MAB: Well, that's a great story, Chuck! Can you tell us more about the Silver Creek Labyrinth?
CN: The concept for the Silver Creek Labyrinth grew over two years and one change of location. After the first demonstration labyrinth on the 2017 fall equinox, laid out using a cup and a bag of marking lime, the project was approved by the board of the hall in November. Four of us laid out the outline on December 11, 2017, four pallets of pavers were delivered at 6 am on December 13. It took six more work parties of between one and five people in order to remove the top inch of soil in the path area, stake in the plastic edging, dig the space for sand and gravel, install the weed barrier, and cut one of the pallets of pavers.
MAB: Wow, that's a lot of work!
CN: One of those work parties was before the holidays so we could show progress to people who came to the hall during the holidays and the others were in January. All of those work parties were in cold drizzle.
On January 24, one neighbor, Richard, who has a dump truck, went with me to pick up and deliver four yards of gravel and three of sand. Later, I had to bring in two more yards of sand with my old pickup, one yard at a time. It took five more work parties of between three and thirty volunteers to put in gravel and sand, level the sand and put in pavers, clean up the edges, sweep sand into the spaces between the pavers, concrete in the center art.
Rosemary was the treasurer, Sarai did publicity, Trina fed us during work parties, Keith built the bridge, Chris outworked all of us, there were about 50 people who helped with the project. It makes me smile to think of all the effort, concern and smiles that went into this path.
Clockwise from lower left, Sarai Stevens, Mike Stevens, Terri Wilde, Chris Soler, Chuck Nafziger.
(Image by Chuck Nafziger) Details DMCA
The last work party, on March 4th, came after a couple of local newspaper articles and we had at least thirty people helping. By then we were almost finished, so that one was more party than work.
MAB: Well you all deserved a party by then!
CN: More art is already appearing. Before the opening party on March 17, Sarai installed her Algeranium Bush Tit Nest and Keith made a bench for sitting and stream side pondering. Sarai is continuing with landscaping the area.
MAB: It sounds beautiful. Do you have anything planned for World Labyrinth Day?
CN: Yes, I am going to be at the new Silver Creek Labyrinth on World Wide Labyrinth Day for a walk at 1:00. The Alger Neighborhood is going to have its May Day garden swap, potluck, maypole with all the ribbons, music and labyrinth games that day. I am very much looking forward to the festivities.
MAB: What fun! I love Maypoles, as well as labyrinths, I'd sure come if it was closer than 3,000 miles! But I'll be hosting my own WLD event at a beach on the Chesapeake Bay, we're building our temporary labyrinth in the sand with a couple hundred pinwheels - not quite as demanding as all your gravel and digging! But it'll be magical!
Thanks for visiting with us, Chuck!
CN: It has been my pleasure Meryl Ann. That was a fun project and a big community effort. I'm smiling at the memories.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
3
3
2
