Some of the hard-working folks on-site took offense to folks on-line
reporting cleanup to be over before its time, it gave some the
impression they were being written off while still there.
Perhaps we could be more sensitive to this in the future, and not
report cleanup as over until folks are off-site, or perhaps we could
wait until the FS releases the cleanup letter?
| Another gift left for cleanup crew. Dog poop in a plastic bag tied in a tree. This is not where dog poop goes family! |
| This personal firepit was about 60 feet up hill and behind the Shut Up and Eat It kitchen. The last picture is of this how I cleaned up and disappeared this mess ~ in the magic rainbow way it should be! These pictures speak for themselves but it became more obvious to me as I cleaned up this space that these folks really did not care or have a clue. Not only was this personal firepit in opposition to rainbow spirit, they were also defecating on the ground about 5-10 feet behind them over a log, and they left behind their feminine hygiene supplies as well. Thanks sister! |
| Before and After: Community Firepit cleanup. This is an example of what a firepit should look like after it is cleaned up. The huge blacken spot is not natural and will leave a visual and biological scar in the forest for a long time. The fire/heat kills microbes that live in the soil, the recovery time is longer if charred soil is left in one place. The blacken areas need to be flooded with water to be sure that the fire is out. The ash can be put into a shitter or spread around the forest (be certain it is cold and out!). The soil then needs to be aerated (disturbed) around the pit where people danced, drummed, and prayed for Mother Earth for the last week- soil must be mounded about 8 inches to fill the hole (if a hole was dug). If there was hole dug, use the soil that was removed to fill the hole (it is probably right there, compacted where the people danced). If grass or plants were removed they can be replaced and watered (many people actually set this aside and cleanup crew finds it and does this). The roots will sent out new plant materials and recovery will be fast! The rocks need to be spread around the forest, and leave litter/duff needs to cover the firepit as to match the other areas of the forest. Then sticks are spread out to look as if they have fallen from the trees (not left in a pile) and any wood chips need to be spread from the wood pile. This is the art of disappearing a fire pit! Learn it, do it! Ask at Info if you need advice! Welcome home! |
Some 2010 cleanup photos: These photos show a camp and personal firepit that someone failed to disappear after they left the PA Rainbow Gathering (2010). This is only one of HUNDREDS of personal firepits and camps that need to be disappeared every year! The majority of gatherers have lost the art of disappearing their camps. Did you maybe leave your camp like this? If so, please think about this for next year, and plan accordingly. Clean up and disappear your camp. All art work and human made structures, pits and trails need to be disappeared and the whole area where there was any impact needs to be naturalized. This includes hiding any artwork in chalk on stones, hiding burnt logs, hiding the burnt sides of stones used in fire ring, loosening the compacted soil around the fire ring and any other compacted areas, filling in holes with an 8-inch mound of soil and leaf litter, and spreading out piles of sticks that have been left behind. (Sticks do not look natural in piles!) This is all too often the case, people do not understand that they need to take a look around at the place they are going to camp, and remember what it looks like. They need to return it back to what it was before they came. That is the magic and it is a lost art. Although cleanup is a wonderful part of the event, it is very discouraging to wander through the woods and find hundreds of camps left like this. It takes a lot of energy to clean up after everyone! Hopefully sharing these photos will have an impact on peoples' behavior next year. |
Grass is 2 to 3 inches tall in the meadow
please help us...
I'm getting ready to tow it somewhere nearby untill after the
gathering... if you know a spot to put it for a month, message back!!!
In other news, all but 4 of us are at the gathering.... and all of our
gear and food... Bliss Ninja will be a main circle kitchen this
year!!!
Love!!!
Some of the Photos of the LEO actions ...on the web...
hopefully, will be admitted in Federal Court...
perhaps, after some 35 Federal Magistrates and/or Federal Judges...
hearing (not hearing) the Evidence of Federal harassment.... is a
"biggie'.... perhaps, as one volunteer legal beagle (helping
defendants) relates: "About 20 great cases today. I think this
magistrate is going to be pissed and help us."
it would be good for a change to actually have a FAIR HEARING....
Good luck to the folks who have been charged/cited.... and good luck
to the helpers.. whoever they are... may the Magistrate's "eyes, ears be opened"
http://eastcoast2010gathering.blogspot.com/2010/05/playing-game.html
http://wyominggathering.blogspot.com/2008/01/minimizing-leo-harassment-at-gatherings.html
Tips for a safe journey home & a Positive Gathering
If you plan on driving, make sure your car and driver is 100%
legal-all lights work, valid insurance and registration, seatbelts,
car seats for children. Our government assumes that we are criminals.
Please try to arrive during daylight hours as the roads into
gathering sites can be tricky and we want you to arrive home safely.
If you can make space in your vehicle for a rider or you need a ride,
ride share is happening craistlist.org or kindrideshare.net. If you
will be sharing a ride, please meet the folks you'll be riding with
at a local coffee shop, make sure you feel comfortable traveling a
long distance with them, and establish the ground rules. If you are
coming via bus, plane or train, try to connect up with a ride from
your destination before you get there. If you are planning on
hitchhiking, please travel with a buddy, only bum rides during the
day and if you get a bad feeling from a ride, PLEASE don't take it.
There will always be another one.
*Always* say no to requests for search, no matter what they tell you.
It is not illegal for cops to lie to you, and they often will do so
to get your consent to search. "You might as well give us permission,
because if you do not, we will go get a warrant and you will be here
for hours." This is a bluff. Don't fall for it. Their time is much
more valuable than yours.
If they insist on searching over your objections, don't prevent them
physically in anyway - but continue to repeat "I do not consent." Ask
for names and badge numbers, write down time, place, and what
happened in detail. Every little thing matters in a court of law,
even the things that don't mean much to you or me. If you can, take
pictures, videos, and/or tape recordings.
Also, if they ask you if you have contraband, and tell you that if
you have just a little bit and give it to them that they will not
search you, tell them no. Never, never, never incriminate yourself.
That means don't consent to anything, don't give them anything but
your license, registration, and proof of insurance, don't admit to
anything. When approaching the Gathering site, remember that you're
coming as friends in somebody else's back yard. Treat the local folks
with the courtesy, respect and concern that they deserve as members
of the Family of Humankind. Be Loving and Kind. Don't be rude, steal,
trash the town, disturb the Peace, or try to "shock" people. Be
mindful of others' sensitivities. Remember the original Golden Rule
when dealing with BOTH Babylon AND Rainbow: Treat Others the Way you
want to be treated! Please, make your journey a safe one. Don't be
under the influence while driving.
Let's all get home safely.
The purpose of a town hall meeting is for gatherers and the local
community to talk, ask/answer questions, and address concerns.
This is an open meeting. We strongly encourage all individuals in the
communities surrounding the gathering to come meet with us and ask
what ever questions are on your mind. We strongly encourage gathering
participants to attend the meeting. The best way to make sure we have
a positive impact on the community is to meet the community face to
face. Person to person communication is very effective. As always, no
experience necessary.
We welcome all media to attend the town hall meeting.
and finally...
God's Little Garden
(814) 676-8660
114 E 1st St, Oil City, PA 16301
the ICT/LEO movie is in full effect, same MO as last year, zero
tolerance,... lying, making shit up, false dog hits, boarderline illegal
searches, bull shit tickets... anything to get in your car, tear up your
shit, hassle, intmidate, fearmonger,... fucks.
first round of courtdate tickets seem to be for the 24th of june,.. Erie,
PA. (fed courthouse *i assume*, or another courthouse there,... you get the
jist,.. Erie,..)
last night's movie,... they towed a local momma's ride (supposedly no
legally licensed drivers ((yeah, dumb asses,..))).... they were only
checking it out for an evening,... they left her, her two adult riders, and
their 4 kids (including 8 wk. old child, stollers, carseats, etc,..) on the
side of the fucking road, with no camping gear, 2 hours from home, at
sundown,.. and the fucks smiled about it....
they're alright, they got home (finally),... but still, they have a car
impound movie to deal with in warren, and their fed courtdates t deal with
on the 24th.
bullshit small infraction tickets,.. every adult in the car,... again,
borderline illegal searches,.. locals, gatherers, anyone on that road.
...... and the band played on,....
Heading east on i80. Exit wesley go north to franklin then get on 62 north towards tidioute. Go 100 feet
East of gas station. Sign info tba. Turn right on road going up the hill towards hickory creek area. Drive 2.5 to 2.8 miles. Exact mileage tba. Turn left on fs119 and continue to fs552. Go to parking. This info came from a scout who will verify mileage and name of turn off from tidioute tomorrow. Roads are as good this way as other ways.
Folks on site are trying to sort out directions from I-80 this afternoon. Check back tonight or tomorrow for updates.
All parking is close to the site, there's just not alot of trails in just yet.
It's about 1 mile from front gate to back as the crow flies. 25 miles as the car drives.
No word yet on where handicamp is yet.
Each of us can make a bad parking situation better by listening to
where the parking crew tells us to park.
With all that being said…its only my opinion. But I do suggest trying to take larger routes and avoiding all the little county rd. Those ultimately ate up time and miles something fierce for us.
Here are some better directions to this year's gathering site.
We haven't yet drawn together comprehensive directions for those
coming in from points south, for now it's recommended to go to
Sheffield or Warren and follow the directions from there.
Directions:
>From the East, via Sheffield PA:
Go to Sheffield PA, One tenth of a mile from the end of Route 666
(where it meets Route 6) there is a Uni-mart gas station.Turn onto
this road and cross over the bridge. Continue onto High St (State
Road, SR2002) and follow for 11.2 Miles. Make a left onto FS116 (sign says Mayburg). Make
an immediate right onto FS119, follow for exactly 5.8 miles to FS552.
Follow FS552 to designated parking areas. Welcome Home!
>From the West via Warren, PA:
I86 East to US62 South, follow to Warren PA. Continue on Market St 0.3
miles, Turn right at Pennsylvania Ave (US6, Business Route, West),
travel 0.2 miles Turn left at Hickory St Bridge, proceed 0.1 mile,
slight left at Crescent Rd, 0.4 mi, Continue very briefly (150feet) on
Mohawk ave, continue onto Pleasant Drive(SR3005). Follow signs toward
"Hearts Content Recreation Area" Follow Pleasant Drive for 11.1 miles.
Make a left on SR2002. Keep following signs for "Hearts Content".
Drive 5.8 miles, passing "Hearts Content". Make a right onto FS 116,
make an immediate right onto FS119, follow for exactly 5.8 miles to
FS552. Follow FS552 to designated parking areas. Welcome Home!
Please drive slowly on all roads, especially on SR2002 and ALL FOREST
ROADS as road conditions are poor in some areas and can be unsafe even
at moderate speed.
This also about 2-blocks from a wonderful Coffee Shop called
Michelle's. Great coffee and bagels.
Grant ROAD NOT street also Bingham becomes 135 VIP Post this everywhere.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Then go another mile or so and past a narrow bridge at the fork go right
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
That fork becomes fS129
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Bear Creek Rec area
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Then go another mile or so and past a narrow bridge at the fork go right
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
That fork becomes fS129
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Bear Creek Rec area
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Law enforcement presence is relatively light with the PA state
troopers driving through about twice daily.
On Saturday evening after council the forest supervisor and the two
district rangers paid us a welcome call. They seem to be very
welcoming, they came without leos and brought us maps and photography
of some locations they thought would be good gathering sites.
We've worked with some of these people in the past regarding ops plans
and other health and safety concerns for recent regional gatherings,
they seem very much wanting to work closely with us again on
health/safety planning and operational/logistical issues. There was no
mention of "the permit" during this visit.
Here's their info:
Leanne M. Marten
Forest Supervisor
USDA
Forest Service
Allegheny National Forest
4 Farm Colony Drive
Warren, PA 16365
PH: 814-728-6299
FAX: 814-726-7462
Anthon y V. Scardina
District Ranger
USDA
Forest Service
Allegheny National Forest
29 Forest Service Drive
Bradford, PA 16 701
PH: 814-363-6098
FAX: 814-362-2761
We've worked closely with Tony in the past and he's good to work with
and understands how to communicate with us well.
I have both Anthony and Leanne's cell numbers available on request.
The second district ranger was Robert Fallon, but he didn't have any
business cards available. I believe he's out of the Marienville
office.
Here is another set of directions from Ridgeway
From downtown Ridgway PA, at the intersection of 219 and 948 (Main Street):
Take Main Street (948) West approximately 1 mile
Turn Right on Grant Street follow for 2.2 miles
Turn left onto Bingham Rd then in 0.6 miles turn left to stay on Bingham Rd
In 1.6 miles continue on Forest Road 135 Approximately 5 miles
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