Riverhaven Homestead

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Permaculture-based eco-homestead located on the Nooksack River in Lynden.

Location: Nooksack River, Lynden
Members: 44
Latest Activity: May 31, 2013

River Haven

Riverhaven is a community located on the confluence of Fishtrap Creek and the Nooksack River that is founded on Permaculture principles. The natural current of this place is pulling together a diverse group of people with a common vision of self resiliency, varied skills and talents, and a common respect for the Earth & her inhabitants. Current residents are Chris Testa & Cadence, Krista Rome, and Richard and Hilary Kauffman. We are just beginning, but are already growing and raising most of our own organic food and processing our own fuel (waste vegetable oil). Riverhaven is also the home of the Straight Vegetable Oil Co-op where members can share equipment and space and provide their own fuel. We will be teaching ongoing workshops on homesteading, Permaculture, and related skills- and we host informal visits and work parties frequently- so contact us if there is something you want to learn or share.

Discussion Forum

Animals!

Started by Chris Wolf. Last reply by Krista Rome May 31, 2013. 4 Replies 1 Like

We are so excited to have new animals added to our family this week! We got two alpacas and four sheep, and they are quite wonderful creatures. The sheep did give Chris T and Richard quite a workout when they escaped during transfer and had to be…Continue

Let Us Feed You (or help you feed yourself)

Started by Chris Wolf. Last reply by Chris Wolf Mar 5, 2012. 2 Replies 1 Like

This discussion will keep you updated as to what products we have for sale or barter at any given time... mostly food and food-producing plants and animals that you can grow yourself. Everything on our farm is raised according to Permaculture…Continue

Ongoing Projects - Regular Updates

Started by Chris Wolf. Last reply by Krista Rome Feb 15, 2012. 6 Replies 0 Likes

This may morph into a blog or some other method of getting the information out, but we feel a good way to communicate ongoing work, ideas, celebrations, accomplishements, struggles and the rest is needed.Starting with this week: This morning we…Continue

Primitive and Traditional Living Skills

Started by Travis Linds. Last reply by Krista Rome Aug 29, 2011. 13 Replies 1 Like

I'd love for us to learn and teach more Primitive and Traditional Living Skills at River Haven. There is a gathering held late summer at Skalitude Retreat Center that I would for sure attend (and have been wanting to attend), if I have the vacation…Continue

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Comment by Heather K on July 27, 2011 at 3:39pm: Last couple years our “NW Autumn Seed-Swap & Barter Fair' has been held at Inspiration Farm with focus on it being bringing farmers & seed-savers together for a seed-swap...along with some home-grown and homemade spirits, food, & products- http://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/events/inspiration-farm-seed-swap... Brian K, Krista & I have started dialogue about this years dates & locations. Interested in co-creating & volunteering? Let us know! November is high water's season, so high ground location preferred, maybe a return to Inspiration Farm upstream in Laurel area.

Possible dates that I've asked Farmers Brian & Krista to consider are Saturday Nov 9^th or Sat Nov 19^th, giving farmers time to pull in harvest & sort a few seeds before the rainclouds become permanent. (also Sat Oct 29^th as a possible date).

Sure would be nice to have River Haven host some major community event before rains come, maybe an autumn harvest potluck. We are going to need a bigger space for our annual January Community Seed-Swap also, as we've outgrown the downtown space. Miss you all! Hope this helps! I'll be at the Herbal Fair in Skagit this august. Volunteers still needed there too.

Love what you-we-all are co-creating at River Haven!

Comment by Heather K on July 27, 2011 at 3:36pm: Other fall season events we'd prefer the barter fair & seed-swap Not to conflict with:

Cloud Mt Fruit Fest – about Oct 1^st

East county – Van Zandt Harvest Fest – about Oct 8

Annual Mushroom Show – Oct 15 & 16

Okanagan Family Fair & Barter Fair – about Oct 20-23

Tilth Conference for organic growers – Nov 11 & 12 - Yakima

Re Store Environmental Heroes Awards – Sept 17

Saskatoon Primitive & Traditional Skills Circle – Sept 22-25

B'ham slow food harvest meal – Sept ??

*** NW Autumn Barter Fair (& Growers Seed-swap)- possibly Nov 9 or Nov 19 or Oct 29**

Comment by james bauckman on July 27, 2011 at 3:29pm: I love this idea. I would love to open it up to craftspeople and artisans and bartering in general. I would love to see fourth corner exchange there too helping people get started with an alternative currency system. Great idea Heather.

Comment by Travis Linds on July 27, 2011 at 1:14pm: I love that idea too, the barn loft would make a perfect marketplace! Let's make it happen!

Comment by Krista Rome on July 26, 2011 at 6:11pm: Heather: Oh my Gosh! What a Fabulous idea! I think RIverhaven would be a fantastic place for a local barter fair!! I would be so way down into helping organize that to happen. Let's keep in touch on the idea.

Comment by Heather K on July 26, 2011 at 2:43pm: Let us know your herbal wish list of which species you are still needing. Autumn is great time to divide herbs, so I & other gardeners can bring by our divided herbs for the herb spiral, and for a larger 'medicine herb garden' out in the field.

Looks like there is still room to build an attached south-facing greenhouse between the herb spiral & house. :-)

Beautiful rock work & design!

Hope we can vision having a 'First Annual NW Barter Fair' at River Haven or elsewhere this Oct or November....Each year at our local fall farmer's seed swap at Inspiration Farm, Brian & I talk about when & where - if anyones interested, consider choosing a time that farmers can attend after the harvest, and that does not conflict with the fall Tilth Conference (that many organic growers attend).

Okanagan Barter Fair is Oct 20-23 this year.

Comment by Krista Rome on July 26, 2011 at 10:41am: That's funny. Travis and I must have posted the pictures at the same exact time! Mine's better, haha.

Comment by Jamie Jedinak on July 26, 2011 at 10:39am: ~ So Beautiful! :)

Comment by Krista Rome on July 26, 2011 at 10:08am: Well, I feel lucky! I got to help with the planting after you all did the hard work. Thanks for everyone who came to the herb spiral workshop! Here is a picture of the mostly-planted spiral.