The Stone House Annual Report

Hey y'all,

check out our 2009 annual report to get a sense of all the amazing things that have happened here over the past year.

download the pdf by clicking here.

new videos- Albino Garcia and La Plazita

La Plazita from stone circles at The Stone House on Vimeo.

check out more videos in our resource toolbox!

Come to Our Second Anniversary!!!

DINNER with FRIENDS
Thursday Sept 24
6:30 pm

This special evening for Friends of The Stone House will include ceremony, a look back at the year and a time to offer words of encouragement, advice and wisdom for the year ahead. And of course, an amazingly scrumptious meal in true Stone House fashion.

Friends are those who have made a five-year pledge of financial support to The Stone House. They - YOU - are the bedrock of our ability to stay alive and well in weird economic times. Not yet a Friend and been meaning to become one? You can become one today, just click here.

A DAY of CONVERSATION and PRACTICE
Friday Sept 25
9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Join us for a day of conversation and practice as we explore three vital and interconnected topics. Each conversation will be initiated by dynamic individuals who will act as "starters." The day will include a light lunch.

1. the future of organizing:
Erin Byrd, Civic Engagement Coordinator, NC Blueprint
Mandy Carter, Organizer, Social, Racial and LesGayBiTrans Justice
Dani Martinez-Moore, NC Justice Center
John Parker, Executive Director, Good Work and stone circles Board member

2. the future of food
Santos Flores, Coordinator, DIG program, SEEDS Community Garden
Tessa Eliza Thraves, Community-based Food Systems Coordinator, Center for Environmental Farming Systems

3. the future of giving:
Darryl Lester, co-founder, Community Investment Network
Frank Phoenix, Board co-chair, Triangle Community Foundation
M. Zulayka Santiago, co-manager of North Carolina Peoples' Coalition and stone circles Board member


A NIGHT of CELEBRATION
Saturday Sept 26
starting at 6 pm
Join us for an evening of music, celebration and ceremony. We'll feature a range of entertainment; please bring a dish for a potluck supper.

To RSVP for any or all events, please email Tricia@stonecircles.org

Deep Change Gathering Slideshow from stone circles at The Stone House on Vimeo.

The Deep Change Gathering in June of '09 brought together social justice leaders from across the country who are bringing transformative practices into their work for change.

Sponsored by the Seasons Fund for Social Transformation and created by the Movement Strategy Center, stone circles, and the Rockwood Leadership Institute, the gathering gave practitioners an opportunity to learn, explore, and connect around new strategies for transforming ourselves and our world.

These images were taken by Willie Davis and the musical accompaniment is from Baby Cowboy- a local up-and-coming Asheville, NC based band.

Willie Davis-
http://www.williedavis.com/

Baby Cowboy-
http://www.myspace.com/babycowboymusic

Sasquash! from jesse maceo vega-frey on Vimeo.

Created by the youth from the 2009 Ground UP! program at The Stone House- "Sasquash: what happens when good squash goes bad" brings home the dangers of pesticide on innocent farmers, consumers and bystanders!

Slammin Jammin 'Matahs from jesse maceo vega-frey on Vimeo.

Another production from the Ground Up! youth program at The Stone House, "Slammin Jammin' 'Matahs" walks us through the pleasures of growing, cooking and eating your own food.

Ground Up!

~~~Fullness~~~~
by Tahz Walker

Within the long hot days,
And the cool
Dips into night

Sanctified and naïve brush strokes
And the remembrance of summer

In its wildness and wonder

In the saltiness of work with the earth
And laughter at the shared hands
And shared sweat

Fly' s that light our way as the sun sinks
Down

Squawks as the star rises

Meeting I meet you in a mid day slumber

Big sky opening big arms
For circles connecting

As we live with the summers past
And await their return





Last week at the Stone House we hosted 7 youth from the Durham Inner City Gardeners (DIG) for a weeklong intensive program about food, food systems, identity and expression called Ground Up! The Ground Up! program consisted of practical farm trainings, healthy cooking, workshops about mass media and food systems, music and photography journaling.

Ground Up! is a leadership and community building program whose intention is to not only provide practical farm skills for youth interested in food and agriculture but to also provide support to youth interested in building relationships and creating change within the food system.

During the week youth had opportunities to play, cook and create fellowship with each other around questions like: How far does food travel and where does it come from? Does media play a role in how we are shaped as consumers? And, how do celebration, ceremony and intention play a part in how we interact with the food we cook and eat?

We had an amazing time together and look forward to bringing the program back next summer!