The River Speaks to Us

Dear Riverbank Neighbors, 
What a fine, fierce time! The edge of the season sharpens our senses and ‘tunes our tongues”.  We have a Riverbank stewardship day coming up, Saturday, November 13, 2021, 10:00 until noon. In the meantime, our friend Jovi dropped off a pile of wood chips at the end of Berteau Street. I didn’t want to reject this offer. I thought it would be great to “dress” the paths before winter with an additional 2-3 inches of fresh chips would help make the paths more welcoming. So, I will leave a wheelbarrow and shovel near the pile so that anyone wanting a bit of exercise can shovel, haul and spread a few loads. 

I also want to welcome back Brendon, former intern and Riverbank leader who has moved back to the neighborhood with his partner  AnaLucia and their young child Tamia. Brendon has been putting in extra hours pruning and trimming and will be helping lead work days through the Fall. 
 I wanted to share with you a little story of the season that I wrote. I’ve already shared it with the Waters School ecology volunteer list, but wanted to also provide it to our riverbank families, as an alternative to the often horrific bloody mayhem that is offered up in the broader culture during this mysterious, poignant time. 

Spirit Story

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dO7T12xBOXcpQ46CoIG451fBXqT3QJJ0/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106378463126061823166&rtpof=true&sd=true

Hope to see you soon, 

Pete

Dear Riverbank Neighbors!

A reminder invitation to join us by the river tomorrow at noon to do some essential maintenance work on a glorious Fall Day. Meet  at Berteau street and the river. Bring your favorite gloves and hand pruners, or, if not, we will provide. 
Hope to see you there, 
Pete

fall-equinox

Dear RBN Friends,
The Fall Equinox is here, marking another milestone in our celestial cycle. Equal parts night and day. The Sun rising directly east and setting directly west. The Lakefront is the best place to welcome the Sunrise, and Horner Park hill not a bad place to watch it set. Today it will be cloudy and windy, but above the clouds the movement of the Sun goes on. However you mark this day, know that you are linked to billions on earth who recognize it as a unifying moment.

I want to propose the following days for Stewardship along the River. 
Saturday Oct 2, 10-1:00
Sunday, Oct 17, 12:00 – 2:00
Saturday, November 13, 10 – 1:00
Meet down at Berteau Street and the river!

Be well, 
Pete

Below are previous messagesRiverbank Workday this morning, Sat, Aug 21st 8-10 at Berteau, the east side of the river.
 
Above is an illustration to show how many different paths a river has taken over many many years. Meandering is in a river’s nature. Faster water flow on the outside of a curve causes erosion, slower water on the inside of the curve, deposition, meandering and pinching off horseshoe lakes.  This pattern can be seen from the air or land in every floodplain for natural rivers.  The Chicago river used to do this before it was straightened.  But its not in its nature to go in a straight line.