Spring is in the air and the weather has been gorgeous! The lake has been quite the popular hangout as more and more folks are braving their way to canoe and swim out to lie on the dock in the sun. There’s even been a few sunburns around here… crazy, right? Our crawly cold-blooded lizard friends have been spotted out sunning themselves as well, and the frogs and crickets have rejoined the evening symphony of the forest. The garden has been getting a little extra tender loving care as we begin planting season again, and more blueberry bushes have been transplanted around the lake.

The guys (and Jennine!) have finished fixing the roofs over the main dome. Thanks to their hard work now hopefully we can still squeeze a few more good years out the old Mother. And speaking of new things, the next compost container has been completed before it was scheduled for, which as everyone knows doesn’t happen often around here.

On Sunday, some of the staff and guests traveled to the Bamboo Farm & Coastal Gardens in Savannah for the First Annual Winter Bamboo Festival presented by The Southeast Chapter of the American Bamboo Society, with a lecture by our Hostel friend Matthew. The Hostel was gifted with some timber bamboo and another noninvasive ornamental bamboo from the workshop. On Sunday night Candice from Atlanta came and taught us some water and energy conservation tips and ways to build and use environmentally friendly and sustainable homes and businesses. Our resident artist Whitney has been teaching dreamcatcher making skillshares, and several guests have left with beautiful new artworks to hang in their homes.

Well folks, if you happen to find yourself longing for the Hostel but can’t make it out to spend some special time with us, you can always look to the words of author Dale Carnegie. “One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon-instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today.” Take the time to stop and smell the roses….

Until next time…

May The Forest Be With You…