It’s Monday evening, and Mango, Nightingale’s resident cat, is staring into the blackberries, alert to a sound that only she can hear over the voices at the regular Monday night residents’ meeting. At the meeting all the residents gather to create a supply list and develop a schedule for work parties and gate duty. Gate duty runs from 10am to 4pm. The gate attendant’s role is to greet our neighbors who drop by donations of all types, from fresh food from their gardens and other treats like cookies on Mondays to clothes and blankets. The gate attendant also does chores and keeps an eye on the camp. Nightingale also accepts cans and bottles, so the gate duty person offers assistance to them.
While the gate attendant is on duty all the other residents are offsite, either working, looking for work, or engaged in the necessities of life. Monday evening is then devoted to the meeting, the grateful acceptance of the meals that our friend Joella faithfully brings and finally, sleep in their secure Conestogas.