Down on Andy's Farm, Burning the (K)not

I had the pleasure of being invited to what was coined 'Burning Knot' on the (Organic) Grant Family Farm estate in Wellington, CO which boasts the largest CSA, (Community Supported Agriculture), shares in the country. We were intent on celebrating for the people who were not going to Burning Man this year, and who love Andy Grant & family and his gracious hospitality, & knack for throwing some fantastic parties! Holy cow!

How can I even begin to describe Andy's home? It is stunningly beautiful to say the least. A funky farm house, turned into an entertainer's dream! You can tell immediately that these men love to cook & eat here! Beautiful, richly-colored heirloom tomatoes, huge glassy globes of onions, seven inch wide eggplants & fresh pulled carrots ladened the counter-tops as Andy & his partners Nik and Mike fixed two giant turkeys, and a farm stew. His dinning room was filled with jars of all sizes containing pickled beans, beets, and other kinds of vegetables & preserves. Pies cooled on racks above the oven. It was a busy kitchen indeed. The evening meal for Saturdays party was prepared all day long by Boulder chef Becky Jackson, Andy, his partners and our fellow burners. Its hard not to feel like a king, eh-hem I mean queen-- eating a spread containing an enormous beef heart, ribs, chicken, turkey & wood-fired pizzas not to mention the most delicious artichokes, fresh carrots & pickles. Even homemade pie for dessert.




We were walking around Andy's house taking it all in. The grounds & gardens were vast and well manicured. Tables and benches dotted the gardens, and a huge Tee-pee rose up in the distance. There were swans swimming in the pond, a pack of dogs running free. You could hear the chickens clucking in their cages, not too far away are the livestock pens. People had begun arriving from all over and setting up Bedouin tents on the outskirts & playing games. Jennie Lockheart & I glitter-ized ourselves and got ready for the festivities, as they were beginning at sun-down.


Andy had three school buses painted in flowers, one in vegetables and another in peace signs and sayings. We took the peace bus into town to pick up our friends and fellow burning man people. Playing poi, and having a few beers! It was a fun ride through town, and of course Fort Collins loved us.


The Burning of the 'Bridge' & the 'Knot' ceremony & dance party. Beautiful fire dances, hoopers, glow and fire poi spinners and drummers. The bridge symbolized many things. Reminding us of the need to burn some bridges, being conscious of bridges you may burn and as a flaming example of a 'bridge' in time-space from the here, to the now.




Dance Party 2009 in the electric tent!

There was a masseuse on site for massages in the bird, and tropical plant conservatory..Thats where Andy was later in the evening. We all had a great time in celebration. I can't wait for my next visit!