Village Week 6- Such is the Life of a Homesteader

Village last week began with an all school trip to the land. In the time since we had last visited, there have been some serious rains; fences were down, temporary shelters were in an absolute shambles and many a Peep lay in a bedraggled heap, hair all askew and intertwined with leaves, twigs and other detritus of the land...homesteading can sure be hard on one's coiffure! But the weather was fine and in no time at all the most serious of damages were repaired and many features, personal and otherwise, were even improved upon.

Homesteaders continue to work on plans for nurturing and developing their land, determining the best place for gardens, barns, wells and the like. The work of designing Peep houses is well under way - some Homesteaders have moved from the artists sketch to the blueprint and cost estimate stage, which generally leads directly to reworking ones original design, (houses are just so expensive!) while others are making cardboard models of their Dream Homes.

Homesteaders who had undertaken research missions last week returned to share with us the results of their findings. We heard reports on Ancient Egyptian culture, cuisine, customs, resources, weather, living conditions and the like, all of which assists us in establishing our own authentic Village.

In the midst of it all is the clamoring for jobs, "When will the Bank/ Trading Post Managers be

hired ?"...And what about the Town Crier? The Secretary? The Accountant? When will I get my  bank loan???"

The answer, as always, is, "when you have completed your paperwork!"

"UGH", they say, applying themselves, once again, to resume's, Peep biographies and house plans.

Such is the life of a Homesteader. (Ms. Cheryl)

This week in Village it was mandated that those pesky orange flags must come down in favor of a more natural way to designate our property boundaries.  Villagers were seen conscientiously pillaging the land for materials that might alert passersby that the land they had seized in the gentle land rush was indeed taken.  Well, that’s what the red flags said.  Braided straw, green sand mixtures, sticks and stones were placed to say something different altogether.  Welcome!

In the absence of our fearless moderator no formal meetings took place; still the Village did not crumble into chaos.  The Village saw some housing estimates come to completion, interviews for Village Accountant commence, and the position of Town Crier was posted.

A number of students presented their reports on the critical information of our time in Egypt . When does the Nile flood? (October) What medical treatments were available in ancient Egypt ?  (Brain surgery and herbs, apparently.)  What gods and holidays might we be observing?  And, what up with the Sphinx? 

This week we wished one of our mistresses of the Post Office a fond farewell, and welcomed new Villager Grace to the fold.  (Ms. Carey)

Village Week 5- Peep Biographies and Journals



An Accidental Optical Illusion- created by Suida during Village

 Village got off to a solid start with a meeting led by our new Moderator, Phil. A question and answer period seemed to really put the Villagers at ease as the bank loan requirements were clearly expressed; you must have a Peep, a biography, a house plan and estimate, and a property plan in order to be approved for a bank loan of $500.

Many jobs are still available and interviews are under way. Community College Courses were on people’s minds, as well. All around the Village folks worked lovingly and diligently on the tasks at hand—journal-making, biography-writing, and house-drawing.

In our closing meeting Phil listed the proposed Village names: Kemet Ptolemy, Magnus Ptolemy, Philville, Cleopatra Rocks, Impergo, and Babu Benn. A box will be put out so that Villagers can make more suggestions for the name of our up and coming Village! (Ms. Carey)

Village Week 4- Property Plans

Amber and Liana's Property Plans

Village is rolling merrily along and, as always, there is more going on than can ever be documented.

As each Village Day speeds by the miniature characters develop more and more personality and can often be found visiting amongst their small selves. Some are planing great adventures ( I saw two exploring the world globe last Thursday, talking about where they were form and where they would love to go), some talking about house design and others exchanging recipes, really!

In addition to responding to job postings and general land work, Villagers have begun exploring possibilities for home building. Pictures of homes and families from times gone by were passed around, fresh sheets of large paper rolled out and myriad drawing supplies employed and, amidst the excited chatter of young people, Dream Home designs have commenced. (From Ms. Cheryl)

This week in (our still as of yet unnamed) Village excitement was in the air as Villagers dreamt of the houses they would build, the animals they would tend, and the gardens they would build… if only they had their bank loans.

Villagers were very busy throughout the land using their peep rulers to measure out the amount of space needed to house their intended families and pets—cheetahs in some cases!  Each Villager began the process of laying out his or her land design, some considering accessibility of water, others the quality of soil.  This layout, then more firm house plans, are what will enable Villagers to garner bank credit.  The corner formerly known as the food dump of the Giants underwent major improvements and the peep of Suida is poised to inhabit the most fertile soil of the entire Nile river valley.

Interviews were held for the position of Moderator, and, in the end, three people were hired for said position:  Phil, first 6-weeks; Ciana, second 6-weeks; and Holland , third 6-weeks.  All other positions are still open.  This makes Phil the first Villager to be hired for a paid position.  Congratulations Phil, Ciana, and Holland! Our Moderator still needs a Secretary (or Scribe, as we are in Ancient Egypt): in hopes some Homesteader steps forward to take on this very important position and records all important decisions made by our new Village.

Excitement builds around the next round of jobs that must be interviewed for: Trading Post Manager, Bank Manager and Village Accountant.  In addition, a need for a Village Crier has become apparent! Who will fill these jobs?  Interviews and checking of references will begin at lunch later this week.

Each Homesteader in the Middle and Upper groups has a question about Egypt they have been assigned to answer:  They may research the answer at home or at school~ we will be sharing this important information with the group in a few weeks.  (Ms. Dee and Ms. Carey)

Erin's Property Plans

Village Week 3- Jobs Posted

The new Village economy was all abuzz with the promise of jobs and a monetary loan from Queen Cleopatra this week. We who will be producing food for the Queen are as of yet undecided as to our new Village’s name. Teetering between resentment at our impending servitude (to be farmers for the Queen) and the harsh realities of living off the land, there was even talk in the Village of poisoning Her Majesty to gain independence. The Roman Magnus’s loyalty to the Queen was made apparent as was Nubian Baket’s fear as she warned of the dangers of defying the Queen’s wishes. While mutiny is in the air, its likelihood has subsided for now.

The politics of the matter were not the most prevailing concern, however, as Villagers prepared resumes and completed job applications for the roles they might inhabit in our, as of yet, unformed economy. A postal business was established by Villagers Sunnie and Sarah; and talks were held to decide upon the matters of naming the Village and choosing a Secretary and Moderator. Such decisions are sure to be addressed in the coming weeks. The jobs of Trading Post Manager, Bank Manager and Village Accountant, all very important, are also needing to be filled.

Fortunately, Mr. Paul joined Village this week and gave guidance in writing the necessary resumes and filling out the job applications. (From Ms. Dee and Ms. Carey)

Village Week 2- The Land

This week in Village, after receiving a letter on high from Queen Cleopatra herself, peeps from all over the region participated in the gentle rush for land in our newly established Village bound on the north by the River Nile.

Each peep, confined by a 288 peep foot perimeter (which is 12 giant’s feet), staked out his or her property and fashioned temporary housing for him or herself or a surrogate. As was mandated by Queen Cleopatra—no property shall remain unoccupied! (Apparently, the predator squirrels do not fully respect Queen Cleopatra’s authority or the boundaries of a string property line.) These temporary shelters are limited to what is natural and can be found on the land within the bounds of the EcoSchool fence. A great variety of sturctures appeared, and Homesteaders are already discussing plans for their properties.

Progress on the land in this week was great and all are optimistic that our as of yet unnamed new Village will thrive on the west bank of the River Nile.

We have begun creating journals in which to record our precious information on the adventures we may have in this Village. The journals should make for convenient storage during the coming year, as well as a marvelous keepsake for afterward. (From Ms. Dee and Ms. Carey)

Village Week 1- Meet the Peeps

We determine the ethnic make-up of our Village, and discover (not surprisingly) that most of us are Egyptians, but a few of us are from the other cultures found in the Mediterranean basin and beyond: a few Romans, some Greeks, a Parthian and a Nubian. We spent some time creating the background of our Peeps, and in coming weeks their stories will be ready for presentation in a formal introduction to the whole Village.

In an official letter, we are commanded by our queen, Cleopatra, to found a Village to provide food for both ourselves and Egypt, but also for the Romans, led by none other than Julius Caesar himself. (Ms. Dee)

I feel honored to have been at the birth of this year's Peeps at Village this past Thursday. Dee set the stage; we are Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Parthians, and Nubians living in Egypt, 48 BC. As the die was cast (literally— and with a little trading), I witnessed the birth of my own Peep, Baket Iset, the only Nubian I know of in our Village. Though all Peeps begin on equal footing in a sense, penniliess and shoeless, there was much ado about Peep castes. Apparently, we are each Upper, Middle, or Lower class. I wonder what bearing that will have....

I saw that from all of the same raw materials, each Peep is born unique. From the color of the Fimo and pipe cleaners to the shape of the affixed heads, I saw each person lovingly sculpt his or her new Village persona, experienced and unexperienced alike. I fall in the middle as I have subbed and attended Village a time or two, but it was wholly different to really be a part of it from the beginning. I saw some fabulous hair, amazing feet and shoes. There were dresses, cloaks, shawls, and head covers galore. I can't wait to play again.

It seems Peep rulers will be needed in Village. If you don't know about Peep rulers, a "real" half-inch is equivalent to one Peep foot. Turns out, Baket is eight Peep feet tall, and an aspiring healer. I heard others murmuring their Peep's hopes and dreams, and can only imagine what this Peep lifetime will bring! (From Ms. Carey)