Newsletter 7/7/21

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

Catbird lands on the porch railing just outside the open screen door, peers inside, and begins to chatter, to speak. A sing-song-soliloquy of non-repeating phrases. A vocal marvel. A sudden, wild interjection. The human conversation around the table on our side of the screen door stops short as Catbird calls our attentions out through the doorway – into the mosquito-thick dusk – by stopping the merry-go-round of exclusively-human concerns and plans with its endless dizzying turning and its familiar music. Who said what to whom and what do you think they meant by that? How will we schedule this or that in a fast-filling-up post-pandemic summer? Did you ever notice how little of what we discuss resides here with us in the present, in this Rain-wetted green landscape? Did you hear Crickets tuning up for their summer songs yesterday as Sun pushed warmth into the Ground after days of cool and damp? Or see Fireflies dance the meadow on the first warm and rainless evening in days? Thank goodness for you, Catbird. For putting your stake in the ground on behalf of this moment when we are here, together in this place. For your reminder to make beauty – to contribute recklessly to beauty – where and when you are alive. Not for posterity or security or any kind of assurance that things will work out tomorrow. Rather, Catbird, you seem to sing for the sake of any, or all, who might be breathing and listening on this clear evening – for any who might need a reminder of the way back home.

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We are thrilled to invite you to join us for Soup and Bread Gift Distribution this Friday 4-6pm. We will have many hundreds of loaves of Fresh Bread and over a hundred quarts of some very fine Soup, all offered as a gift to anyone who is hungry for any reason. We will also have the Stand set up for self-service on Saturday and Sunday, or until the food is gone. As Erik has taken on the role of lead soup maker from me these past weeks, and so it is easier for me to extend lavish praise for the Soup. Erik has worked some magic again this week with the overflow harvests gifted to us from some of our partner Farms. Fresh Basil and Mint, Cucumbers, Swiss Chard, Garlic Scapes and our rich, smoky Beef Bone Broth combine to make a cool and nourishing pureed Summer Soup. The Soup carries the aromas of the Summer Garden. Enjoy cold, room-temp or warm. Add cream, milk, yogurt or sour cream if you wish. We have increased our Soup production considerably, and we would love your help distributing this food. Do you have a neighbor or co-worker who would appreciate receiving a gift? Please take a couple of quarts to pass along. We are blessed by an abundance of food right now to give away.

All of this incoming produce requires a lot of hands to wash, sort, chop, roast, boil and season into Soup. The gardens need weeding and planting for Fall harvest, and fences are being built and repaired every day as the Cows and Sheep graze their way across the abandoned grass meadows of the village, gleaning Grass and making bone, muscle, fat and wool as they go. We have been short on hands for our Sunday Work Days the past few weeks and we are noticing that the Farm and the Farmers are feeling your absence. The place is longing for your generous presence. We welcome you to join us for our Work Day this Sunday from 1-4 pm for Soup Making(bring a knife and cutting board), Garden Work, Burdock Pulling(bring a pointed shovel if you have one), and Pasture Projects(wear long pants and shoes).

Our work is sustained by your generous financial Gifts. We have about $4200 to go to reach our July Budget Request. Find the detailed spreadsheet below. If you would like to make a gift to sustain our work, you can do so HERE.

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Here is what you will find in this Letter:

1. FINANCIAL GIFT REQUEST – Detailed July 2021 Budget

With Great Care, 

Ava, Erika, Kristen, Erik, Collin, Evan and Adam – The Brush Brook Community Farm Team

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BUDGET UPDATE: Thank you for considering the July Budget

Many heartfelt thanks to all who have responded to these invitations by sending in Financial Gifts. If you would like to support our work, you can mail checks made out to Brush Brook Community Farm to PO Box 202, Huntington, VT, 05462, bring gifts to the Gift Stand, or donate through the website. We are 100% financially supported by these personal financial gifts.