This week work continues on the duplexes, getting them ready to lower on to the foundations next week. We have finished underfloor framing and done a fair amount of necessary demolition as well as some preliminary utilities preparation. As of today, we’ve also cleaned out almost all of the debris from inside the units and… Read more »

Work continues on the duplexes. Gary is tearing out parts of a wall. Phyllis and Nancy are sweeping up the debris. In the process, they discovered an apparently-abandoned nest inside a light fixture. We don’t know for sure what kind of bird left it there. In addition, the garden is beginning to produce food for… Read more »

The concrete foundations got poured for both duplexes Wednesday and Thursday this week. We are still working underneath the two houses, framing and removing old wood and insulation. Tai’an is shown underneath the house while a contractor levels concrete. Will was one of many who sorted and loaded wood. By August we expect that both… Read more »

This week we are on Genzo-e sesshin. Registration for meals and overnights is closed, but all are welcome to join us during meditation and services. Both duplexes are now on the property, situated where they will end up, though up on blocks so that work can go on underneath them. Much of the Genzo-e work… Read more »

Every year we say we will put together something for Pride, and every year we get too busy. This year is no exception. Last year (photo), we marched at the last minute with the Community of Welcoming Congregations (CWC), who welcomes all. We will be doing so again this year, on Sunday, June 18, though… Read more »

The Dogwood group expresses exuberance over their skit “Princesses of Porkland.” As always, a good time was had by all for the last Sunday of Dharma School for this year. The Doug Fir group presented Gyokuko with a hand-made book of photos and text of thanks for her support of Dharma School over the years.… Read more »

Natalie, Gary, and Kakumyo set off happily from the Barn to go work on landscaping tasks for the Wednesday work party. Joel works in the kitchen in an ongoing effort to mouse-proof the Sodo. He’s caulking the newly-installed toe kicks. Justin at ReCraft Home Remodeling did that work for us, and did an excellent job.… Read more »

Wednesday’s work party did a variety of things, including working on the Founders Shrine. We are adding trim to make it more similar in style to the Sodo, and also tightening up the building to make it more functional. The lupine flowers, along with a lot of other plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees, are everywhere… Read more »

This week’s work party moved items from the garages at Siskiyou House and 85th House to the barn and Conex and continued organizing them. Also did a lot of gardening and landscaping. We will be moving out of the Siskiyou House (corner of 84th and Siskiyou Street, with a great view of the property) at… Read more »

On April 7, six new Lay Disciples were ordained with their teachers Kakumyo and Jiko. They received rakusus and a new Dharma Name. The photo shows the ordinees approaching the altar in the back of the hall. From left are Eric Kosen Johnson, Stacy Zonnyo Riger, Richard Hanshin Schuler, Harry Ban’an Hesselgesser, Jane Myoho Endacott,… Read more »

Kakumyo Ratified as Abbot Voting closed March 22nd in the Abbot ratification process for Kakumyo and here are the results: 154 ballots were sent out to sangha members, and we got 85 responses (a 56% return rate) with 100% yes votes. The Board meets tonight to determine next steps, but barring impediments, his installation as… Read more »

Wednesday’s work party was well-attended, the sunny warm weather bringing people outdoors to work together. Work progressed on several fronts, from continued organizing of storage inside the barn to spraying orchard trees with a nutrient mix, and weeding the permaculture beds in the garden. The recent rains have made the soil soft and perfect for… Read more »

A neighborhood coalition studying ways to improve 82nd Avenue and environs rented Dharma Rain’s Sodo for an afternoon last Saturday, March 18. An estimated 50 or so people came to participate, first listening to a presentation and then giving suggestions around tables on maps. James Helms from Madison South said, “Awesome turnout, lots of excitement,… Read more »

As spring emerges from a difficult winter, Wednesday work parties are again in full swing. The barn’s interior walls have now been constructed, and we are moving towards getting signed off on the building by the city and setting up our storage more permanently. Everything is out of the rented long-term storage unit, and now… Read more »

Once again, we have glazed sidewalks and cold weather. Still, we have had some movement toward getting the duplexes (residents housing) ready to move on to the property. More ground preparation has happened this week, for example. Metro [facebook link] recently published a Regional Snapshot content package on their brownfield page, and included their profile… Read more »