Monastery Workday 2009 - Invite Your Friends

Seventh Annual Clear Creek Monastery Workday and Pig Roast, March 7, 2009
7:30 AM Coffee and Breakfast Snacks
8:30 AM Disperse to work sites
12:00 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Disperse to work sites
5:00 PM Return Tools and Supplies

Vespers is at 6:00 if you are still around.

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We had a great turnout last year. Bodies do make a difference. The more we have the more fun the event is for everyone. Even if you can only do light duty or serve a meal or eat a meal with us, please, show up. Bring a lawn chair and watch the younger ones work (remember, they have chain saws, so do not taunt them).

It will be a great time!
The workday is coming up fast. The supplies are being purchased for another great meal. We have 10 lambs and a 200 lb pig, Bama Pie biscuits and pies and other staples will energize you for the second half of the day. We will be eating in the the old monastery - the big log cabin with a large wraparound porch. Regardless of the weather (the monks are working on the weather, by the way), lunch will be great.

I am betting we will have food left over for dinner for those that stay this year. Make a weekend of it. Come on down Friday. We will be there early Friday morning until Sunday afternoon. There is plenty of room for sleeping bags and cots.

I need your help recruiting people.
Have them go to the website and sign up with the instructions below. Bring a group of friends. Invite strangers and make friends. Bring your family - tell them it is a picnic - lie. They will have so much fun, they will forget what you told them.


Unusual Request - Donated Supplies NEEDED!!!
Some supplies to help beautify the grounds (and, honestly, feed a lot of sheep) are a little out of the routine budget of the farm operation (he cannot spend anymore than he makes - buy a sheep while you're there). The supplies needed are grass seed and weed killer. Either Br. Joseph (918-772-2454) or I (918-906-8600 or email) will facilitate the purchase of these supplies, if this is something you do not have around the house.

Immediate needs "beyond the budget"......
6 Rolls of 32 inch field fencing, 330 foot long, $135.00 per roll.
Sahara (brand) Weed Killer - as many as 5 - (10 lb) - $135 sacks of this for the fencelines.
White Clover (Common Ladino - Durano is better) - immediate need is 100 lbs, could use 500 lbs. $198.00 per 50 lbs with inoculant.
4 Seal Kits for the large truck - $450.00
Lighting for the Maintenance Barn - $250.00
Cattle Panels to be used as gates - $250.00

Other grasses they plant....
Perennial Rye Grass (Pasture Rye) - immediate need 250 lbs, could use 1000 lbs.
Korean Lespedeza - immediate need 250 lbs, could use 1000 lbs.

Other Donated Tools Needed
The monks are always willing to take any of your old yard tools, shop tools, leaf blowers (used to fight fires), weed sprayers, seeders, handsaws, chain saws, limb saws and whatever else you might think they can use. Working sheep dogs and old Toyota pickups have proven useful, as well. Scrap metal, wiring and some other odd supplies have also found a renewed purpose at the monastery. They are quite creative. Call them if you have a question about a donation, 918-772-2454, or bring it down on the workday.

Workday Expenses....
Farm Supplies funded from Farm Income for this workday.....
40,000 feet of fence wire, ground rods, underground wire, splicers and tighteners for the electric fence - $965.20.
Energizers for the electric fence, insulators, and freight - $1,900.43.
Worker Safety Whistles - $100.00 - Donations
Workguide Safety Vests - $150.00, donated by Paul and Marsha Bukofser.
Sucker Rod for the electric fence - $450.00

Food for the event....
250 lb pig - donated by the Mike Lawless Family
Second 250 lb pig - $250 from Knights of Columbus Council 1104 donation.
140 lbs of Brisket - $250 from Knights of Columbus Council 1104 donation.
200+ lbs of lamb (hind quarters of 10 sheep) - donated by the Monastery $1000.
Biscuits and Pies - Bama Pie Donation, Tim Lutz - $200
Miscellaneous other groceries - Farm income and Monastery, $800.00.


NEW TEAMS THIS YEAR!!!
We have a couple of special needs this year. First we need at least three people with hip waders to help with repairing and replacing four water gaps. The heavy rains have washed them all out.
Second, if we get the seed, we will have 5 gallon cans with holes in them to spread the seed, unless we get some of you to bring seeders. Every size will be useful, from hand spreaders to four wheeler spreaders to tractor spreaders.
Third, I need people with weed sprayers, preferably the ones you can pull behind a four wheeler or tractor, with experience using the weed killer.


Sign up on the website. please!
At this point, if you have not already done so, I would like every worker or a parent to go to the monastery workday website and register themselves or their child for the workday. If this could be done by February 4th it would be appreciated. Instructions are as follows:
Go to www.monasteryworkday.com
(1) Register as a new user.
(2) Select USER INFO and complete your user information.
(3) Next go to the SKILLS and EQUIPMENT sections of the site, and input all relevant information as well.
(4) Next go to the EVENTS section and register for the March 8 workday (If you are a work guide and or need additional community service hours register for the Feb 23 pre-workday Event, as well).
In addition to clicking on the menu across the top, you can click on the headers for NEWS, DOCUMENTS and VIDEOS to see additional information.

Here are some suggestions on what to bring:

Clothes: Plan for the weather to change during the day from cold to hot to colder to wet. Bring a good set of work gloves (leather preferred but not mandatory); boots; hats; rain gear/poncho (just in case); The monk's are working on good weather.

Tools: Chainsaw, chainsaw oil, fuel and extra chains. (In my unit you must be 18+ years to use a chainsaw) bow saws/limb saws, limb cutters/pruners, wire cutters, hand pliers, fence pliers, Bring walkie-talkies if you have them.

Four wheelers are useful for the workday however they can only be used by their owners for work and transportation of equipment. Trailers will be useful for hauling wood, rock, supplies and people.

Safety: Sun block, Chap Stick; and insect repellant (lots of deer-lots of ticks), I suggest eye and ear protection especially if operating equipment.

Food & Drink: I am asking that every worker bring their own preferred drinks and few snacks for the day. Remember a great lunch of roasted pig and lamb will be provided. Each driver should bring an ice chest for the drinks because with all the tools, space will be limited.

I am sure I am forgetting something. All suggestions are welcome. If you have any questions please contact me.

Dan Doyle
918-906-8600
DanielBDoyle@aol.com