Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/1515290
Page 24 | Abby's Magazine | instagram.com/abbyshealthfood To be completely honest, I'm not sure we really knew what our farm would look like 5, 10 years down the road, when Abby and I were dreaming and discussing our plans for the farm. Having visited several community farms in the area, I think we saw more of what we didn't want to be, instead of a model or something to shoot for. The closest I experienced was the Orange County Community Farm in Irvine, Ca while visiting my daughter for the birth of our first grandson (had two granddaughters at the time). It was a multi-purposed Educational Venue that was a unique partnership between private and government funding. Many of our initiatives were birthed from that visit because it offered such a diverse visual and experiential adventure in growing food. Additionally, they had solar/wind exhibits as well as a variety of growing mediums. While our lovely farm has been developed to include most of that model… the things we have become that were unexpected, would seem to be the most profound: A safe, healthy place… there were a lot of lessons learned during the COVID medical/social experiment. Not the least of which was that our members enjoyed a safe, healthy place to be outdoors, working with their hands and enjoying the community of other likeminded people. A haven of healing… physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually… I can't tell you how many of our folks simply describe the farm as their "happy place"! Special times with children and grandchildren, parents spending time with adult children and some just busying themselves to decompress from the issues of crazy lives. A place of adventure and wonderment… as a child growing up, my most precious memories were of visiting my great grandfather's farm in Indiana. It left an indelible mark and love for the wonder of growing food and caring for farm animals. You can see it in the eyes of students that visit or are part of the farm, that they will be forever influenced by this healthy adventure. The great escape… Very few experiences can offer a total escape from the "speed of life" that we often find ourselves. Farming has its own time clock and is not in a hurry about anything. Planting seeds, seedlings or making compost… all have their own schedule that WE must abide by. This dramatic departure from the way the rest of the world operates, is magical for us to transform into that world and operate within its parameters. The trees, the bees, the butterflies, the bugs, the wind, the rain… at every different time of the day, it's a different experience. "The Oxen is slow… but the Earth is patient" A world view, literally… I've written many times about the fact that our farm volunteers are from all over the world, representing at least 5 continents, dozens of countries, and The Future of Farming Visit our site to learn, contribute and/or volunteer! Visit our site to learn, contribute and/or volunteer! Visit our site to learn, contribute and/or volunteer! Visit our site to learn, contribute and/or volunteer! abbysfarm.org abbysfarm.org abbysfarm.org abbysfarm.org abbysfarm.org abbysfarm.org More an a More an a Community Farm Community Farm By David Housefield