HOWL for the Holidays

Hmmm, lookin' for that perfect gift idea? How's about a tax-deductible donation to HOWL?! Why slog through the mall when you can support Open Women's Land? Happy assorted winter festivities from HOWL: P.O. Box 53, Huntington, VT 05462.

A Bumper Crop of Apples

Anya shows off yet another bucket of apples collected from HOWL's trees. With more apple sauce batches to make, it's time to quit lazing about in that lovely Twin Oaks hammock and get back to picking!

Sheep Shearing Fall 2011

Sheap Shearing Day at Stark Hollow Farm @ HOWL....Laura and Vanessa were out early in the morning with the shearing crew and 1.5 hours later all 24 ewes had given up thier long locks. The wool will be prepared and sold as rovings. Watch for them at www.starkhollowfarm.com What a way to start the day!

HOWL Pumpkin Carving

18 Women gathered to feast, carve pumpkins and watch scary movies. There was fabulous food: Spooky Sloppy Janes (the better half of Sloppy Joe!), duck bacon wrapped asparagus, smoked salmon, pork stew (From Stark Hollow Farm pork!), pumpkin curry soup, roast chicken, baked kale chips, garlic spaghetti squash, salads, apple cider, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, ice cream....are you hungry yet?

The vote came in for the movie Insidious, barely squeezing out Silence of the Lambs, always a favorite.

Leigh's pumpkin appeared to be the winner in the most sexy category: The Enchantress

The Chicken Condo Cometh

Thanks to Autumn for donating the new coop and to Annie, Grace, and Vanessa for getting it here and Vanessa'a skills with the Kubota and Annie, Alexis, and Laura for coordinating and guiding it into place. Collaboration and teamwork at its finest!!! The flock will love it!!!

HOWL Collective Meeting

A record number of womyn turned out for the October potluck/collective meeting. Lots of great work is being accomplished. The food was fabulous, and WOW...we ended on time!

Fall Glory at HOWL

HOWL's new tent platform! Jo built it, and Vanessa placed it in a perfect spot. Bring your own sleeping bag & pillow case.


Lawnmowing at HOWL: Before...

...and after!



Bring rubber boots if you have 'em for a walk on the Catamount trail from HOWL's connecting trail.

Auntie Angy Returns to HOWL

Auntie Angy enjoys the bridge over the south creek built by Lincoln friends Jo and Annie. 91 years old and going strong!

Mama Snake & Baby

Vanessa & Laura saw this cute sight outside the window this morning.

Winter is coming!

Time to get the wood in. Tough wimmin take on the wood pile. 3 cords hauled and stacked for the long winter at HOWL.

Skill Share - Map & Compass

The demystification of the topographical map and the simple magnetic compass! What a great time we had learning about terrain features, declination, true north, magnetic north, sighting, headings, map quadrants, distances, etc. We learned our personal pace count, how to read a topographical map, how to use a protractor, how to calculate a compass heading, and how to sight an object at our heading. Thanks for the great handouts and pace counter, Jude...

This workshop will be offered again soon and HOWL hopes to establish a compass course on the land for women to practice. More to come!

Maxine takes a sighting...


Practicing sighting...


Laura calculates her compass heading...

The Wild Garden

The gardens up at HOWL had a slow start this spring. Laura didn't get her garden in until the 2nd week of June due to the cold and torrential rains. But now, after a spate of seriously nice weather, the garden has gone wild.

Mid Summer Camp Out

What is summer without a camp out! Howl's mid-summer camp out was filled with loads of sun, excitement, naked bodies at the pond, games, BBQ, s'mores, starry skies, revealing stories, a smattering of drama and a delicious farm fresh morning after breakfast...
Sorry...no naked photos...

HOWL - Open Art/Crafts Studio

Several women participated in the monthly Open Art/Crafts Studio series. Some of us had to take it outside...it was so beautiful down by the pond...


Jessie works on her Mandala...


Elissa creating her owl wing fan/smudger...

Art studio series brings wonderful creative energy to HOWL...

Several women gathered today for the first HOWL - Open Art/Craft Studio Series. The collective creative energy was inspiring and lots of fun as women worked on drawing, painting, decoupage, ceramic and metal painting.

The peach pie was delicious and the views out the barn windows were spectacular.

Studio Time....


Dixie draws with pastels...



Laura at the easel with her oil paints...


Mary Katherine and Leigh work on ceramic painting...


Elissa's decoupaged switch plate covers...beautiful!


Leigh's frame...so cool...


M.K.'s "Day of the Dead" piglet bank...you gotta love it!


Judy's "Magic Carpet" drawing with pastels...her happy place...

HOWL - Open Art/Crafts Studio

HOWL - OPEN ART/CRAFTS STUDIO, Sunday, June 26th, 2011

Come and join other women for HOWL’s Open Art/Crafts Studio Series the 4th Sunday of every month starting June 26th, 2 – 6 p.m. Whatever your interest: painting, drawing, knitting, jewelry making, or other crafting, gather with like-minded women for sharing ideas and time together. Studio space is set up with a few easels for painting, a couple tables, etc. for arts and crafts. Bring your own project to work on and a snack to share and beverages. Some basic supplies will be available (tools, glue, thinner, etc.)

If the weather is good, we can visit the pond for a swim or painters can work "plenair" (bring lawn chair and sunscreen if you plan on being outside).

For more information, contact Laura at laura@starkhollowfarm.com or 434-3953.
Feel free to pass this along to women who you think might be interested.

Spring has arrived!

Orioles, goldfinches, peepers, red-spotted newts chowing on frog eggs, big ol' bullfrogs in the pond...and of course, LAMBS! Things are hoppin' at HOWL.

Auntie Angy greets one of the spring lambs. Midwife Vanessa pulled off an impressive breach birth and Laura performed mouth-to-mouth to usher in the newest cuties to the flock.

Who knew bathtubs were so fascinating?

Spring fire prep. Auntie Angy gets into the action.


After a long winter, the Dreamdigger space in the barn is ready again for visitors.



Spring sunset at HOWL...


...Nightlife at HOWL. Yeehaw!


The Women's Resource Center at Marlboro College invited Crow and Anya to speak about HOWL. We had so much fun! We're hoping organizer Cora (far right) and others will visit.

Grandmother tree caper successful!

HOWL is home to a grand old maple known as the Grandmother Tree. But which tree is it exactly? After a trek up the south meadow beyond the labrynth and through the woods, Crow and Anya puzzle over a 1980's photograph of the Grandmother Tree. Is this old maple the one? A neighboring stream places us in the general vicinity and the limbs line up!







Crow and Addie take a closer look...



...While Jo tries the aerial approach. The Grandmother tree is alive and well!

Lamb, lambs, lambs

Stark Hollow Farm lambs are being born at HOWL. So far there are 7 lambs born to 4 ewes with 6 ewes left to go. Keep your eyes peeled for our annual Lambapalooza event in May. BBQ and lamb viewing!

Stretching our minds & filling our stomachs

Elissa, Rachel, and Diva pose for the camera: are they smiling because they can say "cissexism" five times fast without bungling it up?

An intergenerational group of HOWLers gathered to discuss Julia Serano's book, Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity. Much pondering, reflecting, reading & rereading of new terms (thanks, Annie & Elissa for the glossary!), laughing, and chowing down ensued. A tangential (though amusing) discussion on our own forms of gender expression led to an idea for a "gender prop show & tell." Stay tuned for this and other related events to come.

Winter wanes on...

A lone turkey wanders about the grounds...the chickens are all laying again...from 2 eggs per day to 14 eggs per day overnight! They wait impatiently at the laying box, squawking loudly to demand their turn...a small nest is discovered in one of the fields which appears to contain a hibernating animal...the pond is windswept and frozen again after the recent thaw. Crow comes for a much needed retreat from the city...Vanessa starts work on the lambing pen...20 lambs are due starting in March!