La Terre Institute for Community and Ecology
22500 Rue La Terre, Hancock County, MS 39556
June 22-23, 2019
The Summer Solstice Gathering will be held on 88 wooded acres on Bayou La Terre, near Dedeaux, MS., a little over an hour from the center of New Orleans. See directions below. Please bring food for the group meal Saturday evening. Those who would like to camp and stay through Sunday should bring tents, personal items, flashlights, and food. There is no fee for the program, but donations are welcome. Participants are invited to volunteer for trail work, construction, eco-agriculture, program planning, publicity, and teaching, coteaching or facilitating at future programs. For information, please contact surregionalist@bellsouth.net.
Saturday
Noon Arrival. A time for introductions and informal exploration of the site.
1:00 Regenerative Agriculture. Andrea Nasca will explain how the creation of healthy living soil helps stop desertification and global warming. Andrea has completed Soil Advocate Training and works with groups such as the Sunrise Movement, Youth Climate Strike and 350 NOLA.
2:00 Beekeeping with Jay Martin. Legendary uptown beekeeper Jay Martin returns for another visit to La Terre Institute to do some work on our beehive and offer further instruction in the fundamentals of beekeeping, based on his many years of experience.
3:00 Between Earth and Empire. John Clark will discuss his new book Between Earth and Empire: From the Necrocene to the Beloved Community, in conversation with Erin Lierl. Erin is the author of The Desert Trod, a thesis on Guyanese Rastafarian communities that addresses many of the same questions regarding the quest for a just, ecological community as does Between Earth and Empire.
5:00 Dinner Preparation. We will prepare food, some from our garden, and share it.
6:00 Community Dinner. This will be a time to meet one another, exchange ideas, and tell each another about our interests and projects.
7:30 Reflection Circle. Everyone is encouraged to bring along and read a favorite passage in the spirit of the Solstice, or to share Solstice thoughts of their own.
8:30 Drumming Circle. Led by Jean Martinolich. Join the circle! No special talent or courage is necessary. Bring drums, shakers and other instruments. Dancing is encouraged.
Sunday
Participants are welcome to camp and stay through Sunday afternoon. There will be no formal programs, but we plan to hike to the ancient cypress and down the creek, in addition to having informal discussions.
Essential Information for Participants and Visitors