January EAT at Black Mountain Preserve:
January 3 - 17, 2009
BMP is in the Cazadero hills area of northern California,
in west Sonoma County. The Preserve centers around
a complex of dorms, dining/kitchen, classroom and
offices, surrounded by 485-acres of forest and coastal
hills. Expect a wide variety of natural beauty.
Walking trails and unused dirt roads lead off in
several adventurous directions, through ecosystems
of redwood/fir, oak/madrone, and coastal prairie.
You can see the ocean from high points on the property,
while a couple of creeks run through in low spots.
We have held EAT sessions at Black
Mountain since 2001; it is currently owned and operated by the Padmasambhava
Peace Institute, a Tibetan Buddhist group. At one time BMP was a state
camp for petty offenders, but renovations have made it a cozy and comfortable
conference center, a real-life swords-into-ploughshares example. Among
further planned improvements is a Peace Garden designed by EAT students. Next to our classroom is a beautiful and authentic Buddhist altar room, which is open to EATers for quiet meditation.
Standard accommodations are dorms with cots; bring your own bedding
or rent some from BMP at extra fee. BMP is easily
accessible by car; we strongly encourage carpooling
and will have a shuttle for people flying in or
taking bus. "Transportation Details" are
in the confirmation packet when you register, as
is much more information about the facility.
Almanac for January '09 EAT:
January is the rainy season in this part of the world. Exciting storms
might sweep in for a few days, but often the winter
EATs experience lovely weather, with crystalline
clear, sunny days. Winter here is relatively mild
(daytime temps usually around 50F-60F, nighttime
35F-40F ). It's the time of year when the hills
turn bright green, creeks run fast, and redwood
trees stretch and laugh. We advise all January students
to dress warmly and bring rain gear.
EATers eat well. Our standard is gourmet, organic,
vegetarian meals, served three times a day, plus
afternoon munchies. Our favorite chef Carin McKay
and her crew will be cooking for us. All food is
fresh, plentiful, and substantial. Teas and coffee
are available at all times. You may bring your own
wine or beer for dinner.
Please use your registration form to request special
meal choices. Meat is served several times a week
for omnivores. Vegan variations are available at
every meal. Options such as no-dairy and wheat-free
are also possible if requested in advance. While
we make every effort to accommodate food needs,
those with highly specialized diets may need to
bring some of their own food. Please check with
the EAT coordinator if you have any concerns about
the food, and to make special arrangements.
Register Now (Early
Bird Registration)
