We’re lining up an excellent summer of workshops and retreats now outlined in our spring newsletter. If you are looking for a natural outdoors venue to host a workshop of your own, please contact us. We’re delighted to meet new like-minded people and welcome ideas for creative workshops.
Volunteering at SCFF in May
May Activities
The 1970s
Through the late 1960s and into the ’70s, the farm saw a renaissance as Peter’s parents built a homestead on the bones of the original farm.
Spring 2024 Newsletter
Shibagau Creek Forest Farmstead
Spring is in the air at Shibagau Creek, and we’re grateful for the migrating birds, budding trees and warmer temperatures. There’s so much to look forward to including the lilac trees that will be in full bloom in less than a month. Since our last newsletter we’d like to extend a huge thanks to Scott and his niece, Edie, who built and put up 5 birdhouses in the fields. We have 3 more emptied and cleaned to put up this weekend which the house wrens used last year, mostly for wooing their mates and decoying the bigger birds. We were happy to give them options to sing loud and proud – which they did.
This weekend marks our first official “work weekend” emptying the extension. It’s our plan to renovate this space, open it up to the south-facing view, and provide additional sleeping space. It’s going to look gorgeous.
Now, we are looking for volunteers, hosts, and participants for events. Enclosed is our updated 2024 schedule. We’re planning to expand what we offer, and we invite you to ponder what you may love to join us for, be it something we’re creating, or something you’ve had a hankering for leading. Honestly, the sky’s the limit, creativity has no bounds and SCFF provides a beautiful and inspiring backdrop.
Victoria and Peter
SCFF 2024 Updated Schedule
Shinrin Yoku
While in Japan Victoria completed her in-person training and is excited to lead 8 practice sessions required for her Certification. Please join her for one of these free sessions as a beautiful introduction to forest bathing aka forest therapy.
Sundays: April 21st, 28th, May 12th, 19th, 26th
Saturdays: May 11th, 18th, 25th
Time: 1.30-4pm
To sign-up for a free Shinrin Yoku session follow this link: scff.ca/shinrinyoku
Volunteer Work Bee Schedule
Weekends will be organized with specific tasks in mind as we renovate the extension, cut & groom trails, side the barn, and paint the caravan exterior with images of sunflowers.
As a volunteer, you can stay the whole weekend, or come for a day trip. We’d really appreciate your helping hands and in exchange for your physical labour, we will provide basic meals and lots of good cheer. You’ll have free time to enjoy the countryside, breathe the fresh air and, in mid-May, enjoy the amazing lilac season. It’s going to be fun, we promise!
April
20 & 21 Volunteer Weekend extension renovation work
27 & 28 Volunteer Weekend extension renovation work/caravan painting & possible barn siding bee
May
11&12 Volunteer weekend extension renovation work/caravan painting & possible barn siding bee
18, 19 & 20 Volunteer weekend trail grooming
18 May Spring bird count (19th rain date) let us know if you will come out by pre-registering.
To sign-up to volunteer and/or participate in a free Shinrin Yoku session also follow this link: scff.ca/shinrinyoku
June
To be scheduled:
– Shinrin Yoku sessions led by Victoria
– Re-use, Recycle, Reclaim: From Rags to Rugs, candle making, sustainable soap making and how to workshops…
July
Special Events at the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning, Kingston
July 4-9 The Abstraction is not the Reality,
Exhibition of photographs by Peter Sramek
July 4 Opening/Vernissage 5-8pm
One-day workshops with Peter Sramek in the TETT Gallery:
July 6 Introduction to Basic Hand Bookbinding
July 7 Linkstitch and Album Binding Structures
To sign-up for hand bookbinding workshops follow this link: scff.ca/bookbinding
Summer Workshops at SCFF in Tamworth
(to Register visit: scff.ca/workshops )
July
26-28 (new dates) Presence and Light: Black and White Photography Workshop with Peter Sramek
Shinrin Yoku sessions led by Victoria
August
3-4 Annual Nature Conservancy Canada Backyard Bioblitz (we assume this will be the long weekend again)
10-11 Handbound Artists’ Books: Introductory experimental workshop with Peter Sramek
23-25 ‘Poetic Whispers: Interventions in Nature’, a photography and site specific workshop with Berlin artist Walter Bergmoser
30- Sep 1 INTAC Alumni Weekend with Walter Bergmoser and Peter Sramek
To be scheduled: Happy for No Reason Workshops & Shinrin Yoku sessions led by Victoria
September
27, 28, 29 Still Center Men’s Retreat
led by Greg De Koker www.stillcenter.ca
To be scheduled: Happy for No Reason Workshops & Shinrin Yoku sessions led by Victoria
October
4, 5, 6 Visioning Weekend Retreat led by Zan Chandler
To be scheduled: Happy for No Reason Workshops & Shinrin Yoku sessions led by Victoria
We’re excited for the upcoming 3 seasons at the farm and we can’t wait to see you this year. We’d love you to come and visit, participate in and/or send like-minded people our way. Follow this link to let us know what you may be interested in joining.
If you know anyone who is looking for off-grid time away in the country, for a venue to host their workshops, retreats or events, or someone who might want to participate in our workshops, please forward our information.
For those wishing to book independent overnight stays, SCFF is listed on AirBnb at: https://airbnb.com/h/offgrid-farmstead
Thank you for your support, sharing and being a part of our incredible community.
Victoria and Peter
Winter 2024 Newsletter
Happy New Year’s greetings from us at Shibagau Creek.
We hope 2024 is a great year for you all.
It’s a sunny day here today, and as the days get longer and the sun reflects off the ice and snow, we are happy to bring you an update on our plans for the upcoming 2024 season. So please read on…
First, we have to thank those of you who participated and helped us last year. Our photography weekends and the mid-summer Bioblitz brought life and energy to our first year of offerings. Thanks to Scott Russell the barn has undergone another transformation with a newly accessible loft level and tool workshop. With volunteer help, we built another outhouse – at the barn (thanks Rob and Steve) and cleared the field around the house (thanks Walter).
As we write this, we are preparing for our travels to Japan to visit ancient forests, where Victoria will also complete her training in Nara as a Shinrin Yoku guide. This is knowledge that she will bring back to share as “forest bathing” aka “forest therapy” walks in our forest at Shibagau Creek. We return early in April to open the season at SCFF.
Think about what you would be interested in joining us for.
Let us know your interests to help us plan and subscribe to our mailing list if you are not already receiving emails.
Spring Preparations and Land Care
In April and May, we will be continuing our renovations of the farmhouse to create additional sleeping quarters. Trails need to be groomed, the barn work spaces set up, and the caravan exterior painted with sunflowers.
Four weekends are open for volunteers to stay, or day trip, to lend a hand in a communal atmosphere. If a weekend doesn’t suit you, please propose a time during the week. We will be there, and we’d really appreciate extra help. As a bonus you can enjoy the countryside, breathe the fresh air and experience the amazing lilac season in May. As a thank you for your physical efforts, share in a ShinRin Yoku (forest bathing) guided walk with Victoria.
An Initial Workshop and Event Schedule
April
20 & 21 Volunteer Weekend (Sunday 21st – Shinrin Yoku 1-3pm)
27 & 28 Volunteer Weekend (Sunday 28th – Shinrin Yoku 1-3pm)
10-28th Spring bird count (let us know if you would come out and we will confirm the date)
May
11 & 12 Volunteer weekend (Sunday 12th – Shinrin Yoku 1-3pm)
18,19 & 20 May long weekend)
Volunteer weekend (Sunday 19th – Shinrin Yoku 1-3pm)
June
Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography Members’ weekend
July
Special Events at the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning, Kingston
4 – 9 The Abstraction is not the Reality, Exhibition of photographs by Peter Sramek
July 4 Opening event 5-8pm
July 6 Introduction to Basic Hand Bookbinding workshop with Peter Sramek
July 7 Linkstitch and Album Binding Structures workshop with Peter Sramek
19 – 21 Presence and Light: Black and White Photography Workshop with Peter Sramek
August
3 – 4 Annual Nature Conservancy Canada Backyard Bioblitz
(we assume this will be the long weekend again)
10 – 11 Handbound Artists’ Books introductory workshop with Peter Sramek
23 – 25 Creative Engagements in Nature: Photography & Site Interventions with Walter Bergmoser and Peter Sramek
September
27 – 29 Stillness Centre Men’s Retreat led by Greg De Koker
October
4, 5, 6 Visioning Weekend Retreat led by Zan Chandler
We’re so proud of all that we accomplished last year, and we can’t wait to see you this year. We have many other ideas/workshops in the planning, and we’d love you to come and visit. If you know anyone who is looking for somewhere in the country to rent for time away, a venue to host their workshops, retreats or events, or someone who might want to participate in our workshops, please forward our information.
For those wishing to book an independent stay, SCFF is listed on AirBnb at:
https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/43969886
Thank you for your support, sharing and being a part of our incredible community.
Victoria and Peter
Kitchen Deck Construction Progress
This spring we completed construction of a new deck and outdoor kitchen. The 12’x12′ kitchen includes repurposed cabinets someone removed from their cottage purchase, a sink connected to the rain barrels and a roof that provides shelter from sun and rain. The deck extends around the water pump, giving new steps up to the front entrance porch. We worked together over a few months, having begun construction during a February thaw and now we are seeing the improvements as we have guests staying for the workshops.
Planting Celeste
The farm has had great importance in Peter’s family. His parents, Rudy and Hana purchased the land as a haven from the city where they could garden, build and connect with the earth. Weekends and summers were spent renovating and innovating, watering vegetables and stripping furniture from farm auctions. We endured mosquitoes and hot summer afternoons. We skied in for winter weekends.
Peter’s father Rudy put down roots here in his 30s and remained in love with the farm as a spiritual home although they would end up living fulltime in the nearby village of Camden East and then in Kingston. In Rudy’s memory, we planted an oak tree on the height of land overlooking the valley. A sitting rock accompanies Celeste who will grow into a majestic tree, standing proudly on the hill, shading those who come to rest and reflect for years to come.
Volunteer Opportunities:
We are always looking for volunteers who are eager to be active outside and in nature to help us with renovations and to cut trails, clear brush, prune trees and build dead hedges with the brush, as well as other ongoing work on the land and buildings.
With our building projects in mind for this summer, we welcome stays of various lengths in exchange for volunteer work. Combine a longer stay with one of our weekend workshops.
For the forest work, commitment can be an easy 3-4hrs on weekends, Mondays or Fridays. Car and outdoor clothing is a must and we’ll provide the tools. There are 100 acres, most of it new forest, so you can work solo or work with us as we create forest bathing areas and open walking trails. Please in get in touch.
House Developments
The rooms are getting sorted out and the beds set-up.