Spring 2018 Update:
Things are going well at BBHSP, as work continues, and we somehow overcome each new challenge and continue to chip away at our goals (for more information about BBHSP Goals, please see: http://www.bigbendhotsprings.org/?page_id=57). We are nearing the Final Inspection, for the new multi-purpose community building, slated to be used for yoga classes and other meetings. The beautiful and unique building is framed with home-milled lumber, and features straw bale walls with rammed-earth footings and Natural Hydraulic Lime plaster. We recently replaced the pedestrian bridge (mostly to bring utility lines across the creek), and crews finished constructing three large water tanks, as we build a complex new potable/cold and hot spring water systems. We still have some big challenges and large jobs ahead, on the path to reopen. For more information, please see the dropdown menu under the “Progress” tab, in the menu bar, near the top of this page. Stay tuned…
Winter 2014 Update:
R.I.P. Skip Towne: We are grieving the devastating sudden loss of BBHSP’s Development Director, our special friend and family member, the late great Skip Towne. Skip’s Colon Cancer finally helped him transition into his next angelic realm, where he is undoubtedly being of service to the universe in his own new way. Skip was an incredibly sweet and profoundly generous community-oriented benevolent helpful giving friend to many. He is deeply loved and missed by countless people far and near, as he touched so many of us with his unique and abundant magic. Skip was so talented in so many important ways that he kept many aspects of our project and our lives moving forward with his amazing grace and prodigious skills. Skip’s vast knowledge, creative ideas, and generous contributions have helped to shape and progress the BBHSP in huge ways that will carry Skip’s legacy in the land and the experience of all future visitors and residents. Thank you, Skip- we love you and miss you!
On the Land, we are experiencing our second severe drought year in a row and we are praying for more rain to recharge all the aquifers to keep all the springs, creeks, and river Achoma flowing plentifully in 2015. The gardens and orchards are in dormant stage now, although we still have some living harvestable Kale, Cilantro, Sage, and some other herbs that miraculously survived a week of below-freezing temperatures!
The Associate Land Steward (ALS) site maintenance team is in a staffing transition and is taking some time off for the start of winter. We are grateful for the service of Nada Spaz, who worked as an ALS for the fall and is now “on call” for future projects. Jesse Baugher has been our most consistent and longest-working ALS, and remains our solid, consistent and dedicated star ALS team member- THANKS, JESSE! The ALS team accomplished a huge amount of work in 2013, including the clean up of the huge aftermath of the incredible record-breaking rain and snow storms of last winter and many other aspects of site care and maintenance. We are grateful for the abundance of fire wood we now have from last year’s fallen branches and trees, thanks to the hard work of the ALS team.
Summer 2013 Update:
We now have a BBHSP “Community Newsletter,” so you are invited to read each issue (paper copies available in Big Bend. Digital copies available on this web site- click on “Newsletter” at the top of this page). On the land, the gardens and orchards are in full production mode, as we try to keep up with another bountiful harvest. The Associate Land Steward team has accomplished a large part of the clean up of the huge aftermath of the incredible record-breaking rain and snow storms of December and January. Dozens of trees and branches were taken down by the weight of heavy wet snow, some structures were crushed, roads blocked, and heavy rains and flooding caused serious road damage, slides, and other intense erosion. The ALS team continues to do a great job with the storm clean up (95% done) and many other aspects of site care and maintenance.
Well-sifted rich compost makes happy gardeners…
Our conditional Use Permit (granted by the Shasta County Planning Commission), allows us to obtain building permits, work on the required improvements, and re-open when the improvements are completed. Priorities include: parking area by front gate, new spring water system for fire prevention and drinking, wheelchair access to restroom/shower building and campgrounds, bear-proof food and trash containers, geothermal pumping and cooling system, wheelchair friendly hot tubs, etc. Please send us your ideas and thoughts about this community project.