Author: Mark Russ

‘You call them interesting times, I call them scary!’ Elaine is 92, volunteers at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, and is a veteran of many a march for peace and environmental issues. Unable to walk in the People’s Climate March in NYC, she was delighted that we’d managed to be there. Never, in all her… Continue reading A Queer (Quaker) Response to Climate Change →

Postcard I can’t quite believe it, but we’ve reached the mid-point of our time in the States. We’re here for eighty days and we’ve just reached day forty. The air has gotten a little chillier and the trees are noticeably changing colour. On Saturday the community got together to chop and stack wood, piling it… Continue reading A Purposeful Adventure – Beacon Hill Friends House →

'I smell of entrails.' So said our friend Eric Bear after an afternoon of gutting, skinning and jointing a roadkill fawn. Walking past, Noah sees what's going on, takes off his shirt and joins in the deer-fest. Bear, who is almost always shirtless, said they looked like 'two schluppy Jews.' [They're both Jewish]. The fawn's… Continue reading Graceful adventures in food →

Whilst it seems that everyone in the UK has been shivering away, we’ve been basking in glorious sunshine with the unfortunate addition of being bitten by various beasties. We’re really part of the team now here at the Quaker Intentional Village – Canaan. Our contribution is clearly valued, and we’re finding ways to offer our… Continue reading It’s Labor Day! Anarchy anyone? →

Our second week at the Quaker Intentional Village – Canaan has been filled to the brim with good things. We were treated to breakfast in Chatham with Jens, one of the community founders, and Dianne, a good friend and advisor of the community. I had French toast for the first time, and Adrian barely survived chowing… Continue reading Exiting Empire, step by step →

The eve before our flight from Heathrow, Adrian reflected that in the London marathon it can take almost 45 minutes for those at the back to get to the starting line. All our planning, Skype-ing, packing and spreadsheets have been those 45 minutes, and we’re ready to begin. Our journey hereAfter being fed and watered… Continue reading Arriving at the Quaker Intentional Village →

It’s only just over a fortnight since school broke up for the summer, but it already feels like a lifetime ago. We’ve spent the last couple of weeks with our families, travelling around England and making the most of the glorious sunshine. We ventured up to Stanage Edge in the Peak District, surrounded by purple… Continue reading The Purposeful Adventure begins! →

Here's my first ever vlog! To kick off our 'purposeful adventure', here's me explaining exactly what we're doing, why we're doing it, and what an intentional community is.

On Friday I facilitated a session with the new cohort of students on the Young Adult Leadership Programme at the Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre. This course, now in its third year, aims to support 18-30 year old Quakers in developing the skills and knowledge necessary to take on leadership roles within the Society of Friends.… Continue reading Spiritual Grounding →

Our London life is gradually being packed in to boxes. As our long goodbye picks up speed, London recedes into the distance, slipping like sand through our fingers. Amidst the to-do lists, farewell drinks and creeping sadness, I want to crystallise some of the theory that will underpin our explorations over the year. Before we… Continue reading New Monasticism for Quakers →