Tag: Sacred Harvest Festival

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.

Green Phallus tours TC Pagan Pride – Photo Essay

The Green Phallus toured Twin Cities Pagan Pride on Saturday.  The story of his  origins may be found here. He touched many people, was rejected by some, caused some to drop to the ground in awe, and offered his experience to those who opened themselves to the Green Phallus.

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Jill - “ One wonders if one is worthy to embrace the Green Phallus, but I do so with no regret. I like the realistic testicals, one is slightly larger than the other. I like it around my neck , it feels sweaty yet cosy.”

Green Phallus at his country estate :

The Green Phallus welcomes companionship at the Minnesota Ren Fair, and friendship on facebook, where any comments can be directed regarding his TCPP visit.

Nels Linde

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 →

Restorative Justice, Restoring Communities – Editorial

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We live in tumultuous times as a society and as a Pagan community. Conflict has caused many divisions, often accompanied with the drawing of lines. These can easily become permanent fractures, solidifying within what might be a unified and joyous community of similar beliefs. Often these conflicts are personal, or begin as personal disputes, or emerge in community settings. Just as often a community gets drawn into them. I participated in a restorative justice circle at Sacred Harvest Festival (SHF), facilitated by Crystal Blanton, and will refer to that experience.

Restorative Justice (RJ) is an idea and method to repair some of the damage these conflicts cause in community. It was developed and used in criminal victim-offender mediations in the 1970’s and has been adapted and applied to a broad range of conflicts, from within our schools to whole societies as in the The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), a court-like restorative justice body assembled in South Africa after the abolition of apartheid . It can be used in a community setting through ‘restorative group conferencing’ or ‘peace circles’.

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Sacred Harvest Festival survives The Tower

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The Tower card from the Rider-Waite deck

When the Tower card appears in a spread it is not greeted with cheers and smiles. Although Pagans recognize the cycle of destruction must happen in order for new growth to thrive, it isn’t an enjoyable process. It’s painful. At times it can be downright ugly. While a group or organization is in the midst of conflict and tearing down of the old, it can be difficult to manage the process in a way that achieves a positive outcome.

Local festival in crises
For the last year Harmony Tribe, the group that produces the Sacred Harvest Festival, has been dealing with the aftermath of the Tower. Shortly after last year’s festival the board, Tribe members, and festival attendees became embroiled in a serious conflict. Tensions came to a head after a controversial move was initiated by Harmony Tribe to ban two Tribe members and the walls came crumbling down as the entire board of Harmony Tribe resigned en masse early last fall. A rift formed and community members began to choose sides. To make a painful situation worse for all involved, this played out in public.

For many in the wider community, the escalating conflict and subsequent rift struck from out of the blue. “This entire episode was so hurtful and angry. It wasn’t anything like the community I had come to love,” said one attendee who asked not to be named. “I was stunned. I shut down. I almost didn’t come this year.”

Continue reading →