Newsletter 8/11/21

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

Adam here. I was asked to do an interview with Ric Cengeri for his radio show Vermont Viewpoint last week. You can listen to the interview HERE. Ric had clearly done some research on the Farm and asked some interesting questions, including: 

   How is the model sustainable? And: 

   Can you imagine a point when there won’t be any expenses on the Farm? 

Questions such as these have those of us on the Farm Team thinking, or realizing, how difficult it can be to succinctly describe the work we do here at Brush Brook Community Farm. Surely there are daily chores and activities such as grazing Sheep and Cows, growing and gleaning Vegetables, baking Bread, conversing and negotiating with the various landowners and gift partners, hosting Feasts, Gift Distributions, the Scythe School and Work Days, writing this Newsletter. But underlying these labors lies a more elusive question:

   What does it mean? 

For the past sixteen months I’ve been writing these long-winded, weekly accounts of the stories, longings, and questions we encounter as we work and gather here at the Farm. There is a lot to wonder about in a time of cascading ecological and social troubles, and those wonderings often wander towards the philosophical. And yet this moment also contains some potent, very non-philosophical uncertainties and challenges for the Farm and the Farm Team. These uncertainties have alerted – or perhaps just reminded – us that it is high time to invite other voices to join us as we try to flush – or court – this question of meaning out into the open. Here is the invite:

Brush Brook Community Farm invites you to:

A Community Conversation 

and Simple Farm Meal – please bring a bowl and spoon

Sunday 9/12, 5-7pm – outside at the Farm

We are asking for your help as we:
Pause and Reflect on three years of giving gifts.
Share the challenges and dreams of the Farm
Imagine our next chapter together.

RSVP requested – brushbrookcommunityfarm@gmail.com

In this Newsletter over the next weeks, you will hear from some of the other members of the Farm Team as they reflect on the question: What does Brush Brook Community Farm mean to you? They will invite you to do your own pondering, and to consider offering a few of your words – as a gift – into the circle that will gather outside at the Farm on 9/12. We are honored to be engaged in this work with you. We are asking for your help at this time of uncertainty, specifically for your gifts of attendance, attention and tending – all three words from the latin root -ten meaning ‘to hold’ or ‘to stretch’ – as well as your gift of voice. If you are not able to attend in person but would like to offer a few words to be read at the gathering please send us an email.

---

We will have the Gift Stand Open this weekend Fri, Sat and Sun 9-5, with coolers full of frozen Bread and Soup. With so many people away last week, we had about 60 loaves leftover that we stored in the freezer. Soup this week is designed to be enjoyed cold on these hot day, either Vegetarian or Brush Brook(with our homemade mineral rich Bone Broth) – Roasted and Pureed Zucchini, Green Beans, Cucumbers, Kale, Garlic Scapes and Basil. Add yogurt, milk, or cream to a bowl of this cold soup for a light meal with a piece of toast. 

As usual, our Work Day will be Sunday 1-4pm. Please join us if you are willing. In the height of vacation season attendance at our Work Days has been quite low, and we could really use your help! Bring a round-pointed shovel and long pants to help dig Burdock or a cutting board and knife to join the Soup Team. 

With $1455 coming in last week, we have almost exactly $3000 to go to meet our August Budget Request. Many thanks for your consideration. You can contribute HERE.

---

Here is what you will find in this Letter:

1. FINANCIAL GIFT REQUEST – Detailed August 2021 Budget

With Great Care, 

Adam and the Brush Brook Community Farm Team

---

BUDGET UPDATE: Thank you for considering the August 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.