During our first two winters, we lacked the infrastructure to stay at Lotus Chapel through the winter. The original house was torn down and is still being rebuilt. The new roof that was finished in April of 2021 allowed us to get through this winter more comfortably.  Our board members Mashida Shabazz and Joshua Smith-Lunger braved the elements – freezing temperatures, roads blocked by snow, frozen pipes,  and minimal heat. They were determined to prove it is possible to live at the retreat center all year.  The new construction is not yet insulated, but our sleeping bags and fires in the chapel fireplace provided enough warmth.

Joshua built a cover for the generator with vents to protect against piles of snow blocking the exhaust system. He also used donated barrels to build a barrel stove to insert into the downstairs chimney, but it was not efficient enough to heat uninsulated spaces. The upstairs fireplace, in the insulated chapel, with working blowers works far better.

The retreat center shares a seasonal spring with neighbors. During our first two years it flowed from the first heavy rains until late October, except when the pipes froze. When pipes froze we used to buy water from a machine outside a market down the mountain in Laytonville, but this year our neighbor Rob tapped into his aquifer and ran a water line down to our driveway for easy access. Now we need to connect that line to our storage tanks and irrigation system.

We are also grateful for the support we have already received from a number of devotees:

1. Eugene Scott, of Opportunity Farm in Myrtle Creek, OR, donated seeds and food.
2. Charlie and Julie Tilt, of Hummingbird Wholesale (organic foods), set up a wholesale account for LCRRC, and donated significant food and materials along with our bulk order that enabled us to get through the winter.
3.  Sherwin Stradling and Jeff Curry of Elfrida Golden Lotus community in southeastern  Arizona,  acquired, collected and donated tools and a small trailer.

All these experiences have helped us prioritize our needs so that we may welcome you more comfortably when we are open, April through October. 

We have most of the necessary tools, expertise and resources to do this.  We need  your support to complete a few projects. We have begun booking retreats for this season and welcome your participation in our spiritual life and development.