Tag: Harmony Tribe

Update: Harmony Park permit approved

Last night  the Freeborn County Commissioners held a public hearing to determine if Harmony Park, the privately owned location for Sacred Harvest Festival, would be allowed to renew its  Conditional Use permit.   The board voted unanimously to recommendation for a permanent permit of operation.

The final hearing for the permanent permit is scheduled for next week and is expected to be a formality.   Members of Harmony Tribe spoke at the meeting and HT board member Bress Nicnevin sent out an update to Tribe members last night, “…myself, Nels [Linde] and Aurora [Albright] all spoke on behalf of Harmony Tribe, Jay and Harmony Park…we were heard…along with many others who came in support of this permanent permit.

With this hurdle out of the way, Jay will be speaking to the Zoning Administrator today about revisiting and setting a time and date to revise our noise ordinance restrictions for Sacred Harvest Festival. We have a plan, and we are confident in its timely resolve. Thank you everyone for your support! The Zoning Administrator’s office was inundated with phone calls and emails from Our Tribe! I would also like to thank Rachel Goodman for being there, though she didn’t get a chance to speak…she helped us be heard by adding to our strength in numbers. Thank you Rachel!

Again, thank you everyone! We will keep you posted of new information as we receive it.”

Harmony Park Permit up for Renewal: Faces Possible New Restrictions

Harmony Park, the privately owned location for Sacred Harvest Festival, has its Conditional Use permit up for renewal with Freeborn County, Minnesota on November 7 – today- at 7 pm.  According to the renewal hearing notice Resolution #11-014 puts forth a series of possible new restrictions that include:

  • Noise limits at a maximum of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agencies Rule #7030 with a baseline decibel level between 70db and 80db.
  • Employment of a security firm at events.
  • Use of directional speakers.
  • Bands, electronic equipment or drum circles will have to be silent at 1am on weekends and holidays and at 10 pm on weeknights.
  • Payment by the property owner for one Freeborn County Sheriff’s Deputy 10 hours per day at overtime rate.

Two members of Harmony Tribe intend to appear at the hearing and speak in support of Harmony Park.

Anyone who wishes to appear and support Harmony Park and its permit renewal are also invited to appear at the Freeborn County Commissioner’s office: 411 South Broadway
Albert Lea, Minnesota 56007.

Those who wish to send an email regarding resolution #011-014 can send an email to Freeborn County Commissioners.

Freeborn County Commissioners
Glen Mathiason
glenmath@frontiernet.net

Dan Belshan
dbelshan@clear.lakes.com

Jim Nelson
507-383-2605

Christopher Shoff
christopher.shoff@co.freeborn.mn.us

Mike Lee
ccmikelee@yahoo.com

For more information on Harmony Park go to http://www.harmonypark.com

For more information on Harmony Tribe go to http://www.harmonytribe.org To send an email in opposition of Resolution #011-014 go to http://www.co.freeborn.mn.us/commissioners/default.aspx and email the county commissioners. Those wishing to attend the hearing can go to the Freeborn County Commissioner’s office, located at 411 South Broadway Albert Lea, Minnesota 56007.

A Senior Festival Experience – Interview

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Larksong is a new Sacred Harvest Festival festivant and joined Harmony Tribe last February. At age 70 she is possibly the all time senior in both categories. I asked her about her experiences.

Larksong

Have you camped before?

When my kids were little we camped, but this is the first time we have camped in quite some time! At least twelve years ago, and then we had a pop-up camper.

What does it feel like to travel 600 miles from Michigan to be with people you don’t know and spend a week?

Great! It really has been great. We brought our three nieces, so that they could have a drama free week and we have just been having a ball. They have been having a ball. The only problem for me here is everything is so far away. I’m in the middle, but it is a long walk either direction. After two or three trips I need to take a nap! Continue reading →

Largest Upper Midwest Pagan Festival opens in 10 days! – Interview

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Sacred Harvest Festival (SHF), located in southern Minnesota near Albert Lea, opens Saturday, August 6th, The last day to register online  and before gate rates is Sunday, July 31st.  I had the chance to interview Bress Nicneven, festival site director and board member of Harmony Tribe , the event’s sponsor.

Why do people continue to return to Sacred Harvest Festival?

SHF has gained a national reputation for quality and timely speakers and musicians. Celia’s video for the song ‘ Symbol’ was filmed at SHF, before the Pentacle Quest  became a household Pagan word. It is known for having a defined theme each year, and presenting profound rituals and speakers that all build on that theme for a complete experience. One of the few festivals that does this each year. In stressful financial times, this festival offers the cheapest per day rates of any festival in the country for the quality of the programming and activities.

It is a really reasonable family vacation for Pagans. It is an upper Midwest tradition, going on 14 years. SHF is really a place for everybody. There is a Kid’s cauldron, operated by parents and volunteers, that keeps kids happy all week. Families get the time and space to worship together as a family. They get time together and also adults have time for individual experiences. It is really strengthening for both families, individuals, and our community relationships. We have a great location in a shady oak grove with easy access from Des Moines, Madison, and the Twin Cities.

What is this year’s theme about?

Forest Family, Roots and Branches Intertwined  is our theme this year. It encompasses the roots of the Tribe itself, the thousands of people who have grown this festival over the years. We come each year to celebrate at this magical grove, and this year we specifically want to connect with the marvelous shady and protective trees there. Trees are an appropriate symbol of how we are also all connected, and essentially like the forest that we camp under. Like the burr oaks, we are still growing, and changing, and each season together we reach out within the festival and our home communities to integrate our spiritual experience back into our foundation, our roots. Continue reading →

Crystal Blanton – National Guest at Sacred Harvest Festival – Interview

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Author Crystal Blanton

I had the opportunity to interview Crystal Blanton about her appearance as featured guest at this years Sacred Harvest Festival presented by Harmony Tribe, inc.  Blanton’s first book, Bridging the Gap, was published in 2010 with Megalithic/ Immanion Press. Her new work, ” Shades of Faith; Minority Voices in Paganism”  is forthcoming. Included at bottom is the content of her main workshop offerings at Sacred Harvest Festival.

What do you hope to offer our community at SHF?

The scope of the work that I do is centered around group dynamics and learning how to navigate some of these dynamics in our community. To help with promoting healthier spiritual experiences for people. I take a lot of that material from being a counselor in my day life.  I take the skill I use in my everyday job and bring them over to our spiritual community. Many spiritual communities have already done this, it is just we haven’t gotten to that place yet in the Pagan community.  I will bring a lot of tools and skills around how to navigate certain group dynamics, how to create more communicative communities, how to navigate conflict and disruptions that can happen in any community dynamic. We’ll cover how to learn and pass on these concepts and tools after the workshops. To create a general sense of optimism in adding these tools that can help to enhance our community at large. That is what I hope to bring to the festival. Continue reading →