Short Mountain Sanctuary [1996]
Quotes from Faerie Mailing List faerie@queernet.org
February 1996.
From: JSerinus@out.org (JSerinus)
Date: Sat, 17 Feb 96 10:56:26 -0800
Subject: Getting to the Short Mtn. Gathering
Hi. I was just going to respond to a new brother who asked about getting a ride to the Short Mtn. gathering when I accidentally deleted his message. So I want to include some general info. for all which I trust he'll see.
Since this list is restricted to people who have internet and/or e-mail outreach, people who might need or be able to supply rides to the gathering cannot be contacted this way. To reach more people, you might also want to contact Short Mtn. to see who has registered and is coming/wanting to come from where. Their parking space is limited, and they certainly do encourage carpooling.
Besides writing them at SMS, Box 84A, Liberty, TN 37095, there is a Short Mtn. phone in the schoolhouse a mile down the road from the sanctuary. It gets the answering machine only, but hopefully it gets one return calls. Leave a # where they can call you back collect, and allow some time to hear. 615-563-4397.
There is also an RFD phone, but that is in Gabby's home maybe 1/2 hour from the sanctuary. I don't know if it's kosher to give it out, so just let's say for now that it exists as a last-ditch alternative.
Blessings,
jason
Ok I guess that some one has to do it, so here goes.
Short Mountain is a faerie sanctuary that is located in middle Tenn. about 50 miles south east of Nashville.
The sanctuary consists of about 200 acres in a rural area of short mountains.:) Girlines when I say rural, I mean off the grid rural, do not come expecting to plug your lap top in the wall. The community has solar power for a limited amount of electricity. Their phone is several miles away in an old school house. [Of the 200 acres, Persimmon estimates that maybe 5 are horizontal!]
The tall hill that the sanctuary is located on is named (what else) Short Mountain. There are about 16 permanent residents who live there. They live in several buildings that are as old as pre civil war and as new as this year.
The drinking water is from a mountian spring. The bathing water for the very luxurious bath-house is from a cistern system. So you'd best hope for rain in the middle of the week. The water in the bath house is heated by wood as is the suana.
You will be expected to sleep in your own tent and sleeping bag. Come prepared for a variety of weather, from quite warm to quite cold. In the spring you can also expect some rain, said with tounge firmly in cheek. >;-/
The cost involves a registration of about $25 and then about $8 per day. This includes your food(veggie of course) and your camping and your kamping and all of the frivolities. You are encouraged to register early and carpool if possible.
You can expect between 150 and 300 or more for this gathering. There will be people from all over the States and Canada and Europe. Women and children are welcome, PETS are not.
Bring your drag and your fun and your energy.
Hugs,
Elam
Correction to phone info given a few days ago by Jason: After much intro and extro spection among the residents, there is now a phone on the grounds at Short Mountain (for those of you who have been there, it's in the greenhouse next to the RFD office). Usually the phone machine will answer a call, but sometimes it might even be answered a real faerie person. The number is 615-563-4397.
Yes, the dates of the spring gathering are 4/26 - 5/5. The fees are $8 a day, plus a sliding-scale registration fee of $20 - $75 or more. That covers all the FABULOUS food you can or want to eat, use of the land to lay on, and, of course, the rest of the indescribable experience. Anyone who can is encouraged to come early to help prepare for the gathering. And no one is turned away for lack of money. (Those with more money are always encouraged to contribute it, or to buy some of the great stuff that gets auctioned to benefit the Sanctuary during the gathering.) There are very few indoor sleeping spaces available, so bringing a tent and sleeping bag, etc., is really the way to do it. And if you don't have room on your back for fabulous drag, never fear my dear, there's plenty to go around in the galaxy-famous "goat boutique".
Some people come for the first weekend, and some people come for the second weekend, but if you're going to be there, make every effort to be there on May first (which falls on a Wednesday this year). The party that day is particularly fabulous, rain or shine, cold or hot.
Most of all, take a look into your heart to see if a Short Mountain gathering is for you at this time of your life. If you get a "yes", DO PLEASE follow your yes, and I'll seeya there! I wouldn't miss it for anything. (Well, there are probably a few things that could make me miss the gathering, but they don't seem very likely to happen. Things like severe illness, or being stuck in jail somewhere, or receiving an offer to star in a feature film someplace far away, or a death in my immediate family - that kind of stuff.)
Return to faerie home page.