Women's Drumming Circle at Fernwood Folk Festival

Diana, Melinda, Marj, Leann, Peggy, Gretchen, Kimberly and Susan!

Fernwood Botanical Gardens and Nature Preserve was a gorgeous setting. We had an appreciative audience for our 45-minute set under the big red-striped tent. Many thankd to Riversong Music Society for inviting us to sing at the Fernwood Folk Festival! SPECIAL THANKS to Ellen Triebold for taking care of the CD sales booth, to Diana for bringing the Belize Project display, to Susan for taking the pictures, to Bill Ginn for videotaping, and to Patrick Ohmann for setting up our gear!

Performing at Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve on the St. Joseph River seemed apropos for the Women's Drumming Circle, since recording our CD, "As The River We Flow," was part of a fundraising effort to supply a solar-powered water purification system for the remote village of Toledo, Belize, whose women walk long distances to obtain water from a river, which they carry back home on their heads. They must then boil the water to make it safe to drink.

The Belize Water Project began as part of a Women's Conference held in South Bend last January. Many of the members of the Women's Drumming Circle were on the committee to organize the conference, and the crowd of over 200 women helped support the cause by buying this CD. The Chorus was formed out of the Circle to help promote the CD and to continue to raise funds for the project. To date, we have raised over $2700, which will fund at least the one system for this village. Our efforts continue to help the people of Belize in similar ways.

Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve

Fernwood offers a unique opportunity for environmental study and enjoyment. Within Fernwood's 105 acres there is a 55 acre Nature Preserve, a 5 acre reconstructed prairie, 8 acres of gardens, a 40 acre naturalistic Arboretum, and 3 miles of hiking trails. Fernwood's gardens are developed and managed to be compatible with its nature preserve and environmental education efforts. No pesticides are used and wildlife is commonplace. The nature preserve itself offers varied habitats, as it backs up to the St. Joseph river and includes dry upland forest, wet lowland forest, springs, creeks, and ponds.

Admission fees are $4 for adults, $3 for seniors over 65, $2 for students between 13 and 19, and $1 for children 6 to 13. Children 5 and under, as well as members, are free.

Fernwood Folk Festival

This annual Festival, held in June, is sponsored by Riversong Music Society, and many of the regular Riversong members perform as well!

Photos © 2001 Susan Siemers. Click on a picture to see the larger version:

Melinda and Kimberly	getting ready to go on stage	Susan in the gardens
Leann	Susan	Melinda
Melinda, Leann and Susan	Peggy, Gretchen and Kimberly	Diana
froggies!	ooohh...	ahh.....
quiet time for Melinda	Susan next to the water	enjoying the woods