RE-FORMING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EARTH, WITH GOD, & WITH EACH OTHER
Peace to you,

As summer wraps up at Holden Village, we prepare for the turning of the seasons and the changes that come with this time of year. We return to the quieter rhythms of fall, with the beginning of school year, daily Vespers in Koinonia Fireside, and the days get shorter and cooler. This past month at Holden has been filled with music, teaching sessions, worship, fellowship with friends old and new, and hikes in this beautiful valley.

We hope you enjoy these stories and images from the past month at Holden!
SUMMER 2018
A RECAP OF THIS SUMMER AT HOLDEN VILLAGE
 Experience the rhythms of summer time in the Village!
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
NEW VILLAGE NATURALIST JOINS THE HOLDEN STAFF
For the past few years, Travis Houle has taken on one of the newest staff positions at Holden, the Village Naturalist, creating sessions and hikes covering topics from stream ecology to mine remediation. As Travis wrapped up his time in the Village this summer, he passed the baton to our new Village Naturalist, Andrew Zimmerman. Many popular sessions and hikes remain from years past, in addition to a few new ones, including night sky exploration. In continuing to have these educational sessions with the Naturalist at Holden, we hope that all who spend time in this valley are invited to learn about the history of Holden and the nature that surrounds us.
AREA WILDFIRES RE-ROUTE HIKERS
PACIFIC CREST TRAIL RE-ROUTED THROUGH HOLDEN
Due to recent wildfires in the area, including the Bannock Lakes Fire, the Pacific Crest Trail has been temporarily re-routed through Holden Village. Over the past few weeks, Holden has welcomed hundreds of hikers to our remote mountain community. Hikers have enjoyed meals with us, played music in the Mountain Vespers band, and embraced Holden hilarity by joining in the shenanigans for the first day of school!

VILLAGE LIFE
THE NUMBERS: THIS SUMMER'S COMPOST STATS
Holden has composted food scraps and laid it back into our lawns and gardens for decades. Each month, every staff member takes a turn sorting through the community's recycling and trash and takes the temperature of our two Earth Tubs, where our food waste becomes compost. The compost often sits at around 120° F before it is stirred! This practice can often be eye-opening to staff--a hands-on way to see how much food can go to waste if we're not conscious of our habits. This summer, the the Village produced approximately 1,750 pounds of compost each week, most of which has already been applied to our lawns and gardens. The compost that hasn’t been snacked on by the deer in the Village has fertilized the soil beneath it to help our plants grow!
FALL RHYTHMS
VISIT HOLDEN IN THE FALL
The rhythms of the Village shift in the fall and winter, with a smaller population and leaves turning to orange and red. Experience the slower-paced, smaller community by visiting in the fall or winter months!

Registration opens
  • October 1st for visits in November-December 2018
  • November 1st for visits in January-April 2019
  • January 1st for visits in April-October 2019

LEARN MORE about visiting Holden in the fall and winter!
VOLUNTEERING AT HOLDEN
JOIN US FOR FALL WORK WEEKS!
Twice each year, volunteers from all over give of their time and talents during Work Weeks. This fall, teaching faculty Nancy Winder and Susan Halvor will teach Living Word sessions including approaching the Bible with both heart and mind, a book study, and caring for others as a chaplain. Whether your skills lie in carpentry, sewing, landscaping, or painting, join us to help prepare the Village for winter!

  • Work Week #1: September 30–October 6
  • Work Week #2: October 7–13
BLESSING
"As high over the mountains the eagle spreads its wings, may your perspective be larger than the view from the foothills. When the way is flat and dull in times of gray endurance, may your imagination continue to evoke horizons."
an excerpt from To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings by John O'Donohue
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