Grandmother Tree

Grandmother Tree, HOWL

Over the three decades of HOWL's existence there have been many moments and many events which have contributed to the incredible spiritual energy that many women feel when they step onto this land. For many women, coming here opens that special sense of connection to the Divine Mother, Earth in all her glory.

When the land was first founded by a group of feminist activists in the early 80's, some of the women found Grandmother Tree on the edge of what we call the South Meadow. The South Meadow is an approximately 15 acre section of the property which consists of old growth meadow and new growth forest. It is special as a habitat to white tail deer, bear, coyote, foxes, and all manner of forest creatures. The sweeping view draws the eye all the way to the distant Adirondack mountains of New York, which can be seen from the top of the meadow.

Over the years, as the meadow reverted back to trees, Grandmother Tree receded into the forest.

Today, a group of us walked up to Grandmother Tree to be held in her arms, to revere her wisdom and to know our place with her as we paused to take in her weathered bark, her gnarled limbs and her gracefully sweeping branches lifted to the sun.

The Walk Up to Grandmother Tree

Dottie the Pig, A Tale from Howl in Vermont

I recently came upon this little comic from our friend Elvis Bakaitis who visited the land a couple of summers ago...thought I would share it with you all...

http://elvis007.wordpress.com/2011/04/13/dottie-the-pig-a-tale-from-howl-in-vermont/

Thanks, Elvis!

From Elvis' blog:

Elvis Bakaitis is a Brooklyn-based zinester and future librarian. In 2012, they co-organized the NYC Feminist Zinefest with Kate Angell. This year, Elvis gave talks on queer history and/or zines at The New School, Rutgers University, the Hedrick-Martin Institute (home of Harvey Milk High School), Gotham Professional Arts Academy,  Kearny High School in New Jersey,  Red Emma’s Bookstore Coffeehouse in Baltimore. They also facilitate the monthly feminist bookclub at Bluestockings Bookstore, and co-facilitate the Radical Librarians Reading Group. Currently, they are working on Homos in Herstory, a comics zine that focuses on 19th and 20th century queer history. You can find their zines at radical bookstores, and at their online Etsy shop, Captain Elvis’ Cartoon Shack.