Note: When I first wrote this, I was brimming with enthusiasm and I often envision things before I am ready to fulfill the vision. I believe that I am closer than ever to fulfilling these dreams, but first I do need a core group (or even just one other person) who can help me, along with Jesus, to co-create this vision. I am hoping for Fall of 2024 to start having gatherings.

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I am planning on having conferences, seminars and retreats starting March 15, 2024. The first events will be specifically targeted for people who want to help get the community infrastructure up and running for the upcoming events which will start in mid-April, 2024. I will be planning these very soon, and people will know what to expect.

The best scenario would be that there would be events scheduled from April until October. However, I will need some help in order to pull this off, or get paid somehow for doing all the work, or with the supernatural help of the God of the impossible, I will accomplish the goal. I am seeking God’s will in this matter. Sometimes I get a vision of doing something that is supposed to be done, but not in my timing.

If you feel called to explore partnering with me in order to do this project, please contact me. I am in the process of describing the ideal partnership along with a screening process to make sure we are compatible.

The reason I am doing this is for the following reasons:

1. I can get to know people who want to explore becoming a member of Wilberforce Village, and they can get to know me.
2. Work that needs to be done in order to make the community site more habitable by future members will get done.
3. Everyone, including myself, can share and learn skills that will help them be more resilient in this turbulent life without having to spend a lot of money.
4. The land can be nurtured and have its purpose of service fulfilled.
5. Any financial contributions will help to finish and expand the common house and other structures.
6. People who have a desire to do permanent projects at the Wilberforce Village site can get a feeling for what that would look like. See this link for more information about that vision.

Every event, which will last from Tuesday through Sunday, will include the following ingredients:

1. Use of Open Space Technology where participants get the opportunity to structure the event according to their specific needs. “Open Space Technology is one way to enable all kinds of people, in any kind of organization, to create inspired meetings and events. Over the last 30+ years, it has also become clear that opening space, as an intentional leadership practice, can create inspired organizations, where ordinary people work together to create extraordinary results with regularity.” Learn more here.
2. Using this structure enables anyone who attends the event to facilitate classes and discussions about topics related to the theme of the conference. This means that the gatherings are more grassroots learning and can be affordable. Of course, if some expert attends, we will welcome them and possibly waive any fees.
3. A schedule for each day that encourages participants to do things that will help them be healthy in body, mind and soul. Group meditations, yoga and other spiritual practices in the morning, frequent breaks for things that nurture the vagus nerve, forest bathing and hiking, paleo exercising including cooperative games, whole food, oil-free, plant-based meals will enhance individual health as well as bonding and friendship building. Creative time spent in the evening sitting around the campfire (during the cooler months) with such things as story telling, singing, dancing, spiritual practices, and improv games will help people be engaged and connected with each other.
4. Shared whole food, oil-free, plant-based meals: Though the meals will be simple with foods that people bring, whatever is growing in the garden, and wild edibles foraged by everyone–they will be delicious and nutritious. People will take turns helping prepare meals overseen by someone who knows what they are doing!
5. Only vegan food is allowed. For vegans, this will be wonderful. For others, it will be a rich experience where non-vegans get to experience what it is like to eat a plant-based diet. If people are craving animal products, they can go off the property to eat whatever they want. However, I will strongly recommend that people look at the diet as a kind of fast, and see how their body does.
6. Events will last 6 days. Some events will be designed so that if people can only come on the weekend or for shorter periods, they can do so. Some there will be a requirement that the whole event is attended.
7. Donation/Work Exchange: There will be suggested donations for the events depending on the topic. A sliding scale will be offered. For people who can not pay the minimum, they will be asked to do work during, before, or after the event in order to contribute. Scholarships will be offered to qualifying members, and people who have the skill sets that we need will not need to pay.
8. Children are welcome. I know that when my children were young, I wanted so badly to have them experience wonderful events and because I was a single mom some of that time, I sure would have appreciated being able to take my children with me to events that I have described. However, parents will be in charge of their kids, and no formal childcare will be offered. I can facilitate it so parents can cooperate with each other to have shared childcare and special events. People can host break out groups especially for children, and will be encouraged to do so.
9. On going connection. There will be a forum where people can meet before and after the conference. I will encourage people to sign up for a mailing list for event attendees so they can stay in touch afterwards, and even before–for car pooling, child care, etc.
10. Application process: People will need to fill out an application and sign a waiver. I am screening people so that only people who are serious about learning and living temporarily in community will attend. Eventually I want to have events that the general public can attend when there is a public space set up.
11. Camp or spend the night at a local place such as Air BnB’s: There are two large decks where people can camp, or they can find places in the woods in designated areas.
12. Outhouses: No indoor plumbing is available.
13. Cold bathing: Unless you bring your own solar shower, bathing will be limited to swimming pouring water over yourself in a private space. Water for bathing is limited.
14. Visiting the Prayer Lake park. There is a 40 acre spring-fed, private lake which is 5 minute drive or 1/2 hour walk. We will have at least one picnic there each event. a volleyball court is there as well.
15. Attendance: There is limited parking on the property. 17 cars maximum.

One of the first projects is to set up rain water catchment, slowing, and spreading in order to save as much water as possible during the spring. We will all learn together (and hopefully some experts will come) how to do this. But we can read, research, and experiment even if no experts attend. This will include:

Setting up tanks that are on the site and connecting them to the already existing rain gutters.

Strategizing how to save the enormous amount of water that comes from the road above the property, and which travel through wet water creeks.

Hand digging ponds and swales.

Expanding a swimming hole.

Building hugelkultur mounds out of the huge amount of rotted wood and organic material that is in the forest in order to slow water and plant wild plants that are useful for humans, animals, and insects including pollinators.

Other topics for retreats include:

Vegan Christians Retreat

Homeschooling gathering

Holistic healing

Healing trauma

Vegan Camp

Family Camp

Wilderness Living Skills

Vegan Permaculture

Natural Building

Urban Homesteading

Homesteading in general

How to build healthy (body, mind, and soul) community (residential and non-residential)

Christian Universalism

How to create and live in a parallel economy

Foraging for and preparing wild edibles including mushrooms

Christian Mysticism

Living Out The Teachings of Jesus Practically

Healing Trauma

Growing Food Forests

Fasting (this will be a time to get support for various fasts that people want to do)

Emergency preparedness

Vegan homesteading and self sufficiency

Building resilient neighborhoods and towns

Is there a topic you would like to see covered in a conference? Leave ideas in the comments below. This is not the completed list. Or would you like to use the Wilberforce Village land to host a conference? Let me know! Or if you want to come and explore being a member of the village and participate in all of these events–tell me!