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Aug26

Hiking at Wild Magnolia

Posted in: Articles, Inspiration, Projects

Wild Magnolia entrance sign

Wild Magnolia has designated hiking trails marked and maintained through major areas of the property. These lead to areas of unique ecological significance, through forests of huge umbrella magnolia trees, past historic cabin ruins, and to a sparkling clear swimming area.

Wild Magnolia Road and trails

“Rainbow Road” leads from Cave Mountain Road to the Wild Magnolia property.

Ixchel

At the gate Rainbow Road becomes Ixchel Trail, named for the Maya goddess whose name means ‘Lady Rainbow.’

Branching from Ixchel Trail is Beech Creek Trail, which leads to the crystalline waters of the swimming area on Beech Creek.

Beech Creek

Between Beech Creek Trail and Ixchel Trail is a side trail leading through the remains of La Salsa, a small community in the Back-to-the-Land movement of the 1960′s and 1970′s.

Janis points out features at La Salsa

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Ixchel trail leads finally to the ‘Fairy Pond,’ a unique wooded wetland said to be inhabited by fairies.
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View of the Fairy Pond
Jun20

Spring Medicine Walk 2010

Posted in: Articles, Events, Home, Inspiration, Past Events

The annual Spring Medicine Walk was held June 19, 2010 at the Wild Magnolia Land Trust.

About 40 people were in attendance of diverse ethnic backgrounds. After ceremonies to reconnect to Mother Earth, a delicious potluck meal was enjoyed by all.

Sun Hawk explained medicinal uses of many of the plants of the Land Trust and how to identify them. In mid afternoon hiked to Beech Creek and enjoyed a refreshing splash in the water.
May7

New trail signs for Wild Magnolia Land Trust

Posted in: Events, Home, Projects

Trails at Wild Magnolia are now marked with newly made trail signs. Ixchel Trail is marked from the clearing, with the distance indicated to Fairy Pond. Where Beech Creek Trail branches from Ixchel Trail a sign notes the distance to the creek, and La Salsa Trail is marked at both ends, where it splits from Beech Creek Trail and from Ixchel Trail, also with distances indicated.

The signs with routed lettering are carved in eastern redcedar lumber, processed from a fallen tree, made and donated by volunteer Olin Karch. Vista volunteers Janis Walters and Steven Wilgus installed the new signs.
Jan19

Continuing Cleanup at Wild Magnolia

Posted in: Events, Projects
Vista Volunteers Janis Walters and Steven Wilgus work at hauling out trash left by previous owners of Wild Magnolia preserve. It is an ongoing, long-term chore.

Here scrap metal (and an old outhouse!) are headed for recycling.
Jan19

Library presentation

Posted in: Events, Past Events

January 15, 2010.

Arco Iris President and Co-founder, Maria Christina Moroles, together with Board Member Janis Walters, gave a PowerPoint ® presentation about the Earth School Project to an appreciative audience at the Newton County Library in Jasper.
Nov9

A new office for Arco Iris Earth Care Project

Posted in: Articles, Home, Projects

A preconstructed building has been set up to house the project’s office. The 10′ x 16′ building located above the town of Low Gap, on Arkansas 74, provides easy access to enact business, and is provided with satellite Internet access.

The building was unfinished on the interior, and has been insulated, wired, and finished by Vista volunteers Janis Walters and Steven Wilgus.

The new office was initiated November 8 with a blessing, and prayers in English and Cakchiquel Maya. A meeting of the board members followed.
Sep2

AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers

Posted in: Home, Projects

Janis Walters

Janis Walters of Boxley, and Steven Wilgus of Deer, were recently sworn in as members of AmeriCorpsVISTA, the national service program dedicated to helping fight poverty in the United States.
Steven Wilgus

Walters and Wilgus have been assigned to the Arco Iris Earth Care Project to coordinate with the local community to help develop The Earth School, which will be established in the Boxley Valley. Walters and Wilgus recently attended pre-service orientation for service with VISTA in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Vista builds capacity in non-profit organizations and communities to help bring individuals and communities out of poverty. In the past 40 year, over 177,000 people have served as VISTA volunteers working with local organizations to strengthen communities and start new and innovative programs.

Today, nearly 8,000 VISTA members serve in hundreds of non-profit organizations and public agencies throughout the country—working to promote literacy, improve health services, create businesses, increase housing opportunities, or bridge the digital divide.

The Earth School will be a community based facility utilizing a natural and holistic approach that incorporates the cultures of indigenous and Ozark people to promote and teach sustainable living practices to all members of our communities.