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Women's Permaculture Gathering at Quail Springs - Repurposing and Roadkill
I attended a Women's Permaculture Gathering at Quail Springs this past May. Let me first praise the folks that are running Quail Springs! What an amazing, intentional space. I had yet to really experience a closed circuit: compost toilets scattered around the property, buildings made out of straw bale and other natural mediums, food cooked out of cob ovens, water from the spring and then recirculated back to the land as grey water. Truly an amazing experience.
After a month or so of space from the experience, however, I keep coming back to the part about roadkill. I had arrived late on the Friday that the retreat began since I couldn't get out of work earlier. When I finally arrived, I noticed a deer strung up being bled.
Apparently, a group of women driving up to the retreat passed a deer on the side of the road. They stopped and felt that is was still warm, hoisted it up onto the car, and brought it to Quail Springs. A woman in her early 30's, with a 1 year old on her hip and another toddler running around, was pointing and offering guidance to a group of women who were dressing the deer. They were skinning the deer, pulling out the internal organs, and preparing it to be eaten. Normally, this might make me gag a little, but it was so amazing to watch these women, being taught by another woman, how to recapture the energy of this deer after it had been left as debris on the side of the road.
It was truly inspiring. I usually associate this kind of event with a bunch of dudes with their shotguns and ammo. This, however, was kind, empowering, and full of gratitude towards the deer.
I loved being a part of a group of women who didn't bow to the expectations of gender. It was definitely refreshing.
After a month or so of space from the experience, however, I keep coming back to the part about roadkill. I had arrived late on the Friday that the retreat began since I couldn't get out of work earlier. When I finally arrived, I noticed a deer strung up being bled.
Apparently, a group of women driving up to the retreat passed a deer on the side of the road. They stopped and felt that is was still warm, hoisted it up onto the car, and brought it to Quail Springs. A woman in her early 30's, with a 1 year old on her hip and another toddler running around, was pointing and offering guidance to a group of women who were dressing the deer. They were skinning the deer, pulling out the internal organs, and preparing it to be eaten. Normally, this might make me gag a little, but it was so amazing to watch these women, being taught by another woman, how to recapture the energy of this deer after it had been left as debris on the side of the road.
It was truly inspiring. I usually associate this kind of event with a bunch of dudes with their shotguns and ammo. This, however, was kind, empowering, and full of gratitude towards the deer.
I loved being a part of a group of women who didn't bow to the expectations of gender. It was definitely refreshing.
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