Online Sewing Thurs Nov 5th 7:30

The next online sewing will be Thursday, November 5th from 7:30 to 10:00. This is not just a sewing circle, it is a general fiber make, fix, plan, and hang-out time. In December, sewing circle will be show and tell. You are welcome to bring one or many things you made and show them. Talk about the project, why you made it, what worked and what didn’t work. Please contact sewing at debatablelands dot org for the zoom information, other questions, or if you want to teach a class.

2020 SCA Census Results

The Corporate Office has released preliminary results from the 2020 SCA Census:

2020 SCA Census Results – SCA.org

The initial report of the 2020 SCA Census Results are now available.
Please click on the link for more information!

Comments are strongly encouraged and can be sent to:
SCA Inc.
Box 360789
Milpitas, CA 95036

You may also email sca-comments@lists.sca.org.

This announcement is an official informational release by the Society for Creative Anachronism , Inc.  Permission is granted to reproduce this announcement in its entirety in newsletters, websites and electronic mailing lists.

This Sunday will be another great day for Archery!

Hello Debatable Lands! Salve Accolens!

Archery has continued to be a safe and fun time for all who participated, so this weekend we’re going to do it again! And it looks like going forward, we have a schedule for the rest of the season:

Oct. 25th – Archery is ON from 11-3pm.

Nov. 1st – We’ll be taking a break for Halloween weekend.

Nov. 8th – It’ll be a Post-Halloween Pumpkin Shoot! (also from 11-3pm) Bring out your pumpkins and get ready for some fun Halloween novelty shoots.

Nov. 15th – Last shoot of the season! (Weather permitting.) Check the blog for an announcement about this one in a few weeks.


Join us this Sunday from 11am to 3pm at the home of Master Kieran and Mistress Odriana as we sharpen our skills while remaining safe and socially distanced. We will have a full range of 20, 30, and 40 yard targets.

REMINDER: Please only come to the practice if you’re there to participate in archery. We don’t want to overcrowd the site. (Remember your social distancing.)


The address of the site is 3000 Harts Run Road, Allison Park, PA 15101. To get there from the city, head north on Route 8 and make a right on Harts Run Road, then after 1 mile their house is on the right side. The driveway for the site is a small bridge. Look for the SCA sign!

Parking will be in the empty lot of Virgin Flooring (2984 Harts Run Rd on Google maps). Anyone who needs to may drive directly up to the site to drop off people or equipment before heading to the parking lot.


We want to do this as safely as possible, so the following safety and social-distancing guidelines will be put in place:

  • Masks must be properly worn at all times (covering both nose AND mouth).
  • No sharing equipment. This includes bows, arrows, gloves, armguards, etc.
  • The loaner gear will NOT be available.
  • Only the marshals can handle another person’s bow, arrows, or equipment, and only for inspections.
  • Maintain 6 ft. of separation when shooting on the line and when waiting in line to shoot. The ground will be appropriately marked with cones.
  • When retrieving arrows, only one person per target may retrieve their arrows at the same time.
  • Only one person at a time can be under the canopy at the water cooler and hand washing station.
  • Marshals will be monitoring the practice and reminding people to adhere to these guidelines.
  • This is a practice for archers only. Please do not come just to socialize.
  • DO NOT COME TO PRACTICE IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING WELL OR ARE ESPECIALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO ILLNESS
  • These rules will be posted on site and will be reviewed with everyone prior to the beginning of practice. In addition to these guidelines, I will do my best to ensure there is hand sanitizer, hand wipes, a hand washing station, etc. available for staying clean. Being considerate of the health and safety of our populace is greatly appreciated!

If anyone has additional questions or concerns regarding the practice please reach out to me at archerymarshal@debatablelands.org.

Stay safe out there!

Yours in service,
Rónán Ó Conaill
BMDL Captain of Archers

Archery Practice is ON again for this Sunday!

Archers of BMDL, greetings from your Captain! Last week’s practice was a great success, and so we’ve decided to do it again!

Join us this Sunday from 11am to 3pm at the home of Master Kieran and Mistress Odriana as we sharpen our skills while remaining safe and socially distanced. We will have a full range of 20, 30, and 40 yard targets.


The address of the site is 3000 Harts Run Road, Allison Park, PA 15101. To get there from the city, head north on Route 8 and make a right on Harts Run Road, then after 1 mile their house is on the right side. The driveway for the site is a small bridge. Look for the SCA sign!

Parking will be in the empty lot of Virgin Flooring (2984 Harts Run Rd on Google maps). Anyone who needs to may drive directly up to the site to drop off people or equipment before heading to the parking lot.


We want to do this as safely as possible, so the following safety and social-distancing guidelines will be put in place:

  • Masks must be properly worn at all times (covering both nose AND mouth).
  • No sharing equipment. This includes bows, arrows, gloves, armguards, etc.
  • The loaner gear will NOT be available.
  • Only the marshals can handle another person’s bow, arrows, or equipment, and only for inspections.
  • Maintain 6 ft. of separation when shooting on the line and when waiting in line to shoot. The ground will be appropriately marked with cones.
  • When retrieving arrows, only one person per target may retrieve their arrows at the same time.
  • Only one person at a time can be under the canopy at the water cooler and hand washing station.
  • Marshals will be monitoring the practice and reminding people to adhere to these guidelines.
  • This is a practice for archers only. Please do not come just to socialize.
  • DO NOT COME TO PRACTICE IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING WELL OR ARE ESPECIALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO ILLNESS
  • These rules will be posted on site and will be reviewed with everyone prior to the beginning of practice. In addition to these guidelines, I will do my best to ensure there is hand sanitizer, hand wipes, a hand washing station, etc. available for staying clean. Being considerate of the health and safety of our populace is greatly appreciated!

If anyone has additional questions or concerns regarding the practice please reach out to me at archerymarshal@debatablelands.org.

Stay safe out there!

Yours in service,
Rónán Ó Conaill
BMDL Captain of Archers

Forest Products Without Logging?

An environmentalist blog called “Earthbuddies” has been getting some attention for posting an article on the Japanese practice of daisugi, a method of cultivating cedar (“sugi“) trees to produce straight knot-free lumber that can be harvested without cutting down the tree.

The main trunk of the tree is pruned to create a platform (“dai“) that sends large shoots straight up into the air. These shoots can be harvested and turned into lumber, while leaving the platform tree to develop more shoots!

Read more about it in “Daisugi, The Ancient Bonsai Technique That Can Prevent Deforestation“.

(Featured image: Ryoan-ji 03.jpg by
Bernard Gagnon used under Creative Commons License)

ARCHERY PRACTICE IS BACK!

Archers of BMDL, the moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally here! This Sunday from 11am-3pm, archery practice is back on! (though not in the usual place)

Given the current state of things, we will NOT be having practice at the Washington Blvd site where we can’t control who shows up or who follows our social-distancing rules. But thanks to the generous offer of Mistress Odriana and Master Kieran, we can use the field next to their house, which has ample space for all of our stick-throwing needs!

*NOTE: At this time, we are asking that only the archers attend this practice. If you aren’t there to shoot, then please do not attend. In addition, loaner gear will not be provided.


The address of the site is 3000 Harts Run Road, Allison Park, PA 15101. To get there from the city, head north on Route 8 and make a right on Harts Run Road, then after 1 mile their house is on the right side. The driveway for the site is a small bridge. Look for the SCA sign!

Parking will be at the empty lot next door (2984 Harts Run Rd on Google maps). Anyone who needs to may drive directly up to the site to drop off people or equipment before heading to the parking lot.


We want to do this as safely as possible, so the following safety and social-distancing guidelines will be put in place:

  • Masks must be properly worn at all times (covering both nose AND mouth).
  • No sharing equipment. This includes bows, arrows, gloves, armguards, etc.
  • The loaner gear will NOT be available.
  • Only the marshals can handle another person’s bow, arrows, or equipment, and only for inspections.
  • Maintain 6 ft. of separation when shooting on the line and when waiting in line to shoot. The ground will be appropriately marked.
  • When retrieving arrows, only one person per target may retrieve their arrows at the same time.
  • Only one person at a time can be under the canopy at the water cooler and hand washing station.
  • Marshals will be monitoring the practice and reminding people to adhere to these guidelines.
  • This is a practice for archers only. Please do not come just to socialize.
  • DO NOT COME TO PRACTICE IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING WELL OR ARE ESPECIALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO ILLNESS

These rules will be posted on site and will be reviewed with everyone prior to the beginning of practice. In addition to these guidelines, I will do my best to ensure there is hand sanitizer, hand wipes, a hand washing station, etc. available for staying clean. Being considerate of the health and safety of our populace is greatly appreciated!

If anyone has additional questions or concerns regarding the practice please reach out to me at archerymarshal@debatablelands.org.

Stay safe out there!

Yours in service,
Rónán Ó Conaill
BMDL Captain of Archers

Business Meeting tonight – 10/7/2020

Greetings Noble Populace,

Please find the enclosed information for the Zoom Meeting this evening. Also, find the Minutes from the August Business Meeting and the Agenda for the October Business Meeting in the following google drive location.

All future confirmed minutes & Agendas will be available by this same link.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hEGCojOZ4_zawYKdOqYymlYq1ne9IesP?usp=sharing

If you are unable to access or have questions, Please contact me directly.

Yours in service,
Muirgheal, Seneschal Debatable

muirgheall@gmail.com or see the Dark Pages for my contact information.

…..
BMDL Business Meeting
Time: Oct 7, 2020 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/99466943399?pwd=UWlBWFA5YmozY3JBcTNIaHZpMmVEZz09

Meeting ID: 994 6694 3399

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Meeting ID: 994 6694 3399
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Sad Tidings

We are very saddened to pass along the news that Sir Thorgrim from our neighbors to the north, has passed away.

We offer our deepest condolences and wishes for peace to Mistress Katla, his children, household, family and friends. He was a great influence on our region and the Kingdom, and he will be missed.

Information about final arrangements, including memorial donations can be found here: https://www.welchfh.com/obituary/JamesRoland-GurnseyJr

UPDATE – ARCHERY AND THROWN WEAPONS PRACTICE! EQUSTRIAN PRACTICE!

Good Gentles All, Greetings from Muirgheal ingheah Dubhghaill.

I have the express delight to tell you that we have been given permission to hold socially distant Archery, Thrown Weapons, and Equestrian Practices. These will require that everyone holds to the CDC advised masks, hand washing, 6 foot distance, and not attending if they have felt ill or taken care of anyone feeling ill. A list of requirements and scheduling will come from the marshals shortly so that we are all aware of what is expected.

In that regard, we have been gifted the use of a private site that will help us better control who comes and goes from our practices. However, Lady Jasmine had one of her oxen die and the field we would use remains unprepared for use. [Transition, her riding mower requires repair and the large field needs a good cutting. It’s about mid-calf high].

If any gentle might have the ability to tend to the field for Lady Jasmine, that enabling the Barony to have Archer and Throwing practices; please contact either her or reach out to me. Her information is in the dark pages.

If we have a gentle that might be able to assist her with repairs to her clockwork, please reach out to her directly. I understand there was something about a belt that requires maintenance.
Thank you in advance.
Muirgheal , Seneschal Debatable.

muirgheall@gmail.com
724-683-7558