, etc... The Dances of Universal Peace are part of this timeless tradition of Sacred Dance. The Dances use simple music, lyrics, and movements to touch the spiritual essence within ourselves and others. No musical or dance experience of any kind is required and everyone is welcomed to join in. The mood of the Dances is infinitely variable, evoking feelings of love, joy, and compassion.
Suggested donation: £5
Contact: Nick on Nick@prater.totalserve.co.uk or 01803 849001
Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 March 2010
Family Constellation Work With Barbara Morgan and Pia Martinus
A very special opportunity to work with an experienced and very skilful facilitator and her apprentice in a lovely peaceful environment. Barbara has been facilitating this work for over 12 years, and has a background in Gestalt Psychotherapy. Pia has been involved with Family Constellation work for 7 years, having worked with several different facilitators.
In this beautiful work developed by Bert Hellinger, we are encouraged to deeply see, acknowledge and hand back past traumas and secrets and allow the ‘order of love’ to nurture and support us to fully live our lives. Eight full participants will be given the opportunity to present and work on their own material. There will also be the opportunity to work as a representative in other peoples’ constellations, which is also a very deep and exciting experience.
Attendance at whole weekend is mandatory. Tea and coffee provided. Bring shared lunch.
9.30-6.00 Saturday, 9.30-5.00 Sunday
Cost £150 and £110 as a full participant and £75 as a representative
To book or for more info please contact Pia on piamartinus@yahoo.co.uk or 01803-762246
Friday-Sunday, 19-21 March
Storytelling for times of Transition - Training for Transition Tales
Aimed at anyone wanting to work with school and/or community groups of all ages to engage them in the process of visioning. Using a host of innovative techniques for unleashing the storyteller in all of us - as well as an interactive community game called "The Quest" - we will envision and create the collective stories of a positive future. The course will be facilitated by Steph Bradley and Inez Aponte, two experienced trainers whose approach is fun, inspiring and inclusive.
Cost: £105
Contact: Steph at transitiontales@googlemail.com or leave a message on 01803 849094
http://transitionnetworknews.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/storytelling-for-times-of-transition/
Friday, 26 March, 6-11pm
Acoustic Haven
If you havn't yet made it to an Acoustic Haven you have definitely missed out - and this is the last one scheduled before Autumn!
Doors open at 6pm - but it is best to buy a ticket in advance from Backtrax or Drift Records in Totnes as Acoustic Haven often sells out. This evening is a gift with the divine Jane Taylor & band, Gaynor O'Flynn & band, and a special vocal treat yet tbc.
Come early for soup and chai... and a chance to get a ticket Don't forget your slippers!
Tickets in advance from Backtrax or Drift Records in Totnes. £8 (£10 on door).
For more information contact Doug: e: dougkingsmith@yahoo.co.uk