Findhorn Foundation

Almost a week at Findhorn, and still feel like we're targets of a "fleece the eco-tourists" campaign. Everything here costs, most of it twice the going rate. The damn bus to Forres (20 minutes) is 9Poids for the four of us. The taxi is cheaper! And don't get me started on our accomodations.

We moved into a B&B run by one of the old timers here, thinking we'd get to spend some quality time with a knowledgable Findhorn person. Not a chance. She seems to actively avoid us when we meet on the many walkways, and we hardly ever see her at the house. Can't say I recommend that B&B experience here.



On the other hand we've met a number of really nice people who would gladly share their last piece of crust with us, and have many interesting insights on the famous Findhorn settlement. In the interest of preserving my sources, and because I'm really an outsider, and don't understand all that's going on, I won't go farther than to say it's going to be an interesting decade for Findhorn.

There's a part day "work experience" program where you do something active with the group here, like garden or kitchen work. It goes very nicely, and the people doing it are wonderful. Francie did a turn in the kitchen, and they asked her to come back and help on Friday. However, since they charge 14Poid for the experience of working with them I elected to pass this time around. Besides, I don't feel like pulling weeds.

I will mention one interesting development: There is now a Findhorn Foundation and a "larger community" called the New Findhorn Association . The Association is now larger than the original foundation. It consists of all the spinoff companies and individuals that live or work in some degree of association with the foundation, but are not foundation "members". It's actually quite a good arrangement, an extended community around an idea that helps to perpetuate and extend that idea.

One of the very finest people we've met here, Hans Bracker, is the organizer of the Association website, and also has his own site, Soft Flow . where he discusses the tools he uses to develop wiki webs. Hans took us under his wing the day we arrived, and has given us the grand tour of the area and generally been the shining light of our time here. Many thanks Hans, we love you. Oh yes, today was his birthday.