[Gristmillers] Integrity / TIMS America Workshop Partnership?

[cen66133 at centurytel.net]

Millers:
In the year 2000, I became interested in blacksmithing. Very early on, I 
stumbled upon a web site called Anvilfire, that included a live chat 
room for blacksmiths.  There are now two such chat rooms (Iforgeiron now 
being the most active one) in which people can chat about blacksmithing 
and other things.  People from Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, 
and China regularly talk there.  We have gotten to be old friends now.

After a year of this on-line chatting, we started discussing the 
possibility of meeting in "the real world".  There was a lot of hemming 
and hawing, so I finally just opened my big mouth and said I would host 
a gathering.  I think the first one was in 2001.  My place is not all 
that close to anywhere, but it has the advantage of being big, 
comfortable, interesting and FREE. Because of the kind of museum we have 
grown into, we have a lot of capacities for doing work on old equipment 
and artifacts.  Often you have to restore a tool to use to restore 
another one - but that is part of the fun.  Our Blacksmithing Hammer in 
is April 10-11th this year.  

Bringing our online association into a set of real world contacts has 
been very life enriching for the blacksmiths.  We have folks from 
Oklahoma, Illinois, Texas and Mississippi who come every year.  They are 
now bringing their friends.  I try to make the whole weekend as cheap as 
possible for everyone.  We sometimes gather up an "importation fee" for 
guys that come from distance, just so they know we really want them 
here, even if we have to pay to haul them in.  Some of the most regular 
participants drive 4 to 5 hours to get here, some 8, some twelve.  Some 
come and stay for a week.

In the years we have been doing this, I have never heard one cross 
word.  We sit around a fire at night and I have regularly laughed till I 
was sore.  Folks bring home made wine, or home made beer, and pots of 
food.  I usually make Gumbo, Spaghetti, and Red Beans, so no one goes 
hungry.  Everything is in my yard, the beds and food are free and I have 
noticed that, though there is some commerce, most folks spend the 
weekend teaching, helping, and making gifts for each other.  Folks often 
insist on leaving something to help with my costs - often enough that I 
have never spent as much as $100 on a weekend.

Out of these gatherings grew the idea of our Foundation "Community 
Days".  We now host get togethers when all the tinkers and artists can 
come and do their thing together and learn from each other.  Many warm 
friendships have grown up and my association with these blacksmiths has 
been one of the most enriching of my life.

I give you all this history as background, just in case there is 
interest in having a get together for millers.  It might be a very good 
thing.  My offer stands to host it - but we just have to see if there 
are enough folks "in range" who would like to participate.  I do not 
have a local group who is into milling.  My mill often sits idle on 
community days cause I don't have anyone to operate it.

This is just an offer for all of you to consider.  I have PLENTY to do 
without adding more, but I am willing to take on the project if there is 
interest.  We can have fun in any case - but we do need someone with 
some experience and knowledge to help us fix and repair RIGHT.  I think 
John Bailey would be worth an importation fee.

Anybody up for a "Grind In"?

Joe Rolfe
Starr Homeplace
Link to our web site: www.Starrhomeplace.org 
<http://starrfest.org/pandemoniafoundation/index.htm>
Link about blacksmithing hammer in:  Blacksmiths Hammer In 
<http://starrfest.org/pandemoniafoundation/specialevents1.html>
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