thefreedomfarm
  • Home
  • thefreedomfarmblog
  • Art with Heart
  • Funschooling
  • Flex Feeds His Face
  • Bush Tucker
  • Country Markets
  • In the Garden

Wild Yamily

1/13/2015

1 Comment

 

Wild Yam returned to the valley over New Years and it was a spectacular concoction of community and collaboration.

Having triumphed last year, and with a bit more confidence in our composting toilets, we allowed the festival to grow a bit and so had lots of new and gorgeous faces to have fun with...welcome to the Yamily!

Picture

Anyway,seeing as this blog is about homeschooling and free range learning, how does putting on a festival help our children on their educational journey?

Glad you asked.

First up, they are involved in the planning of the event. How many people can we sustain? How will it be organised and where should everything be positioned? Should there be any rules and if so, what should they be? All this and more was discussed around the dinner table prior to set up. The boys came up with many great ideas such as having a recycling room or 'Free Boutique' as it came to be known as well as helping us decide where the main tent should go.

Picture

We had a working bee where the boys teamed up with various people and built new gym equipment, started a kids camp in the forest and painted a plethora of fun and informative signs to be displayed around the festival. Construction, design, art and spelling all wrapped up in laughs and fun.

Picture

Then, as the event draws closer we have to deal with tents blowing down, rain and lots of Facebook updates. The days leading up to Yam, Flex and Lucky helped Gav set up and test the PA system on the main stage (our balcony), and we did a big shop deciding what meals we were going to make and contribute.

Then it all kicks off and to be honest, I hardly see the boys for the next 5 days!!!

They are flat out wake boarding, drumming, playing cards, swimming, dressing up, learning and swapping jokes, negotiating turns on the boat and motorbikes and making new friends. There are some arguments, some deep and meaningful discussions and lots of laughter. They do art workshops, play ping pong and hang out with interesting, kind and talented adults who include them in conversation without thinking twice. They cook meals, eat communal feasts, try new foods and join in large pow wow meetings every day.

They are part of a tribe.

Picture

And herein lies the greatest learning of all. Learning how to coexist with your fellow humans with joy and understanding. It's not perfect. People get sad and sunburnt and silly. Sometimes you (or your Dad) lose at ping pong. Sometimes you get tired because you were up til 3am hanging out with your mates and slept in the paddock (hmmmm Lucky).

But those moments when you eat a delicious burrito (so obviously made with love) and do the countdown with your Mum on New Years Eve (DJ Flex) make it all worthwhile.

Picture
Picture

The amount of true and real learning that goes into an experience like this can't really be quantified. And nor should it be. And really, what's life all about? Giving with love, receiving with gratitude, sharing and caring and building memories with people that you connect with. Revelling in nature. Enjoying yourself while contributing to society.

Well, this is the kind of society I believe in and want my children to experience. How about you?

1 Comment

    Author(s)

    Yomamma - masseuse, home school mum, art lover, jam maker, intrepid explorer.
    Big Gav - musician, bush man, home school dad, ping pong champion.
    Flex - adventurer, tree climber, junior masterchef.
    Lucky - animal lover, artist, super cuddler.

    Archives

    February 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011

    Categories

    All
    All
    Art
    Funschooling

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly