Untitled - Isabel Hamilton

we stood looking for shooting stars
and i saw them and wished but you didn't have the patience and
black crows rolled off our tongues and flew to the moon
telling us of our prefect imperfections
and what lies to tell
when all we wanted was sex
but then it all changed and
i couldn't tolerate your balloon heart that floated over me
and laughed at my feet on the ground
so we made out mothers tell us the truth and they said happiness is fleeting
and we believed them with our whole hearts
so we ate the bullets for permanence
but then i threw mine back up because my stomach was weak
i was too weak to commit to anything
just yet
but my indecisiveness left us with nagging doubts that followed us like tails
and we were embarrassed so we pretended they weren't ours.

Local Foods Feast an VUHS

Students enjoy fruits of their neighbors: VUHS hosts annual Local Foods Feast

VERGENNES—Students at the Vergennes Union Middle and High School enjoyed healthy and local fare for lunch last Friday thanks to a joint effort by the Walden Project, an alternative high school program with a focus on the environment, and Café Services, which runs the high school cafeteria.

Marcy Langlais, student co-organizer of the feast, said she hopes people will become more connected to what they eat by appreciating “the food in your own backyard as opposed to food from another country.”

“I wanted to work on this project because it raises awareness towards local foods,” Langlais added.

The fifth-annual Local Foods Feast featured products from ten Addison County farms, including the student-run Walden Community Garden. For the first time this year, the feast was a joint effort between the Walden Project and the cafeteria, meaning that anyone who bought hot lunch at the school on Friday was eating local.

Evan Myers, an eighth grader, said he liked the turkey vegetable soup, which featured local squash and Misty Knolls turkey. He buys lunch most days, he said, but if lunch featured more local ingredients, “I would be more eager to eat it.” Another group of middle school lunchers echoed his opinion: “For some reason local food tastes a lot better.”

Marcy Langlais and fellow Walden student Sophie Daubner headed up the feast as part of a larger Farm to School project. They recently attended the School Nutrition Association of Vermont Conference, where they were inspired by an “Art in the Cafeteria” workshop to create the large paintings of vegetables that covered the walls during the feast. They are charter student members of the new VUHS School Nutrition Committee, led by ANWSU Nutrition Liaison Lynne Rapoport.

Langlais, an 11^th-grader, has been working on sustainability issues for two years; her next project is to set up a composting exchange between the VUHS cafeteria and the Walden garden.

A new aspect of the Local Foods Feast this year was the performance of original music by students. Walden Project students played a short set that included a punk piece about eating local. At a celebration of local resources, “it’s important to include culture in the equation,” said Matt Schlein, Walden Project teacher and founder of the non-profit Willowell Foundation that supports it.

Schlein explained that the Local Foods Feast started as a partnership between the Walden Project and Mark Power’s Cooking with Science class. Past years’ menus have included similar seasonal items—including quiche, squash soup, and apple crisp—but the feast was held on a smaller scale outside the cafeteria as an alternate lunch. Schlein said he was “particularly excited to partner with the cafeteria and Café Services” this year and reach more people in the school.

As a joint effort of the cafeteria, the Walden Project, and the School Nutrition Committee, the Local Foods Feast represents the growing partnerships around Farm to School efforts at VUHS.

Magnified Clover - Bridgette Bubble

Words - Marcy Langlais

Words don't do what I wish they could
They never make sense or match up like they should
Words can't dance or sing
Or grow a Willow Tree and hang a rope swing
Words can't stand or walk
Or cover your bare foot when you need a sock
Words can't sink or swim
Or save you as you fall from a tree limb
Words can't laugh or play
Or ever say what you want them to say
Words don't do what I wish they could
They never make sense or match up like they should
They don't spill smoothy from my lips
I cannot create them on paper
With the pen resting beneath my fingertips

Wilderness awareness games with John Hunt!

Photo by Bridgette Bubble

What are you waiting for? - Max Kinlund

What are you waiting for?
‘Cause I’ve wasted away days with my virtues.
Trying to find the time,
To stop keeping my hands to myself.
But I have the tendency to keep my thoughts,
In my head.
Instead of exploding out,
I simmer down.
And talk to myself about how I feel now.
That sets up life to be a long ride,
‘Cause I’m racing thoughts on a one-track mind.
That leaves me blind
In the tunnel vision of my indecision of;
Do I really love you?
Do I hate me?
Do I really wanna live what life is gonna make me?
Well, I’m not so sure.
But it feels like it would be better without all these words.
Meddling with what I mean to say.
And this isn’t even what I’ve been meaning to say.
I’ve got so much,
so many things to tell you.
But I hold it back to,
Keep that social contract of,
Don’t hurt me, I won’t hurt you.
And we both can hold back our honest truths.
And lie about how we’re feeling,
‘Til we’re always feeling bad.
Well, maybe I’m projecting all that.
But I can’t help looking when you look so sad
And you’re spitting blood,
from always biting your tongue.
Well, open your mouth,
Don’t let your thoughts just dribble out.
Don’t let those punches stop at my face.
And I’ll never pull mine again,
So we can push our genius out,
When they try to box us in.
So what are you waiting for?
Don’t you wanna live?
Yeah, well I know living is hard.
But now’s the time to start,
Living to be happy,
So we can throw out all that,
Outdated tragedy.
And stop,
Making life into a common enemy.
Don’t destroy yourself,
If you think it’s all so unsatisfactory.
‘Cause there’s more to life than waiting.
But I have been waiting my whole life,
For you to stop waiting for me.
But love just seems,
like such a pointless thing to me.
How can you love someone,
When you hate yourself?
So I just stumble over words,
past the gates of hell.
‘Cause God helps,
Those who help themselves.
Well, I told ‘em,
Help me help you.
‘Cause I’m having a hard time,
braking even with the odd truth,
when you say,
“Patience is a virtue”

Walden 10th Anniversary Birthday Bash!

Wednesday August 11th:

12 PM @ The Willowell Land- Capture the Flag Tournament
4 PM @ The Willowell Land - Potluck dinner & stories around the fire.
9PM @ 51 Main in Middlebury - Drinks, Music, Poetry and general merriment.

Musicians interested in performing contact Matt Schlein(willowellfoundation@earthlink.net).

Complimentary garlic, kale, bread oven & fire.

P.S. Walden friends and family welcome as is Mt. Abe Tracking Club.

Garden Days!

Anyone is welcome to help out in the Walden garden over the summer.
Wednesday's will be general garden work days and Friday's will be Herb Garden days if you are interested in learning more about herbs and what they can be used for.

Walden Diploma

Graduation

The end of the year is upon us and the seniors are getting ready to graduate. Walden graduation will be happening at 6PM on Thursday June 3 on the Willowell/Walden land in Monkton, VT. Join us for a potluck beforehand. This event is rain or shine.

Congratulations seniors!

Art Under the Stars(CANCELED)

Walden's annual Art Under the Stars event will be happening on Wednesday May 19th from 7-9PM! Explore the Walden land as it is transformed into an outdoor art gallery. Nature art and beyond. Enjoy a dessert buffet and when the sun goes down enjoy poetry and music around a glowing fire.
-The poetry reading and performance piece of the night is open to ANYONE, original content is great or bring in a piece by your favorite author to read. Musical entertainment is also very welcome.
The Walden/Willowell Land is located off Bristol rd. on Stoney Meadow Lane.
Hope to see you there!

Magicians Without Borders

This past Wednesday Tom Verner who started Magicians Without Borders came to Walden. Tom spoke about how Magicians Without Borders came to be, where it has gone, and of course performed a few of his magnificent magic tricks. Magicians Without Borders travels to refugee camps in places such as Uganda, El Salvador, and Ethiopia. They also perform for orphanages and hospitals. Tom spoke enthusiastically about all of his trips and performances. He was eager to share his experiences and ended with a flourish of rainbow tissue paper trailing from his mouth.

Dysfunction - Marcy Langlais

Lightning hits her eyes as she sits unmoved
Still out of groove
Dysfunction
Spilling from her lips
Words and lies and burned out butterflies
In her eyes - dysfunction
The time rings in her ears, a reoccurring rhyme
A rhyme of a time when she could love
When she spoke sweetly when things were gentle
Dysfunction
A rhyme of a time when things ran smoothly
When thoughts made sense
Dysfunction
A rhyme of a time long ago
Demons of the past haunting her with hallowed eyes
Cruel voices stay in the air
Dysfunction
Bringing up bad choices again
She cannot erase where shes been
Dysfunction bound in her soul
Never love never smooth never sweet never gentle
Never whole
Dysfunction

Hungry Eyes - Bridgette Bubble

Hungry eyes
Ready to please
Take me away
Simply at ease
Wild at heart
I feel their stare
Though I cannot see them
I know they are there

Karma - Ryan Delisle

You see a poor old woman sitting on the sidewalk.
Try not to listen but you hear her talk.
She asks politely to spare some change.
You have enough money and you say no, feel ashamed.
Keep walking down the street and you think some more.
Would she give you money if you were the poor?
Drive out of town the next day and crash into a ditch.
Just because karma is a ruthless bitch.

Untitled - Jonathan Davis

If I ever own a cafe I will place
one chair at each table.
When I have coffee, I want to drink alone.

Sitting with an empty chair across from me drives me insane.
It's breathing into the face of a world, a society, a foolish
expectation
that screams...

Screw you for not playing with people every moment of the day.
For not surrounding yourself with chatter.
For not commercializing every second of your life.
For not drinking your coffee in a crowd.

Being lonely no longer means that you want company.
It means not having someone else on your back
for any period longer than it takes you to shower.

It has become an introvert's nightmare,
an ocean of little orange fish all following each other.
That is why in my cafe the chairs are placed one to each table.

Walden in the Big Apple

At 7:30AM on March 22 Walden took two vans into New York City. Upon arriving and parking the vans around 2PM we walked to the Gershwin Hotel where we spent our nights and also conveniently located next to the Museum of Sex. We spent the afternoon walking through a drizzle around the Village and later sat down for a dinner of Indian cuisine. On the walk back to our hotel it poured rain. Rain coats and umbrella's made no difference, everyone was soaked.
By 10AM on Tuesday everyone was either at the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Natural History Museum. Three hours later we were on the subway headed for Little Russia in Brooklyn and Brighton Beach/Coney Island. Even though nothing was open on the boardwalk we walked out to the pier and looked back at Coney Island before it gets turned into condos. Later that evening we ventured into China Town via subway to find ourselves some dinner and delicious ice cream.
Wednesday was a bit windy but there was blue sky and the sun was shining. By 8:45AM we already walking our way to The High-Line. The High-Line is a raised park built on old train tracks used to bring dangerous trains off the streets. On our way to The High-Line we happened to pass by The Big Booty Bread Co. This prompted a few of us to stop on the street and play big booty in front of the bakery. By 5PM we were arriving back in Vergennes, VT. A successful Walden adventure to NYC!

Graveyard for Trees - Fiona Spencer

Ode to cold union of bark and scratch mark
To tangles of my hair to anxious branches
I’ve been here before, this graveyard of trees
I know you’re used for swing sets, for labyrinths for fauns and sometimes daggers
This risk is one I’m willing to take for I know the passage is dangerous
But if I pass and land somewhere among the shells of beechnuts
I will have found the much anticipated cocoon of my infancy
Like the daughter of the moon finding the last portal back to her underground home
I will leave traces of my time on earth, for those who know where to find them

Poetry - Madeline Delaney

This poem is not poetry

It cannot express everything that I feel

But it tries,

It tries to understand.

This poem is not classy

And you,

You will not be impressed

Because they are too young

And I,

I am too old to be excused.

This poem is honest

But it is far from the truth

And even I don’t know what that is,

The truth,

That is the truth.

This poem is not poetry

It is just an imitation

And though these words resemble rhythm

They cannot sing in tune

But this poem loves the sound of its lyrics

And the way they don’t always rhyme.

This poem is not poetry,

You are mimicry to me,

And I am not the person anyone thinks I am.

This poem is not an apology

But I hope you’ll forgive me

It’s not a regret

And I would never change its meaning.

This poem is not poetry,

It’s just a poem,

And you are just my muse,

But I will always love you more than this poem

This poem,

This poem is not poetry

This poem should not be about you

But it is.

This poem is not poetry

But I am.

Recent Visits

On Tuesday February 2, Walden visited Good New Garage in Burlington. We were showed the garage where they work on cars and were highly encouraged to do lots of volunteer work. We also got a quick tour of Bike Recycle Vermont, located right below GNG.

On Wednesday we had a great visitor Chris Kiely. Chris does work in oriental medicine and also teaches Tai Ji classes. Chris and Matt did a short Tai Ji demonstration although we were told that we couldn't experience it fully because most of what happens goes on inside not out.

Webs - Paulita Fysh

Thorn covered vines

across the floor they creep,

bonfire like crackling.

Blooming black roses

born brittle and

dead.

Webs on my face

hold open my

eyes.

The shadows release her,

forcing me to watch.

Twining up her legs

and around her body,

vines reach up through her hair,

she's by the door one minute,

standing over me the next.

My temperature drops.

Still, her voice,

I hear in my head.

Sound I can't make,

spider webs all over

me.

Your own

fear of death draws you in.

On my face spiders crawl,

to her arms they leap

across, together they knit

us,

by flying back and forth.

The sound of her

voice,

sends a chill up my spine.

While the webs

lock us into place,

staring at one at each other.

As the moon slithers

across the sky,

and all the stars fall asleep.

As her voice fades

I wake to find,

it all a dream.

The only

image greeting my

waking mind,

is a collage with your picture,

imbedded in it forever.

It's the first thing I look at

when I wake,

and the last before I sleep.

The webs

come back to my mind,

linking us together

across time,

across dreams,

and through the thorn,

covered,

vines.

Answers - Ryan Delisle

What happened to the day when tomorrow never came?

What happened to the player who missed out on the game?

What happened to his children?

What happened to his wife?

What happened to his body?

What happened with that knife?

What happened to his home?

What happened to his job?

What happened to the world

Where he sat on top?

Thanks!

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Walkover Gallery on Friday night!

It was a lot of fun and for anyone who missed it you can still check out the art work at the Walkover Gallery in Bristol. It will be up through February.

Untitled - Ivy Sienkiewycz

I shy away from a bursting bubble of cold air

and clutch my coffee closer,

searching for the familiar feeling that crawls down my spine,

leaving me for sleep.

But all I can feel now is

the wailing trumpet of blues

hugging me tight as if to

keep me from running out the door into

the cloudy sky and

the dim lighting that weighs on my shoulders

as if to tell me,

“slow down,

life won’t run away from you,

only you can run away from life.”

Walden at the Walkover!

The students of Walden will be presenting their art work, musical talents, poetry, and cooking skills (free food!) on Friday, January 15th at the Walkover Gallery on Main st. in Bristol from 6 - 8:30pm.

Facebook Event