Hi and Welcome!

Lots of info here to give you the flavor and future possibilities. Smile.

      Due to my health we do not plan to offer Women Build Our Own Houses and Adobe workshops or the Outlandish Gathering this year. We are planning the Gathering and a range of Workshops for 2018. Hooray.

      If you would like to more informally this year to build, beautify and renew our land and buildings, we invite you to join us when you can.   Coming together is an incredible experience as we focus on building community and as we also do a range of building and other land projects that I (Jae) can no longer do myself.

     Women come for days or weeks, contributing financially as generously as our resources allow and offering whatever skills we each have. We who live here are all volunteers. We are a tiny nonprofit and depend on your contributions to meet land and Gathering expenses so we do have recommended contributions. Yet, it is most important to us that you are able to be here as often and long as you like, so just decide what you can afford and talk to Jae. See contribution chart: http://nmwomensretreat.org/page14.html

     Land Projects. In 2017-18 we plan to complete a large addition to one of our adobe Guest Houses -- some interior sheathing, trim, tiles, counters and cabinets, rock work and lots of adobe plaster. Is there anything more majik than adobe, ahhhh.

      We also hope to replace windows and plaster in our 20x60 woman-built adobe guest houses.  Yep, more adobe.... And perhaps add post and beam ramada porches. We will also renovate another living space.

      We will participate in some combination of gardening, building ramadas, other construction, building repair, redoing our roof water collection systems, running new irrigation lines for fruit trees and garden, and....

     Living spaces will depend on what is available when you come. We have private Studios and cabins plus shared Studios, cots, sofas, air beds, etc. We can accommodate 8-15 women.

     We would love to share this incredible land and experience with you.  Our 2017 Caretakers are Jae, Indygo, Tracy, Stina, Siobhan, Susan, Tree Spirit and Asrai.

Looking forward to further connections,
Jae for all of us 

JaeHaggard@gmail.com

 

Lesbians Build Community

As We Build & Rebuild Outland

     When you gather with us to join the life on this remarkable land, we prioritize experiences to Connect and tasks to help Outland.

   Other activities often include reiki and other healing practices, hikes, singing, dancing, fire circles, yoga, qui dong, writing and more--  determined by who is here and what everyone wants to offer/do. We share wonderful meals and arrange our schedule so there is ample time for ourSelves as well as connecting with others and for our own projects.

 

Summary

     I really hope you’ll be able to join us for as long as your schedule allows. If you have any questions or want to chat, do write or call. Again, do not let money prevent your participation, talk with me, Jae, about what is possible for you. If you are in a position to make an additional donation so more wimmin can be here, Woman, Earth and Spirit, Inc is our tax-deductible 501-c-3.

     Your stay is an opportunity to learn and practice a range of construction techniques and principles. To "play" in the adobe mud. Plus, to work cooperatively with other women in a fun nourishing environment doing projects that make a difference. We focus on both construction and community. An incredibly wonderful experience.

     Even though about Workshops rather than our informal Gatherings, information below gives you a good sense of parts of your Outlandish experience.

 

Women Build Our Own Houses Workshops

Adobe, Frame and Post & Beam

Our Workshops are a total experience. We focus on Learning, Expansion, Inspiration, Connection and Fun. Instruction, hands-on building, other great women, marvelous meals, play and so much more.

We are working with adobe, post and beam as well as frame construction so you can experience a range of building options. We include the spectrum of constructions steps: site selection and preparation, foundation, floor, walls, doors and windows, electric and water, roof...

Your specific building experiences depend on where we are on our Projects when you are here. Our schedule also addresses your needs. We want to focus on what is important to you and to do all we do in ways fitting to your physical abilities.

 

Specific Projects

o     Post & Beam porches. Siting and setting posts, building roof and floor, walls,   doors,  windows  and sheathing

o    Addition to Bluebird. Continuing a large frame addition to one of our round adobe casitas— interior sheathing, insulation, wiring, trim,  adobe plaster, tile, cabinets, counters....

        o    Roof, walls, gutters and deck on WindSong, the poured/puddled adobe cabin we 

              built during previous Workshops.

 

Participants

Participants come from all over the US and Canada. We range in age from 30ies to 70ies. We are able bodied and also have a range of abilities and disabilities. In these workshops we experience that everyone can build, truly. Participants have been blind, deaf, disabled with scoliosis or back injuries....

During instruction and extensive hands-on building, we focus on basic construction principles and values, tool use, safety and cooperation. We build in ways women would choose to make the work easy on our bodies. There will be time for your specific questions. All this practical experience is helpful to imagine our own structures, the house that will nourish us and meet our needs.

 

Connection

Yet, I think the most important gift of these Workshops is expanding ourSelves, on many levels.

When we have self-confidence and confidence in Self, we can envision and probably do anything.

     To nourish this full Self, we not only focus on construction, but we also provide ample opportunity for Connection— with Self, Earth, others and Spirit. In Connection we move beyond simple belief into Trust. We get Big, Expand. We Listen. We create and Heal.

This Connection, glimpsing and understanding what is possible, is the true heart of our Workshops and time together. Part of our Exploration is gaining a fuller clarity about what our needs and desires really are. A fuller understanding of why we are in this life, what our role is to make a difference in the world in this cycle of our lives. What I call our LifeWork.

Our homes, like our lives, reflect our Understandings and our values.

It is the blend of experience that makes these Workshops so unique and life-changing.

 

Rhythm

Our daily rhythm reflects your needs as Participants. In general we begin our week (and our days) with check-ins. We establish our general schedule for the coming days together. Expect about a 6 hour actual building day which includes morning check-in, questions and construction tips, breaks and a picnic lunch. Food is always available at the site.

Again, timing and tasks are adjusted to your physical ability level and how you want the experience to unfold.

Together we prepare our meals and decide on other activities. Back to that philosophy of a nourishing blend of learning, working together, preparing meals, play and plenty of opportunity to connect with Others, Self, Earth and Spirit. Smile. We prepare our own breakfasts.

For our meals there are always vegan and vegetarian options and we occasionally include fish, beef or fowl. We do all we can to address your specific dietary needs. As much as possible, all food is organic. We avoid alcohol. There are no illegal substances or use on the land.

We share rooms or may stay in tents or lofts. Additional sleeping is available in the our Gathering House, the Hearth. Private Studios that sleep 1-2 are sometimes available.

Please do not bring animal companions, scented products, weapons, alcohol or illegal drugs. This is woman's space.

Bring your caring, loving self to work and live and communicate cooperatively.

 

Our focus is caring interaction and connection.

 

Healing & Creativity

It is my sense that Connection is at the core of Healing and Wholeness. Here at Outland we practice appreciating and celebrating ourselves and each other. This is more than acceptance, it is cherishing.

We are Whole, intrinsically though sometimes we may forget or are out of harmony. We find that often our sense of Wholeness is a byproduct of Connection-- again, whether with Self, others, Earth or Spirit. As is creative expression.

We can focus on our self-healing, utilize a wide range of healing books and audio/visual materials, or work with each other.

You may also choose to work with Healers when they are here. A contribution is usually appreciated. 

 

Workshop Contribution

Your contribution covers all instruction and materials, workshop sessions, food, lodging, activities and access to our facilities and incredible land.

We are a tiny nonprofit and depend on Guest House and Workshop income to support this wondrous land and to make it possible for more women to be here. We here are all volunteers. Yet, it is most important to us that you are able to be here, so we ask that you simply contribute as generously as your resources allow. Talk with Jae. Additional donations are tax-deductible through Woman, Earth and Spirit, Inc.

We hope you can come whether for days or weeks.

In general, for these intensive Workshops (again this is Workshops not the Gathering), figure contribution as about $280-$560 per week. $75 per night, more or less, for sessions, materials, food and activities. Add about $150-200 per week for a private Studio. There are no additional fees or taxes. If you can afford more, it's ever so helpful. If this is too much, don't let money prevent your coming. Again, talk with Jae and contribute what you are able.

A reservation deposit of $200 or more is greatly helpful. Check to Outland or credit card through your Paypal account (quite easy to set up) to JaeHaggard@gmail.com.  

When you know your ideal dates, we’ll try to coordinate with everyone coming to transport you to and from the land. We are just over an hour from Santa Fe off I-25 on the way to Las Vegas, NM. A contribution towards gas is appreciated.

 

All our sessions

provide a unique opportunity participants  find

life-changing, transforming and inspiring.

 

We look forward

to sharing this land and experience with you.

 

    Looking forward to further Connections!      

 

~ Jae, Indygo,Tracy, Stina, Siobhan, Susan, Tree Spirit

 

We do invite you to visit us

at our marvelous 1000-acre New Mexico high desert wildlife refuge

to regenerate, create and heal.

&

Savor the tranquility

of our beautiful woman-built adobe Guest Houses.

 

We really would love to share this incredible land with you!

Come when you can.

~ smiles ~

 

www.NMWomensRetreat.org

 

Mi Casa, woman-built adobe Guest House