HOWL

HOWL for the Holidays

2011-12-01T13:58:00.002-05:00

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

2011-11-06T16:47:00.003-05:00

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

2011-10-23T10:01:00.007-04:00

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

2011-10-22T23:00:00.003-04:00

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

2011-10-22T11:08:00.005-04:00

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

2011-10-16T20:17:00.003-04:00

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

2011-10-14T10:48:00.011-04:00

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

2011-09-30T10:11:00.003-04:00

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

2011-09-24T20:41:00.003-04:00

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

Winter is coming!

2011-09-13T23:24:00.002-04:00

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

2011-08-13T17:23:00.003-04:00

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

2011-07-31T17:45:00.002-04:00

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

2011-07-31T17:32:00.003-04:00

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

2011-07-31T17:28:00.004-04:00

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...

2011-06-26T19:59:00.002-04:00

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

2011-06-04T07:59:00.003-04:00

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!

2011-05-12T14:54:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-04-11T20:42:00.005-04:00

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

2011-03-28T07:48:00.002-04:00

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

2011-03-14T14:50:00.005-04:00

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...

2011-02-21T10:27:00.006-05:00

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!

From the lost files of the HOWL birthday party!

2011-02-11T19:27:00.002-05:00

Anya and Jo, a pickin' and a grinin' at the HOWL 23rd birthday celebration!

Resident Turkeys

2011-02-10T20:06:00.002-05:00

A huge flock of turkeys makes it's home up here on the mountain. The other day, they hunched in the trees over the sheep's paddock. This day they came onto the driveway to investigate the road salts, I suspect.

Snow Shoeing Catamount Trail from HOWL

2011-01-23T19:35:00.001-05:00

What an incredible day. Sarah's hiking club met at HOWL and a group of us strapped on our shoes and headed out for the woods and the Catamount Trail. Sarah was on cross country skis and what a work out she got!

The sun was beautiful, the birds were out. We saw tracks galore...deer, squirrel, bird, but most interesting was the coyote trail we crossed coming back. It definitely looked like a pack had passed behind us when we went back through, with a male freshly marking a stump. Probably the pack we've heard on occasion yipping as it passes across the land.

Mark your calendar for the full moon hike February 18th!!

From -22 to +80

2011-01-22T20:01:00.000-05:00

Last week the mice went subnivian, the thermometer went subzero (-22), and Annie used her sublime buildings coordinator skills to rescue the pipes.

This morning, the mercury hit 80 in the sun. Winter in Vermont--go figure.

Ember the ram soaks in some rays.

2011-01-08T22:00:00.000-05:00

Wonderful womyn gathered at HOWL to celebrate 23 years since the incorporation of the non-profit that owns and provides stewardship of HOWL. It was a festive occassion with snowshoes, skiing, live music, fabulous food, wonderful desserts, her-story telling, and a silk screening using the original silk screen created for HOWL from years gone by. Archival documents, newletters, brochures, fundraising flyers, photo albums and guest books were on display and available for viewing. A number of "original" Howlers were present for the event as well as a number of HOWL "first-timers". It was a great event. Thanks to all who helped put it on and to all who participated.

Happy Birthday, HOWL!

Howlers...

a'fiddlin' and a'strummin'

the artist at work...

The beautiful, original HOWL fundraiser logo created by Oak...

We all got to take one home...

Winter Wonderland at HOWL

2010-12-10T14:28:00.008-05:00

Winter has arrived at HOWL. After a tremendous windstorm (85+ mph winds for nearly 24 hours), nearly six days without power, and a two-foot snow storm, we are dug out enough from the storms to admire the beauty of winter. Next time you're thinking of coming up to HOWL, bring your skis or snowshoes!

Michio is captivated by a downy woodpecker feeding on suet.

Hmmm, guess we'd better put "improve attic insulation" on the to-do list. Sure makes for pretty icicles, though.

The chickens didn't bother venturing out into the snow from their squatter digs in the old sauna...

...while the storm encouraged Anya, Martha, Peggy, and Amalia to take to the Catamount Trail for a four hour dusk-return jaunt.

Nuns Fest!

2010-12-09T14:48:00.002-05:00

Educational, inspirational, and gastronomically pleasing....Nuns Fest, 2010! If you missed Nuns Fest, you might just have to make the trek to Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey in Iowa and say hello in person to Sister Grace and her wise Sisters. Or at the very least, order a good twelve pounds or so of their caramels: www.trappistine.com. Seriously, these things are sinfully delicious. From one women's land to another, thanks Sister Grace and all the Sisters of Mississippi Abbey!

Zebith put her Art Professor skills to work with this brownie-nuns-cake masterpiece. And okay, so the photo below is a terrible picture of all of us, but check out this spread! Where else can you find a Hannukah menorah and a nuns cake framing a veritable feast, all by candlelight? Nat saved the day by hauling over her neighbor's generator (Nuns Fest Saturday was Day 5 of no power) to power up the 4 hour DVD marathon screening of The Monastary. Missed it? Check out www.mississippiabbey.org/DVDs.

HOWL's on-site Ski Patroller

2010-11-20T17:11:00.004-05:00

Not that we want to encourage anyone at HOWL to break a femur or go into cardiac arrest, but if you DID, you'd be in good hands with Vanessa. Congratulations to Vanessa for acing her Ski Patrol course!

What, more cleaning?

2010-11-18T18:49:00.005-05:00

Habitat for HOWL was so much fun, the HOWL residents just couldn't help ourselves...we took on the freezer. Annie poses with a mystery package of Boca Burgers (best if used by September, 2006): Going, going....Chicken TV this morning featured the flock going wild for these veggie delights.

Laura shows off the results. So clean! So tidy! Ah, what we won't do for entertainment on a dark November evening.

Habitat for HOWL cleans up

2010-11-16T19:38:00.008-05:00

The chain saws were buzzing, the sun was shining (Temperatures were in the 60's), and Annie was overheard saying, "I'm happy, it's a good day," as the garbage piled high in the truck.

Annie and Paedra bucked up a bunch of blow-downs.

Glo wields the paint brush. Look at those jammies!

Sarah and her sister Laura carted and stacked the wood. Guess which one is six months pregnant?

Thanks, everyone for a great day and a huge amount of work!

Steph Pappas Experience

2010-11-14T12:25:00.006-05:00

Howlers comes down off the mountain to see Steph Pappas at On The Rise in Richmond. Laura, Anya, Amethyst and Nat all enjoyed the high energy performance.

Habitat for HOWL needs you!

2010-11-09T13:10:00.004-05:00

Come on up to HOWL for our volunteer work day: Saturday, November 13 from 1:00-4:00. Help paint a bit of trim, buck up a blow down, stack wood, haul out trash, collect firewood...there are all sorts of ways to help. And of course we invite you to relax, visit the sheep & chickens, and take a stroll, too.

HOWL Herstory Archives

2010-11-08T13:52:00.002-05:00

Next time you're up at HOWL, browse meeting minutes from 1980, read an issue of Commonwomon from 1979, or check out who signed HOWL's Articles of Incorporation nearly 23 years ago. Thank you Lynn Vera for dropping off a treasure trove of HOWL herstory. And big thanks to all the early HOWLers who worked so hard to make HOWL a reality.

A HOWL Founding Mother, Glo, turns 70!

2010-10-24T08:10:00.004-04:00

One of our founding mothers, Glo, hit a major milestone, turning 70! HOWL still greatly benefits from her kindness, wisdom, and on-going involvement on the collective. Happy Birthday, Glo!

Pumpkins and Club HOWL

2010-10-23T22:50:00.001-04:00

Pumpkin carving morphed into a Club HOWL dance Par-teeeee, complete with a blinking headlamps strobe light. Rock on, grrrrrls!

Three Gals Roofin' at HOWL

2010-10-23T22:00:00.003-04:00

Annie, Vanessa, and Anya started in on the barn roof project! Here's boss Annie showin' us how it's done. Is she smiling because it's fun or because she's thinking about skyping a certain special gal?

The Before shot...

...and Vanessa after the moss has been scraped off. We laid out three rolls of asphalt roofing sheets that Annie hauled up, smiling the whole way. Good work and good fun!

Fall Glory at HOWL

2010-10-23T10:40:00.006-04:00

Fall Shearing of the lambs

2010-10-21T14:20:00.003-04:00

Vanessa, Laura & Anya all took part in the fall shearing. Vanessa is the shearer and Laura is typically the "coach" who reminds the shearer of the next move, takes the machine if the sheep start struggling and general helps hold and handle the animal through the shearing. Anya is behind the camera here, but after a few pointers and observation of how we do it, Anya filled in as the "coach" for several of the lambs that were shorn yesterday.

Shearing is an exciting time for sheep farmers. Icelandic sheep are shorn twice per year and the fall wool is at it's best. It's also a chance to see just how good the animal looks under all that fleece! Summer pastures at HOWL treated them well! They all scored a 3.5 (out of 5) or higher on the their body condition scoring. A good hoof trimming and some organic garlic treatment for their tummies and they are back on pasture.

Anya's butch moment

2010-10-20T22:23:00.002-04:00

Anya gets butch with the weed trimmer. After a quick lesson from Vanessa, Anya takes off for the fields to whack down the beginnings of HOWL trails.

Vanessa & chickens

2010-10-09T08:05:00.001-04:00

Buff Orpingtons, Red Stars, Rhode Island Reds, Australorps, Black Stars, Plymouth Barred Rocks...

Sheep & Fall Colors

2010-10-09T07:58:00.003-04:00

Incredible Double Rainbow

2010-10-09T07:55:00.002-04:00

A majestic double rainbow appeared over Crouching Lion this week. Laura, Anya and Suki were blessed with the opportunity to bask in it's grace and presence.

More Aunt Angy

2010-10-02T07:50:00.000-04:00

Anya's great aunt Angy graces HOWL with her lovely presence. Stories, laughter, and good times.

2010-10-01T20:03:00.002-04:00

Anya's great aunt Angy joins farmer Vanessa to feed the wiggers!

Rainbow in Huntington

2010-08-25T12:30:00.002-04:00

I had the opportunity to witness this beautiful rainbow on Shaker Mountain Road in Huntington. It's been a beautiful summer here.

Sunset at HOWL

2010-07-20T06:51:00.002-04:00

Spring Flowers

2010-07-20T06:49:00.002-04:00

Stark Hollow Farm animals have arrived!!

2010-06-03T19:23:00.000-04:00

The Icelandic sheep, Tamworth pigs and layer hens of Stark Hollow Farm have arrived for the summer. The grass was already hip high by the time the animals landed over the Memorial day weekend. The critters are so happy to be here. There are 24 sheep, 4 pigs and 9 chickens right now with a few more layers on the way. Laura & Vanessa, of Stark Hollow Farm in Starksboro are working with HOWL on stewardship of the land to help bring back the fallow pastures. This year we hope to have the sheep graze out the labyrinth so that it may once again be enjoyed by HOWL caretakers and visitors alike.

Omnium Gatherum at HOWL, May 21 2010

2010-05-22T17:22:00.000-04:00

Can you guess what words, concepts, or phrases the above women are representing?

About 20 women gathered at HOWL for the Omnium Gatherum, which included a fire, singing, cello, great food, and a round of "Birdie on a Perch". The late-night crowd busted out the hip-hop tunes for Club HOWL (but no strobe light this time).

2010-04-24T22:10:00.000-04:00

Things are greening up at HOWL. The cherry trees are blossoming, the trilliums are out, and the sheep pastures are looking greener every day. Who will be the first in the pond?

Signs of Spring

2010-04-06T20:09:00.000-04:00

The peepers are out! Daffodils are in bloom, trout lilies are popping up in the woods, and phoebes are singing. And lambs are lambing, of course. (These cuties are still in Starksboro, but it won't be long before Laura and Vanessa bring the whole flock to HOWL.)

Full Moon Hike

2010-01-31T02:00:00.000-05:00

A group of HOWLer's had a wonderful evening of sledding, good eats and good company.

The moon rose spectacularly from behind Crouching Lion and several women hiked all the way up to the Catamount Trail.

New Windows in Outhouse!!

2010-01-18T16:40:00.000-05:00

Many, many thanks to Annie and Nat for the wonderful new windows in the outhouse...it's one of the best outhouses, with one of the best views you'll ever find!

HOWL Oral Herstory

2009-12-15T06:16:00.000-05:00

Numerous womyn from HOWL's founding group came together on Sunday, December 13th to share their memories and stories from the early days of HOWL's creation. A special recognition of Janet Hick's contribution toward the purchase of the land was made.

NY Times Op Ed - Organic Farming

2009-11-28T19:07:00.001-05:00

This is a wonderful piece by Maira Kalman about organic farming and urban living. Back to the Land

Visitors at Howl

2009-11-28T13:14:00.000-05:00

Here is Chris and Gorgeous visiting Lynne last winter at Howl, Gorgeous has been a regular visitor and we miss her this Thanksgiving, Chris is planning to visit us again in December, I hope we have snow for her to go skiing

Summer at Howl

2009-11-28T13:05:00.000-05:00

Wimmin enjoying the pond at Howl, alas it will be a few more months before we are out there swimming again

Winter at Howl

2009-11-28T12:58:00.000-05:00

It is quiet today , blustery , waiting for the first big snow,,, the views open up so beautiful, seeing the expanse of the mountain ridges that are blocked by summer leaves...seeing snow right above us, the winds howling at night,,,the wood stove toasty warm

Welcome to Huntington Open Women's Land

2009-11-22T18:27:00.000-05:00

This blog is for HOWL Collective Members and others to communicate and interact with each other regarding HOWL.