Summer Gathering 2024
Cross Quarter Club is a creative seasonal living club for gardeners and nature lovers based in York County, Pennsylvania. Founded in the winter of 2022 , CQC cultivates spaces to come together, slow down, embrace the season, learn something new, and just to be. There are no entry or membership requirements to join. Our events are rooted in the neo-pagan Wheel of the Year, and we affirm that living in close connection with the rhythms of the natural world is part of our universal shared heritage as humans. CQC is a secular, welcoming, inclusive group for women and non-binary people of any age, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
Our third Midseason Gathering of 2024 was held on Sunday, August 4th at the pavilion at Yoe Park in Yoe Borough, Pennsylvania. This season, we tried something new and hosted a Club Social in addition to our summer Sharing Table tradition of a Garden Bounty Share. Read on for a complete recap!
Welcome + Introductions
Once everyone had arrived, we took a moment to ground and orient ourselves in the season with a short reading from Fiona Cook’s lovely book, The Wheel of the Year: An Illustrated Guide to Nature’s Rhythms. Lughnasadh is the midpoint between the Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox and celebrates the first fruits of the harvest, kicking off the harvest season that lasts from August through October.
Next, we took a few minutes to get to know each other! As an introvert, I am not the biggest fan of icebreakers, but I cherish this time for Cross Quarter Club! For our introductions, we share our name, where we’re from, how we spend our days and one thing we’re excited about this season. I love hearing what everyone else is passionate about, and there are always interesting connections that come from taking this time to learn more about each other.
Seasonal Snacks + Drinks
Next, we took a break to dig into refreshments. A beautiful spread of seasonally-inspired snacks, baked goods, and drinks has become a Cross Quarter Club tradition! On the menu this summer was an assortment of fresh garden salads, crudites, stone fruits, and homemade sourdough, with gf peach crisps for dessert!
Breakout Sessions + Reflections
For our main activity this summer, we broke out into small groups and discussed three questions related to our club’s focus on seasonal living. Each attendee had three colored dots on their name tag, with each color corresponding to their randomized small group assignment for each round. With this format, we were able to mix and mingle and also have the space to have deeper conversations and share interesting ideas. It was exciting to see conversation flowing and connections being made as we relaxed into the summer afternoon. We took another short break, then came back together around the big center table to share reflections on the discussion group experience, and also have an open Q&A session, where we could share knowledge and ideas with each other.
Garden Bounty Share
We conclude each Midseason Gathering with The Sharing Table, where we put our club values of reciprocity and community care into practice. Each person is encouraged to bring 1 item for the table, but it’s not a transactional thing — it’s no issue if someone doesn’t have anything to share, just like it’s no issue if someone has an abundance to share! Everyone gets a chance to “shop” the Sharing Table before they leave. Our official theme the last 3 summers has been a Garden Bounty Share, but other items have always been welcome too. More and more we are leaning into this practice, bringing whatever we have to share, whether that’s books, plants, produce, homemade bath & body products, a favorite recipe, or home decor items. The Sharing Table really is an evolving ritual we have created together and something that I really treasure and enjoy!
Read my blog post: The Story of the Sharing Table
Thank you to Sara Hummer for creating this abundant display of summer florals for our gathering! Also, thank you to Anya Peters of Hedgerow Photography, who is capturing all of our Midseason gatherings this year.
