Minnesota / Wisconsin Gathering 2019

Enjoy this brief video of what main meadow looked like on July 3, probably the peak of the gathering, and again on July 22nd at the end of cleanup.

Every year has it's own gathering blog.  The 2020 Gathering is available here.

Here is a cleanup report from one of the INFO crew folks who was there until the end. I would love to hear other perspectives as well. Some final Clean Up photos.....the Clean Up Crew rolls out in the morning. The Meadow photos are mostly of Boogie pit and Dinner Circle area and Meadow trails. Ferns now waist high and shoulder high in most areas. Dragonflies gone but Butterflies are here. Wild Turkey back and no bear problems with digging our compost. Unfortunately lots of Clean Up crew tested positive for lymes. The Crew did great with 12 hour+ work days and lots of tick problems. Peace and Blessings from some of our Clean Up gang. All looks great and FS loved it. I'm in Iron river for the Blueberry Festival before I hit the scenic roadway. Peace and Love from the hard kicking Crew. Another person's feedback on cleanup Cleanup crew's final night in the woods was last night. Cleanup went very smooth with little complications. We planned a few hundred tr...

Check out this video made by Connect Culture.

This year, we had a heart shaped meadow and many rainbows. Most of the people I met at the gathering were kind, loving people who were there to experience magic, healing, create love, and participate in a beautiful and mellow gathering. I met many people from the Midwest who came home for the first time or the first time in a long time.  Welcome home to all the new faces and those whom we haven't seen in awhile. The gathering took place at the site of a former hunting lodge and deer ranch that was purchased (or given) to the United States Forest Service about 15 years ago.   I found leftover irrigation pipe scattered around the gathering. Despite the rumor mill, I learned that the Forest Management Plan for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is currently being updated and the process will last three to four years. There will be opportunities for public comment. Until the plan is completed and approved, no logging should occur at the site of this year's gat...

All trash finally got dumped today. 99% of folks out of woods and still way more than needed here on the road. All looks well however. Unfortunately most are camping at the lake doing nothing.....except Fat Kids and some Dirty Kids doing it all. We Home Crew refuses to leave the road so is feeding the on looking swimmers. All is well however. Were a week ahead of schedule. Seed came in today as well as the press Michele.

Report from 2019 Vision Counsel:  Consensus #1 Water is Life  Consensus #2 We in this circle reaffirm our vigilant loving commitment in ourselves to a gentle and conscious approach to our personal interactions, our circles, and our choices.  Consensus #3 True consent means respecting individuals on all levels: sexually, energetically, spatially, and all other aspects of autonomy. Respecting consent while maintaining healthy boundaries promotes the well-being of all individuals of our family.  Consensus #4 No person need be alone at a rainbow gathering. We are family. If anyone feels threatened or violated, please seek peers for counsel and advice. If needed, counsel/circle can gradually expand to help set boundaries, reduce tensions, and improve the situation.  Consensus #5 We invite and encourage individuals to circle again from October 24th to October 27th, 2019, for Harvest Counsel, and request it be in or near the region of the 2020 gathering...

Just a friendly warning for those of you who were at the gathering and were bit by a tick. If you still have the tick, you can take it to the doctor to get tested for disease. Here are some useful links for tick born illnesses: Ehrilichiosis Lyme If you are sick, you may want to go to the doctor and tell them you were in northern Wisconsin and were bitten by a tick.

Every year people, pets and various objects are lost at the gathering or people not at the gathering fear people have been lost.  Lost People Every year people go to the gathering and their loved ones worry.  Just a reminder, that while some people are getting cell reception, it varies by cell service. Plus, phone run out of batteries, get dropped in the mud, or get lost. If you haven't heard from your friends and/or family since they went into the gathering, odds are they are still down in the gathering and can't call you due to one of the above reasons. Again, on the road where the cars and cops are is the area where problems occur. We strongly recommend that people stay inside the gathering. Going in and out increases a persons risk of a negative experience with law enforcement. Again, people on the land will strongly suggest to your loved one that they stay inside the gathering until it's over. That being said, if you're going to the gathering, call y...

Thanks to a certain fiddler

Be bear aware. Last bear sighting was 2 days ago. Do not store food in your tent. Above ground community fires only. Prevent root fires Camp, compost, latrines, gray water should be 200 feet away from lakes and other surface waters Please swim in Haples lake as we are pulling drinking water from other lakes Don't molest the oaks. Do no break branches tie rope to or remove bark Dogs on leash to protect wildlife Place stick at 45 degree angle in latrines compost etc to give wildlife an escape ramp Bring bikes and wagons as parking is 2 miles away from main trail head Rear trail is not great for wagons. Ovens is there and there is lots of great camping. Don't trample the meadow to protect endangered monarch butterflies

There are 2 lots for RVs/buses on the left hand side of the road marked by the forest service. All other parking is on the right hand side of the road and on the road. We still have a handicamp parking / camping area. Keep dogs on leash to protect wildlife including bears and wolves—both of which have been seen on site. Just yesterday bear cubs crossed main trail not too far from INFO Camp at least 200 feet from lake Ask where to swim. There are many lakes and some of them are being used for drinking water. Rinse off 200 feet from lake. Think public pool rules Be prepared for rain Do not tie a thing to oak trees. Scratched bark leads to oak wilt. More details at INFO. Lots of dragonflies on site. Cops stopping people in vehicles frequently for the typical stuff. Read how to avoid a mandatory court appearance on top of blog Court in Washburn Wisconsin. Next court date July 1st. If you missed June 24 show up on July 1 to avoid a warrant for your arrest We love...

Please keep dogs on a leash due to wolves and mama bears in the area. Please no soap in or around lakes and water sources All parking is along the road. 1/3 of handicamp parking area was taken over by forest service for admin parking. Please call forest service office to complain. Send this info to media. Parking is on one side of the road only. Iron River is friendly but watch speed limit First court date is on Washburn WI on Monday June 24 at Federal Courthouse. If you can attend please be there to support. Many kitchens have agreed to post info on how they are treating water so gatherers can choose water that meets their own needs. Great site for carts and bikes Warm days cool nights Do not tie things to Oak trees. When bark peals off fungus is entering and killing oaks. Sometimes many at a time as they can be connected by roots Don't molest birch trees or peel off bark When driving be careful. Lots of deer in the area. Turtles crossing the road. Hon...

INTERSTATE 35 out of Minneapolis/Saint Paul :  Please note that Interstate 35 out of Minneapolis (and away from the airport) is full of construction. There are many detours and unexpected merging throughout the area of construction. It can be confusing. The construction continues on and off for about 100 miles but is less bad once you are outside of Minneapolis. Doing more digging it appears that I-35 has two parts: I-35W and I-35E that run north and south kind of parallel to each other. It's the Western one that is getting most of the construction. If possible take I-35E North out of the cities. Updated info from the Dept of Transportation can be found HERE. FOREST ROAD 412 : Some good advice for when you are just arriving at the Site of the Rainbow Gathering itself: The final road, Forest Road 412 is a ONE WAY road. When you see cars parked along the road, on the right hand side, pull off, making sure that all four of your wheels are off the roadway. Get your gear an...

Bad Tent Location - Too Close to surface water ( Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/meganpru/5914413517/ ) Lakes and other surface water provide water for animals in the area and spawning grounds for fish.  Water is the heart of the ecosystem. When folks disrespect the lake, they disrespect the land on which we gather as well as the heart of the gathering itself. While one or two people swimming in a lake can have minimal impact, when there are a few thousand of us, we can negatively impact the lake if we do not take the same precautions our local public pool requires. Tips & Tricks for protecting the lakes Grab a bucket of water and rinse off at least 300 feet away from the lake and where the water won't run back into the lake.  This helps remove sunscreens, tick repellent including natural remedies, and skin oils that are harmful to the lake and the creatures that live there. Don't pee in the lake. Do not camp within 300 feet of the lake.  Let's ...

The Iron River Police Department will be holding a meeting on Thursday, June 20 at 7 pm at .Community Center: 8275 East Mill St, Iron River, WI 54847. Please note, while rainbow gathering participants may be in attendance, this meeting is being planned by the local police department.

Dear residents of Northern Wisconsin, especially those in the vicinity of the Rainbow Gathering, Some of the gathering participants are putting together a Town Hall Meeting.  LOCATION:    Uncle Bob's Bowling Center  68290 S Main St Iron River, Wisconsin 54847 TIME: 4 p.m. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:  Anyone under 21 will need to bring a parent or guardian. This will be an opportunity for gathering participants to provide an overview of this gathering, allow local community members to ask questions, share concerns, and for many of us to get to know each other on an individual basis. Please come meet everyone!

Hi all, Here are the updates I have collected over the last two days in nor particular order and copied and pasted as I have collected them. ******************************************* News from the land: Please be careful digging near the Old Oak Trees -- they are sensitive and with all the moisture very susceptible to a disease. Please do not dig shitters, dump grey water nor compost, nor disturb the ROOTS --- I speak for the TREES and PLEASE SHARE>>>>. Thank you folks on the land. The site is beautiful and many are working hard to build the village'. Dogs are mostly leashed, cars are parking as directed, locals are visiting and very curious and friendly, cops and biologists are visiting, Ahoums (Ohmmm, Aum) are happening, all systems are go..... ******************************************* Heard about the Rainbow Gathering on WOJB radio this morning, 89.9 FM. That is a native owned, community radio station very near to the gathering site. They are interest...