2024 Community Offerings
On Going - HCLT Summer Community Reads
Exploring Indigenous Wisdom: 5-Part Book Club on Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Join the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust on a journey of cultural exploration and ecological wisdom with our upcoming summer 5-part book club series, delving into the pages of Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. This immersive experience promises to engage participants in profound discussions, fostering a deeper connection to nature and Indigenous traditions.
It is not a requirement to come for all sessions, join us for as little or as many as you’d like! Each chapter of this amazing story is independent from one another, so reading the entire book is not a requirement for joining in on the discussion. We encourage you to join us, even if you’ve read this book before! Books available for FREE, on a first come, first serve basis, available at HCLT’s Highlands office (Suite 211, 348 South 5th Street), as well as the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce (202 US-64, Cashiers, NC 28717). Please come by one of these offices during regular business hours (M-F, 9am-5pm) to pick up a copy; or, email [email protected] to inquire about getting a copy outside of normal business hours. Please email [email protected] to sign up What is sweetgrass – Hierochloe odorata – wiingaashk? Robin Wall Kimmerer, “a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation,” eloquently and beautifully uses the indigenous cultures’ sacred plant, sweetgrass, as a poetic metaphor to explain the origins of plant, animal, and human life on Mother Earth, their intertwined respectful and reciprocal relationships with each other, the loss of this reciprocity, and the hope of ecological restoration to return the gifts of Mother Earth and the balance that once was. Robin Wall Kimmerer provides the reader with the definition and explanation of the significance of sweetgrass’s scientific name, Hierochloe odorata -- “the fragrant, holy grass.” In her language, “it is called wiingaashk – the sweet-smelling hair of Mother Earth. Breathe it in and you start to remember things you didn’t know you’d forgotten.” (Preface) Dr. Kimmerer presents this book as a gift of braided stories “meant to heal our relationship with the world” by weaving together the three strands of “indigenous ways of knowing, scientific knowledge, and the story of an Anishinabekwe scientist trying to bring them together in service to what matters most.” That is, the necessity for humankind to be rejoined with its relationships to nature, and to understand the implications of the Earth’s gifts and our responsibility to return these gifts. Although Dr. Kimmerer recounts specific examples of our loss of respectful relationships with nature and the resultant destruction and devastation, she does provide a hopeful challenge to humankind to “…honor our responsibilities for all we have been given, for all that we have taken. …Whatever our gift, we are called to give it and to dance for the renewal of the world.” (p. 384). Wednesday, June 19th
Wednesday, July 3rd
Wednesday, July 17th
Tuesday, July 30th
Wednesday, July 31st
Wednesday, August 7th
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July 5th-Mushroom Log Inoculation Workshop
Time: July 5th, 10:00 am- 2:00 pm
Location: Edward Baker Preserve Cost: Sliding scale of $20-75 To RSVP? Contact [email protected] or call 828-525-1111. Workshop limit is 18 people Join Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust (HCLT) on July 5th at Edward Baker Preserve to transform fallen logs into a sustainable food product with mushroom spawn. Human cultivation of shiitake mushrooms for sustenance and enjoyment dates back over 1,000 years in ancient China. Producing mushrooms at home provides a recurring food supply for years, educates people on the amazing world of mycelial abilities, while producing nutrient rich compost. During this all-day workshop, participants will hike a short distance and learn the basics of mushroom log inoculation; including 3 different inoculation methods, what instruments are necessary depending on the inoculation method, and the ideal mushroom strains for our ecoregion. Participants will also receive hands-on experience and have the chance to inoculate and take home their own mushroom log. All materials and equipment will be provided for this workshop. Logs used for this workshop are sourced directly from Edward Baker Preserve and will be cut to size prior to the workshop. *Wood types used for this workshop will consist of oaks and maples. * *This workshop entails some kneeling on the ground, bending, and lifting of small logs. It is not a requirement to be mobile in these ways but is helpful. * The mushroom strains available for this workshop: COLD FRUITING Shiitake COLD FRUITING Oysters POM POM Lion's Mane |
July 6th - The Bascom's Community Day
When: July 6th 11:00am - 2:00pm
Where: The Bascom, 323 Franklin Rd, Highlands, NC 28741 HCLT will be offering nature-based crafts & art at The Bascom's Community Day! Join us for a day of free family fun. Have the opportunity to make your own pollinator watering station or make an animal mask! At the event, enjoy
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July 11th - Mountaintop Hike & Pranic Workshop
When: July 11th, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: Meet at Peggy Crosby Center, 348 S 5th St, Highlands, NC 28741 Sign-Up Required: Email [email protected]. 20 spots available. Donations appreciated. Experience the fresh prana of the mountains! Prana, translated to “breath” in Sanskrit, refers to the subtle life-force energy that moves in and through all living things, the five elements, and the greater universe. Mountains are a powerful place to experience the movement of abundant prana through the ancient stones, the spirited winds, as well as the vibrant and diverse flora and fauna. After a beautiful hike to the top of Satulah Mountain Preserve, this workshop will utilize breath and light, energetic movements to receive the medicine of the mountains, and increase the flow of pranic energy in the spine and the entire body. By using a few diverse techniques, the goal of this practice is to feel more flexible in the joints, have a greater lung capacity, and feel more bright, aware, and vital overall. All levels are welcome. This is a 3.5 mile moderate to difficult hike with steepness, elevation changes, rocks, and wet at times. About the Instructor: Faith Corbin has been a student of yoga ever since the practice found her in 2020. She received her 200 hour hatha/vinyasa yoga teacher certification in 2021 in St. Augustine, Florida, and has been teaching asana ever since. In her most recent continued education, Faith traveled to India to train and complete her 300 hour classical hatha yoga certification, her main desire to learn from Indian teachers and explore the deeper roots and intentions of the practice. Her teaching style has now evolved to prioritize joint mobility, core strength, and energetic elevation, using breath and asana as a tool for individual transformation. Most importantly, drawing from aspects of her experience, yogic studies, and Psychology degree, Faith desires to create a healing space for her students in every class, providing facilitation that promotes deep attunement and compassionate listening to every layer of the self. |