March 2, 2009 — In the Rain Forest near the North Shore of St. Croix this weekend — just a few miles from where, more than 200 years ago, escaped slaves known as Maroons learned survival skills in the bush — escapees from modern culture are going to try to relearn those ancient lost skills.
"Humans only need food, water, clothing, shelter and fire," said Russell Cutts, a bush teacher. "We don't need a Lexus and gold."
The V.I. Sustainable Farm Institute is presenting Bush Skills Rendezvous 2009 Thursday through Sunday. Off-island guests take many of the spaces for the event, now in its third year, but many spaces still remain for locals who want to participate.
On Monday members of the institute and teachers in the program presented a preview. The Rendezvous is four days packed with education about the basics of human survival and how humans fit into the natural world.
"Since the green revolution is sprouting, I wanted to come to the sustainable farm and see how it starts," said student Armanda Roco. "This experience is something I will use to improve my life."
A news release from organizers puts the Rendezvous in a larger context.
"It starts at basic survival, and moves quickly to how a modern lifestyle can be made more abundant through a greater appreciation of nature," the release said. "Regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or place of ancestry, humans around the world share a background of essential living skills based on the natural world around us. Bush Skills is a time for families, schoolchildren, and adults to share in these unifying skills at Creque Dam Farm, home of the Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute. "
About two dozen people met with teachers Monday and got a sample of how those skills will be taught.
Marga Odahowski, a professor at the University of Virginia, brought four students to St. Croix to spend spring break at the farm.
"The whole immersion in sustainable living is totally different," Odahowski said. "The educators are totally awesome. The students are having a blast."
Doug Elliott, who has performed and presented programs at festivals, museums, botanical gardens, nature centers and schools from Canada to the Caribbean, got people in the mood by leading them in a song about guavaberries. When the group broke up, he took a number of people and taught them how to weave palm fronds.
Russell Cutts, author of two books on cultural technology, showed how to start a fire.
"People want to see the flame," Cutts said. "I want you to see the process."
Another teacher is Steven "Snow Bear" Taylor, founder of Earthskills Rendezvous, who has taught primitive-living skills for more than 30 years, representing Appalachian folk knowledge. Taylor visited St. Croix in the 1960s as a teenager and the experience sparked his passion for teaching about nature and culture. Taylor showed participants how to use bamboo to make containers such as cups.
Local teachers will be Veronica Gordon, the "Bush Lady," who will teach about herbal healing, wild edible plants and calabash crafts. Bryan Updike will teach about primitive pottery and the Taino Indians.
Registration opportunities are available for students, children and adults. There are daily packages, as well as overnight family-camping packages. High school students, regardless of age, are eligible for youth rates. For more information, contact Nate Olive via email or call him at 706-534-5033.
Each day a concurrent set of classes takes place from 9 a.m. until noon and 1 to 4 p.m. A buffet-style organic farm-fresh lunch is included in daily local rates, with dinner and breakfast optional for campers at additional cost.
Daily topics include:
— Thursday: Survival. The basics of tropical living — fire, shelter, water and fibers.
— Friday: Tracking and Awareness. The functional art of blending with nature for heightened sense of being and survival?ability in disasters. Animal tracking and previous day's survival skills are included.
— Saturday: Plants. Medicines, herbalism, crafts, fire making and food.
— Sunday: Food Day. How to grow and prepare an all-natural island feast using primitive methods of cooking, from three-stone to the horno.
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