Potluck - September 19

Hey, it's been some time but we are going to have another Pot Luck at our house on Saturday, September 19 at 7pm. All are welcome! Please bring a dish and a good time.

1921 Hemphill Street
Fort Worth, TX 76110

Next Rally in Response to Rainbow Lounge Raid

If anyone is interested in participating, below is some info regarding the next rally:

Rainbow Lounge Raid Rally
Tarrant County Courthouse
100 E Weatherford
Sunday, July 12
7:00 PM

THE RAINBOW LOUNGE RAID – RALLY

LGBT North Texas will rally again at the Tarrant County Courthouse on Sunday, July 12 at 7:00 PM. If in the next two weeks there is city-wide condemnation of the Rainbow Lounge Raid then the rally will then be one to congratulate the city on their swift and sharp action. On the other hand, if first hand reports still contradict the official story, if arresting officers are not seriously disciplined, if the officer responsible for Chad Gibson’s brain hemorrhage is still an active member of the Fort Worth Police Department, if apologies are not issued by the mayor, Mike Moncrief, and the Fort Worth Police Chief, Jeffery Halstead then the tone of the rally will adequately express the indignation from our community regarding the City of Fort Worth’s less than aggressive response to homophobia and police brutality.

The Illalogical Spoons

Monday NIght Show

Hey everybody. Monday night(June 8th) we are having a show at Tolstoy House.

This is a rather special event for a few reasons. For one, it will be the first show at Tolstoy House! More importantly, our friend and neighbor, Diego, has been in the hospital with very serious complications this week. He is still there, and we don't know when/if he will be coming back. We would like to dedicate this show to Diego.

Diego's usual place on Hemphill Street for the past year or so has been our front porch. What better place to have the show?

The bands include:

Martin Kingsley

The Lesser Beggars

the illalogical spoon(de-capitalized to prevent your confusion): 6 members, 2 of which are former Psalters(http://www.psalters.com/). Amplified acoustic, with a loud folk/country/jazz/crust punk/hardcore sound. I found this on the interweb: http://www.last.fm/music/The+Illalogical+Spoon

We will be accepting donations in the front yard. Please do not bring alcoholic beverages. Please do not litter. Please bring a loving heart to share with your sisters and brothers. And please bring lawn chairs or blankets, if you wish to sit down.

Monday, June 8th at 7pm
1921 Hemphill Street
Ft. Worth, TX 76110

Holler if you have any questions! Please pass this info on to your friends! As this was last minute, we have not had much time to promote!

Many Thanks,
Lindsey

Permaculture Classes postponed for a while

Hey everybody, I have given it some thought, and I am going to postpone continuing the permaculture course for a while. I haven't been able to make the necessary time to adequately prepare for the classes. My new job is taking a lot of time and i don't have the energy to commit fully to both right now. It is also starting to get hot, and with no AC in the house it will be fairly unbearable. The new job goes to half-time sometime after November, which will be perfect timing for getting everything ready for next spring, so we should be resuming classes then if not sooner.

I hope everyone can understand, and that you will all be interested in continuing this fall. the potlucks will be continuing, and those who want to help out putting in our new fence and a few other things we need to have done this summer should let me know and i will put you on our volunteers list.

Eve Ensler's Testimony Before US Senate Yesterday

The horrific violence the Congolese people have faced for the past 12 years still thrives, while we go about our business as usual. Make a fuss. Make a change. Start by reading Eve's testimony below. Just copy and paste to your browser:


http://www.vday.org/node/1695

May Potluck is Tomorrow!!

Hey guys. We set out to have our "open" potluck on the first Friday of every month. May kind of snuck up on us. We planned to have an outdoor BBQ(hoping for 2 grills-one for the carnivores, one for the herbivores). But, since the rain may keep us inside, we are going to save the BBQ for better weather.

Please feel free to come and join us this Friday May 1st, for our May Potluck. The more the merrier-bring your friends!

Keep in mind the following:

1. Alcoholic beverages are best left at home. Some of our friends have addiction/substance abuse issues, and it would be awesome if everyone could be understanding of that(I can't imagine anyone being enough of a jerk to oppose, but, you never know).

2. Many of our friends are vegan(no dairy, no meat, no animal nothin'). You are welcome to bring whatever you want, but this might interest you, if you are cooking.

3. 2 of us have gluten(wheat, basically) allergies. We can deal, we're big girls, but, again-this may interest you.

4. Our potlucks have the aim of cultivating relationships that cross, and diminish, cultural boundaries.

There will be a fun shared-art project to participate in if you so wish.

Please come. You are the community, and no one can bring to this gathering what you, specifically, can bring. It may sound a little "Chicken Soup for the Soul" to say this, but, SHOOT: there is only ONE you!

Potluck will be from 6 pm-7 pm.
Tolstoy House
1921 Hemphill St.
Ft. Worth, TX 76110

email us at info@tolstoyhouse.com for more information

Love Rules

If you are not inspired by changes possible in the system of government currently in place in the United States, or elsewhere, then "be the change you want to see" in this world, in your community. Spread love, in thought, words, action. Be love. Ask for love. Give love. Teach love. Accept love. That method, after all, is more powerful than any bill passed to protect the oppressed. That method will change ways of thinking, ways of living. That method will save lives.

Avoid Toxic Chemicals in Your Garden!

You can go to Elizabeth Anna's to purchase earthworms/castings to bring life into your soil. You can also use natural methods, as opposed to harmful chemicals, to help protect your garden from some not so plant friendly members of our ecosystem.


-earthworms and castings go for $5.00 for a small can, $10 for a large can. Great for starting your own worm bin at home or adding to your garden beds. The worms will turn out an amazing compost and will keep multiplying!

-Preying mantis eggs control aphids, caterpillars, mosquitos, and other pesky bugs that can harm your plants.

-Ladybugs control aphids, spidermites, thrips, and white flies.

$8.95 a package

Early Spring Hours

Office: Mon. - Thurs. 10-6

Shoppe: Fri-Sat. 9 -5 & Sunday - 1-5

The address to the shop is below:

ElizabethAnna's Old World Garden Shoppe 2825 8th Ave Fort Worth, Texas 76110

Yay For Dinner

Tonight we combined Easter leftovers with James' fajitas, and had Diego, Larry and Luke share in the meal with us.

It was a feast:

-green beans
-mashed potatoes
-grilled red bell peppers and onions
-jalapenos
-PBR marinated chicken breast, seasoned to perfection(or so I was told)
-Ham
-lemon bars
-best desert in the universe(this is james' mother's recipe...i don't quite grasp it yet, but it is cherries, chocolate chip cookie dough and cheesecake...but, together...swirled...for eternity)
-chocolate brownies
-chocolate cake

Now Robert is here, thank goodness, because we still have leftovers.

I got to snap green beans tonight while sitting atop the washing machines...boiled potatoes, and Adam buttered the rolls. It was lovely. I love our family.

We are, by the way, taking donations to buy James his own personal helicopter. Traffic just doesn't agree with him since he returned from Lost Valley, a Changed Man.

Gardening Meeting/Learning Party

Monday April 6th
6 pm-7 pm: Gardening Meeting
7 pm-9 pm: Learning Party(we will begin going through An Intro To Permaculture together)

You are welcome to bring snacks, drinks, friends, gardening tools, love(especially love), and Doctor Who paraphernalia.

We are located at 1921 Hemphill St. Ft. Worth, TX 76110.

If you have any questions, please email me at lindsey@tolstoyhouse.com, or call James at 817-9ilove2. Yes, that is really his number.

Please come. Whether you are a novice or an expert, you are wanted and needed here.

Love!
-Linds

i'm sad

because during the past 3 weeks, one of our friends stabbed someone else and went to jail, another was stabbed repeatedly and we don't know her real name so we can't find out if she is alive, and another friend had a seizure and went to the hospital because he drinks too much.

help, help, help.

the greed and cruel nature of this empire perpetuates so much pain, so much violence, so many un-met needs. so much hunger, sickness and hopelessness.

we have to change the way we live. we have to talk about the reality we are in and what we can do to improve it. what we can do to cultivate sustain a healthier humanity.

we have to do this together.

Oops!

The potluck is actually at 6 pm tonight. I'm so silly!

-Linds

Potluck Tonight!

We are having a potluck tonight starting at 7 pm. It's open to anyone and everyone who wants to come. Please keep in mind that if you are planning to bring alcohol, there may be people in attendance with alcohol/substance abuse issues. If you can do without until you go home, or go to the bar later...that would be really thoughtful...in my opinion.

We want to encourage an environment of love, where despite any cultural boundaries, we can become a united people. Please join us! Your input and presence are of great value.

Love,
Linds

Good Times on The Good Show

Many thanks to Tom and Tony at The Good Show for their warm welcome. I had lots of fun this morning. They let me do a talk spot about Night Of Progress and Tolstoy House. I laughed. I cried. Okay, there was no crying, but there was definitely laughing, and both Tony and Tom were supportive of our efforts and vision for the community. Please check out The Good Show on Saturday mornings at 88.7 KTCU. It's actually a good show. :)


http://goodshow.net/

Night of Progress

Click the link below to view the N.O.P. flier:

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/6/l_16c248030cc74021bca8b34cf094d327.jpg

If you haven't been, you should definitely check it out this time around. The N.O.P. is a community event hosting local bands and grassroots groups for a night of music, free food and awareness.

$5 donation is much appreciated, and, again, there is FREE and DELICIOUS vegan food available for your enjoyment.

You are the community. You belong here. We are less without your presence. Please come!

Any questions: lindsey@tolstoyhouse.com

Upcoming Schedule

Community Open House and Potluck on the First Friday of each Month, from 6pm-9pm.

Yasnaya Polyana Garden Meeting on the first Monday of each Month from 6pm-7pm.

Learning Parties:

Join Us on the First and Third Mondays of the month for our semi-monthly Learning Party. We will be starting by working our way through the Introduction to Permaculture book by Bill Mollison and Reny Mia Slay.

Permaculture is a design system and proven techniques for creating highly sustainable low-impact human settlements. It teaches us how build natural homes, grow our own food, restore diminished landscapes and ecosystems, catch rainwater, build communities and much more.

This will not be an instructor led course, but a group discussion of the ideas and principles of permaculture. Experienced permaculturists are encouraged to participate as a way of helping to spread information and generate interest in permaculture principles in our community.

Learning Party events are free. Please bring resources to share including but not limited to books, slideshows, snacks, etc.

Schedule:

April 6th - An Introduction to Permaculture

April 20th - Permaculture Principles

May 4th - Site Design

May 18th - Pattern Understanding

June - 1st Structures

June - 15th Orchards

July 6th - Animal Forage Systems

July 20th - Urban and Community Strategies

Tolstoy House Update

New things about the innards!


We have a new house mate! Her name is Caitlyn! She is wonderful! She is incredibly intelligent and asks GOOD questions.


Vern is now living in Chicago. We miss him a LOT.


Heidi left this morning for Hawaii. At the moment she is stuck in Arizona, but she will be in Hawaii soon. Which is good for her. Sad for us. She is most likely going to be working at a hostel/farm in Maui for the duration of her stay. We expect her back in about a month.


Open House at Tolstoy House is beginning in April, and will be on the first Friday of every month. 6 pm -9 pm Potluck. All are welcome(the next one is on April 3rd). Bring mutual respect, whatever love you have to give, and whatever questions/input you would like to contribute.


March 28th will be our next Garden Work Day, at 9 am.


Our next Gardening Meeting will be on April 6th at 7 pm.


Our next Learning Party will be April 20th(we will be going through the Introduction to Permaculture together) at 7 pm.


You are welcome to come. Please email us with any questions.


lindsey@tolstoyhouse.com

<3
Linds

After the Whole Woman Festival

Yesterday I was privileged to speak on a panel of 12 women from this community. Our theme was "The Power Of Choice". Below is the speech I gave:


"Choice.

Close your eyes, and picture the word as you would write it, in your own hand, on a scrap of paper.

Choice.

Look at it there, all alone on the hypothetical paper.

Now, with your eyes still closed, let the word leave the paper and enter into a world of exchanges between you and other persons...you and other things...places...sounds...it can be really abstract, right?

Open your eyes.

In the act of choice, we have an ability to affect ourselves, those around us, those at great distance. The earth. The present, the future. We could go so far as to entertain the thought that choice is a form of time travel. In that action, we can impact the now and the coming.

At first, realizing I had the power of choice was very frightening. It felt like being born, and walking around in a new place...a new world...it made me very nervous. It still makes me very nervous!

Sometimes we feel safety in being controlled, because we then have the freedom of surrendering our will. It takes much more courage to decide for yourself. If I have a choice to define what I am, what being a woman is for me, then, I don't have anyone telling me what to be. I am now solely responsible for my actions.

I have a responsibility to consider when I choose to place myself in the role of "activist" or "feminist", or whatever. It used to seem like this was a safe place to be, in relationship to being, instead, a victim. "Leaving the Victim Ocean, and sunning myself on the sandy shores of Empowerment."

But...there's this resentment...
And...this...superiority...

And...this "us" and "them, that...is not so safe.

We are all more or less familiar with the different forms of oppression existing in our society, and within the world at large. I would assume most of us here have heard the words racism, classism, ageism, sexism. These words probably mean different things to each of us here. One or two of these words might seem like more of a reality to the person sitting to your left than to you yourself.

Why are we not all on the same page?

Why is it that, with all the statistics, testimonies...with all the proof of violent oppression still thriving in our midst, the assumption of the general population is so contrary to the facts?

In addition to the marginalization and misrepresentation of feminism(and other important social issues) in the media, I find myself contributing to the gap between the activist sub-culture and the mainstream population.

So...closing this gap. A great idea, but, still-pretty abstract. How can I really go about that?


I have the power of choice, and I can choose to look at my oppressors as the enemy, or I can choose to look at oppression as the enemy. I have been repeatedly victimized by males through out my lifetime. My instincts at first discovering my freedom, and recognizing oppression, have been to separate myself from males, and to look at them as the enemy. It has become easier for me to feel disconnected with them, and for me to distrust them, to fear them.

Reconciliation is key for me. It is in the best interests of not only women, but all humanity, that violence and violent mentalities against women be stopped. It is also in the best interests of all humanity that we learn how to, or remember to, work together with men, women, trans-gender, etc, etc...to bring these injustices to an end. To me, the power in making that choice is huge, and I am learning as I go how to apply these concepts to my daily life and interaction.

One question I ask myself is:

"What can my new approach be so that the efforts of this movement can be even more effective by encouraging unity?"

I think it is imperative that we continue asking ourselves these questions. It is also necessary that we keep these conversations going, and keep them in the open. It is not too much to ask that women be treated as human beings, rather than "the other sex". But we have to be motivated, not by revenge, but by the desires in our heart for unity-this will transcend our inability to love well. This will shift the consciousness of our society as a whole, so that we do not have to rely on the allies we recruit here and there from the mainstream.

I was born into activism from being victimized. I felt barren, vulnerable, and I was scared. Then choice, like clay in my once empty hands, began to take form..."

This was my first experience speaking publicly from the position of an "activist", or feminist. It felt right. It felt like where I belonged. I am very glad I was invited to participate, and enjoyed hearing the different places the other speakers chose to speak from. I was moved to tears by a couple of them.

Those of us who spoke were invited to distribute literature and/or merch at the Speakers' Table after our panel had finished speaking. James, Caitlin and I had put our heads together on what we wanted to convey during the week, and James composed a flier with some really good examples of how to use non-violent communication. The flier also lists the Open House/Potluck schedule for Tolstoy House. You can read the flier contents below:

"Bridging the Gap
Presented by Tolstoy House

All human beings have similar needs, and we have all learned different
strategies for meeting them. Violence, in word and in action, is a
learned strategy for meeting needs. When we encounter individuals with
different worldviews, like those who view violence or oppression
without empathy, or those who deny the existence or relevance of
social injustice, we have an opportunity to make a connection, if we
can figure out how to bridge the communication gap.

By recognizing and respecting our own needs we can create healthy
boundaries for ourselves, which will allow us to begin to identify and
safely meet the needs of others. If we are feeling upset, think about
what need of ours is not being met, and what we could do to meet it,
instead of thinking about what's wrong with others or ourselves.
Practicing Nonviolent Communication can be an excellent method for
bridging the gap between worldviews.

The Nonviolent Communication Model:

I. Observe without evaluation, judgment, or analysis.
Identify and acknowledge differing basic assumptions without applying judgment

e.g. "I hear you saying that great strides have been made on sexual
equality issues since the 1970's."

II. Express clearly the feelings which these observations evoke.
Stop and breathe, and consider how you feel without assigning blame or
associated thoughts. (Happy, Sad, Frightened, Angry, Loving,
Surprised, Bored, Weak, Confident)

e.g. "When you say that feminism is unnecessary, I feel nervous."

III. Determine what you “need” for the communication to be successful.
Recognize your own need, acknowledge the need and respect it. Ask for
your partner to acknowledge and even restate your need so that you can
know that you clearly understand one another. (Love, Autonomy,
Understanding, Fun, Creativity, Reassurance, Safety, Sustenance,
Certainty, Balance)

e.g. “I need to feel that the world is a safe place for women.”

IV. Make clear, positive requests that give your partner the
opportunity to meet your need.

e.g. “Could you please acknowledge the statistical evidence which
shows that violence against women is still a problem? It will help me
feel more connected to you.”


Resources: tolstoyhouse.com, cnvc.org, info@tolstoyhouse.com

About Us: One day, we will look around us and fully realize that we
are brothers and sisters. Then we will know the kingdom of god.
Tolstoy House is a residential community dedicated to cultivating
mercy, peace and love through relationships.

Tolstoy House Open House and Potluck is at 6pm-9pm on the first Friday
of each month at 1921 Hemphill Street, Fort Worth TX 76110."


If you have any questions about anything in this post, or would like to start a conversation involving any of its contens, please feel free to post here, or email me at lindsey@tolstoyhouse.com

love!!
-linds

Garden Meeting

This Monday, March 23, at 7pm, there will be a meeting for anyone interested in helping out with the garden at Tolstoy House. So come on out because this green space is going to be a really rad opportunity for us and the neighborhood, everyone is welcome. If you have any questions or need directions to our house, please email me: adam@tolstoyhouse.com or leave a comment. Thanks.