The Urban Land Scouts' Absurdist Challenge

Dear Land Scouts,

I hope you are all getting outdoors often and staying cool. From now until first frost we are issuing an Absurdist Challenge. Should you accept and complete the challenge and send in documentation of your efforts, you will earn the newest addition to the Urban Land Scouts badges: the dark blue one.

Below is a schedule collage together by Chatham Monk and Justin Rice (both land scouts and makers at Oxide Pottery). It comes to us by way of Warrior's Path State Park. You challenge is host, enact, or stage any one of the scheduled events listed here and to document your experience well. Specific locations like the Main Bath House or Open Air Chapel will have to be interpreted symbolically.

I recommend "ACT LIKE AN ANIMAL" as it meets at the Boundless Playground. Click on the image to see it larger.

Bonnaroo and Beyond

Oh, Stadri Emblems, what that everyone had your attentive and kind customer service!

Wahoooooo y'all! Wahooooooooooooooo! New badges arrived today from Stadri Emblems, who I highly recommend, and I am thrilled to see them. They feel like currency. Looking forward to working with many Bonnaroo patrons and giving out many badges at the festival. 

Speaking of Bonnaroo, if you're going to be there, stop by and see us in the Victory Garden or the Carbon Shredders Booth. We'll be talking about basic gardening skills, companion planting, vermicompost, edible perennials, mushroom cultivation, and seed bombing. Additionally, we'll be working on site to expand the garden, trade seeds, and meet other growers and land stewards.

At the Carbon Shredders Booth you can sign up to be an Urban Land Scout, learn about reducing your carbon footprint, wash your clothes with some Seventh Generation detergent (mmmm...clean laundry), learn about some of the green businesses that support the Carbon Shredders booth, collect some Bonnaroo compost for your home garden, and a host of other small steps towards urban sustainability. You can also sit in the shade and take a break from the exuberant mania of the festival.

In other news, I believe we've almost met our financial goal for Urban Land Scout Camp at CAC Beardsley Community Farm. Now we need to find campers. If you know a rising 5th, 6th, or 7th grader at any of the schools listed below (UPDATE: We are opening camp to all 5th, 6th, and 7th graders living in Knox County) please download this application and put it in their hands.

Urban Land Scouts head to Bonnaroo

Will we see you in Manchester, TN? Some strapping young Urban Land Scouts will be running the Victory Garden at Bonnaroo and helping out in the Carbon Shredders Booth.   If you or folks you know are going to be at Bonnaroo, make a point of stopping by the garden or CS Booth to introduce yourself and earn a badge. Both the Victory Garden and Carbon Shredders can be found in Centeroo near the post office. You can also earn a limited edition badge and an heirloom plant through the Clean Vibes Trading Post (while supplies last).