You never change things by fighting the existing reality.
To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.
— Richard Buckminster Fuller

As it stands, with a wet and wild spring, the growing season has been shortened and by all accounts, food prices will rise.
As it stands, the markets which control the price of oil seem to care not that the livelihood and the transportation of food to people will be jeopardized by a greed that bows to profit, not humanitarian concerns.
As it stands, we have chosen to support a government more concerned with corporate and militaristic concerns that that of the good will of her people.
As it stands, we have painted ourselves into a corner…

I really like this quote by Fuller. We can fight the old model – or begin again. We are very much into the creation of a new model. Review our websites and, if this effort agrees with you, become a part of creating something new. Your help in any way is welcomed. Please pass this on to those who may be interested. Spring planting is on and we are eager to grow as much food as possible. Everything we need is at hand. Let’s get on with the business of life. 

www.echovalleyfarmwisconsin.com
www.echovalleyhope.org

The trip to Tennessee was quite an education. The land was lovely, the people earnest. The reality was we are not ready for that kind of commitment.

As we explored our next turn it is clear we need to reach more people. It is also clear that our first inclination – to unite farms that are struggling with people looking to get back to the land – is the way to go.

So we are continuing on a kind of hunt. We are looking for people and we are looking for farms willing and ready to make this turn to community sustained farming. We are ready to utilize our farm at Echo Valley to train people. We are ready to expand our efforts here. We need researchers. We need people who understand this transition to community sustained farms to become an active part of our team. We need people who understand but have no intention of living farm life to help by telling others and by financially supporting the non-profit efforts of Echo Valley Hope, Inc.

We still hope for and work towards a sustainable farm and learning center in Tennessee. If you are interested in this venture or have questions please Contact Us.

We live in a time of transition. While it can be argued that every time in this changeable world is a time of transition, this moment lends itself to undeniable realities. Whether you follow the polar shifts and climate change, people of peace asking for just governments, or individuals and societies demanding food sovereignty, transition is the order of the day.

In speaking with world leaders on the state of the Mideast, Hillary Clinton recently proclaimed, “The status quo is unsustainable.” Eloquent and true, but falling short of this obvious reality: it is not only the Mideast that finds itself in unsustainable circumstance, it is our entire planet and most definitely it is true of the United States.

This blog exists out of the recognition that our culture can no longer be fueled by limited resources of oil, that homelessness due to antiquated economic paradigms cannot be tolerated, and that the best way to stop hunger is to promote food sovereignty.

We are not pointing to the problems. We are not offering debate. We are creating a new paradigm that in itself holds the solution. With the knowing that we are one planet, one people, respecting the earth and working with her, and holding fast to the understanding that everything we need is at hand, we continue.

The effort is a simple one. We strive for sustainability in all ways: economically; in energy and food growth and consumption; in creating our living environments; and in our approach to health and the well being of each individual. It is not simply a belief that the earth holds enough, it is our daily practice. And the underlying principal, for each human being to know the peace within, allows these observances to be true.

What has been accomplished thus far is not a philosophy. It takes effort. For people to come together—all ages, with different beliefs and world experience—is an art. It comes from seeking clarity and good communication. It comes from Kindness.   

If these statements resonate with what you know, if this time of transition is calling you to respond and if you are ready to make this effort towards community, you are welcome. We are about to acquire additional land. It is time for the turning. It is time for peace, within and without.

Feel free to respond to this blog or you are welcome to conference with us:

Friday, February 18, at 7:30 PM CST
712-432-0111, code 764262

Our heartfelt thanks to those who are engaged in this turning to Life, to Peace.    

I hope you are enjoying this blog. It reflects the actions and efforts of a community of people living on a farm in Wisconsin. The principals we practice are simple and will be the foundation of other farms we hope to see created. Respect yourself and everything else. Try to live as consciously as you can. This is the foundation. The rest is gravy.

Many people have asked about ownership of land. There are many ways people are holding land. Single owners are sharing land, granting the land to the people currently working it. Some are creating land trusts that would consign the land into perpetuity, protected from development and any other modern hazards. Others individually own consecutive parcels of land. Still other farms are purchased through nonprofits. The truth is no one really owns land, anyway. Here, we like the concept of stewardship.

As we see it, the decision of ownership/stewardship traits must be decided by the people who will choose to live on a specific piece of land. We can give guidance and suggestions, and we can utilize our nonprofit for the purchase, but the decision of land ownership rests with the people who will live on the land. By the way, our decisions here are brought about unanimously, and with respect for others, and holding the land dear, it isn’t as hard as one might think to reach consensus.

On Sunday, November, 28, we will hold a conference call to answer questions and gather input regarding this project. You are welcome to participate. We realize that anyone interested in the farmslinkpeople project will stay in touch with this blog, so all information will be delivered through this blog from now on. Thank you for your interest, now let’s see what can be created.

Call number  712-432-0111           access code 764262#                                                                                    Sunday, Nov. 28, at 1:00 pm central, 2:00 pm eastern.  No more than one hour. 

It was our first rainy day as we moved across the lovely rolling landscape that bears the name Tennessee. Happy to see working farms of all sizes, we felt at home here. I would strongly recommend the area to anyone willing or wanting to farm - with or without the effort towards a community sustained project. As with much of the country, many are selling off acreage to survive and a few of the counties have really taken a beating in this economy.

One particularly hard hit area reminded me of my Western Appalachian roots. The land seemed to have been strip mined and much of the hilltops were obviously clear cut, and little or no care taken to rectify the brutality. We stopped in a shop to talk to the keeper and he confirmed my thoughts about the area. Industry left and the people are struggling. It was evident everywhere. When I said I noticed that few people were farming or even gardening, he said they had all “gone lazy”. I listened as he sadly conveyed the reality of existence there. He fought back tears and I could see was grateful for a sympathetic ear.

I don’t believe the people are lazy. I hunch they are beaten down and have forgotten, as most of us have, how to grow food, process it and feed our families. It is my experience at Echo Valley that it takes very little to ignite the passion for and the wonder of farming. And the earth is happy to oblige our efforts. We just need to be reminded. We are not lazy.

Because of this man and his family and many more good people, and because of what we are learning at Echo Valley, we will continue to help people reconnect to the land. We will share what we know and continue to learn more.  You are invited to be part of this “stone soup”.

I have decided to continue this blog. If you are enjoying it, please share with others. We will cover topics around farming, stewardship of land, land trusts, community building, seed saving and more. Thank you.

Our stop outside Atlanta was a sweet surprise. Our friend’s home sits on a river, surrounded by amazing trees and lovely birds. We were able to forget the highway for a while as we met with people, listened to live music and ate, and ate. Once again, as people heard of the project they were enthusiastically supportive. The passion continues to grow, as does the determination to see this through.  Thank you, Michael, Melissa and Marlon for the wonderful care, and to all who came to visit.

The learning curve has brought a somber note. As we have ringed the Appalachian foothills of these southern states, we have come to realize that most of the old homesteads, the small family farms are gone. The land has been sold to development and small parcels are available on less desirable land for  ridiculously high prices. It doesn’t appear that his tourist / retirement driven area has seen the financial realities gripping the majority of this country. So we are broadening the search, and I must say Wisconsin farmland is looking very good, and Echo Valley is more precious than ever in my heart.

Today though, we dance through Tennessee, and are already heartened by the number of farms we saw as we drove in last night. The prices are more in keeping with reality, and the land is sweet.

We are more than ready to be home, but agree we must complete this visual search while others, local to these areas are left to continue, and our friends searching the internet seem to never give up.

My traveling companion and many at Echo Valley are 20 something’s. They seem to have a naturally clear sense of this dream to have community sustained farms. Their innocence and joy at being able to be on the land is infectious. Very young and very old enjoy one another, as is meant to be. And those in the middle bring their best, fostering possibility. As we proceed I see the native concept of seven generations – to live in such a way as to honor seven generations before you, and to do no harm for the seven generations to follow - manifesting.

This blog will continue, thank you for your support.

So last night we found ourselves in Northern Georgia.  A hotel with limited internet access and bleary eyes from days on the road led up to an interesting chance meeting.

As I researched Tennessee counties for possible land, I punched in the wrong county – or so I thought. What resulted was a lovely discovery of a land so loved and cared for that the owners first sought to have it protected in conservancy before placing it on the market to sell.

The land is many times more acreage than we anticipated, but the owners want it to go to people who will continue the tradition of stewardship that they began, and have priced it fairly.

I had to suppress my eagerness to go immediately to the site, and enlisted the help of friends who are also researching on our behalf. Their amazement told me I was not overly enthusiastic about this possibility, and, as is our way, the vote was unanimous – go to see it. And so we will.

But tonight we meet with more people interested in this project at the home of dear friends in Atlanta. The care that we have been given has been sweetly received and much needed – hours in the car are starting to take their toll. Yet the enthusiasm from young and old, the hope for what is simple and obvious is fueling this journey, and while I look forward to the smell of sheep and the comfort of home, I am walking this discovery with confidence and joy.

Tomorrow we meet with more people. Northern Georgia was lovely as were the mountains of North Carolina. On Sunday, Tennesee.

South Carolina. Boiled peanuts and sweet tea on Cherokee Highway 11 as it waltzes along the foothills of the Appalachians. Apple trees and peach, of course, and lovely possibilities. We drove along with our Charleston friend Shanna, and dreamed. She is cheering for the possibility of a southern farm and with her help and that of many others, we move closer to turning dream into reality.

As we made our circuitous route back to Asheville, the sun set in spectacular reds, and we found our destination with just enough light to make it possible. There ten of us met and discussed and questioned the creation of a sustainable community farm in this area.

The meeting was full of laughter. There seemed to be no disputing the desire to have a gathering place for people of peace on each farm we create. When the question of money came up, the response was the same as always, people will give what they can to make this happen, no one will be turned away.

The net keeps filling.

It is a North Carolina morning, and we will soon be driven by Ros and MG upstate to another haven of farm possibility. Someone had presented wonderful research of farmland last night. Thank you, Howie. So off we go.

Our drive from southwest Wisconsin to North Carolina has taken us through beautiful country. The Appalachians are singing, still brilliant with color, and the warm days invite one to stop and linger for awhile.

The journey really began on Sunday, as we were invited to present our project to Viroqua, WI’s One Spirit Rising congregation. It was a powerful send off as like-minded people of peace saluted the effort, and added support in kindness and in donation. Thank you One Spirit Rising.

Tennessee and Kentucky are delicious and I hope to see many community farms there one day, but our first goal is to find a warmer climate for the people who can’t handle Wisconsin winters … you know who you are …

So we find ourselves in the home and care of an old friend outside of Asheville, and I am reminded of a line from Tennessee Williams.  " Life’s a lot like turtle fishin’. If you don’t put out your net, you won’t catch nothin’ in it."

We have cast the net, and people from around the country are asking to be kept abreast of what’s happening, and a few have offered their farms as possible locations. This effort must be built on solid foundation. It must remain simple and transparent. It must remain fun.

Today we look at land. Catch you later.       

A stick was laid down and a question was asked. How do you make the stick smaller without touching it? The answer: lay a longer stick next to it.

We reckon with a government who cannot stop the momentum of war long enough to take care of her people, corporations who will rape the earth until they find another, and people so stunned by it all they have lost their voice.

The stick that we can lay is a simple one. We still have time, the earth can heal and so can we. The kindness card is not so difficult to play – and it feels good.

Echo Valley Farm and Echo Valley Hope are thriving examples of possibility.  So, with great intention and the support of many, we begin the search for land to begin another living center – this time we head south through Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

You can follow our travels at http://blog.farmslinkpeople.org/

If you have leads on good farm or recreational land, people who might be willing to sell or to share their land with others, or are interested in being a part of creating and sustaining these possibilities, stay in touch. If you are new to our efforts, please check out these websites:

www.echovalleyfarmwisconsin.com

www.echovalleyhope.org

The answer is simple. We stand with all who recognize peace must be first, and that peace must begin within each of us, first.
From that understanding, from that knowing, we live.