There may be a few local folks who get this Monday newsletter from The Peasantry School but not Friday’s shorter Sand River News, so I am including Annie’s beautiful flyer for a dream that is just now landing on real ground—the first Barn Choir practice. If you’d like to get the more-logistical Friday updates from the Farm you can sign up
Adam this was wonderful. I loved the tomato trellis story, and the idea it was like the alcoholic and his drink. And this is good:
Self-reliance makes such a highly-addictive story precisely because it robs us of our ability to remember life outside of its lonely walls. Once we don’t need the generosity of others, we stop pleading—or praying, or asking—for grace. Less grace, less gratitude. Less gratitude, less generosity, and a renewed commitment to self-reliance.
Cheers, Leon. It feels important to acknowledge over and over again that this work isn't easy, that choosing courage requires discipline, and that ends up being a daily or hourly practice. I have a couple of neighbors who are on the cusp of going sober, and I am in awe of their courage.
Well you give me hearty food for thought and salt rich tears each time I read this newsletter Adam..."In thrall to a story of self-reliance, supplication becomes undignified and faith recedes into the shadow of superstition;" I hardly know what to say/think when such a sad truth is delivered by your graceful words. These newsletters are changing me, I can feel a slow and gradual melting of my disconnected heart. Blessings to you and the farm.
Thank you, Heather. I'm glad to hear it. The self-reliance theme isn't an easy one to tug on, because it feels to me like it goes to the root system of our modern mythologies. "Self-sufficiency" is another one. It sounds like such a good thing, until you think about the lives and labors of the nonhumans.
I love your words: "Food gifting invites us to see greed as a symptom of disconnection rather than a personality trait or personal, moral failing." Beautiful reflection.
I wish I could come and sing with you! (but you are the other side of the Atlantic). I did go and look up Put Vejini and found wonderfully moving renditions from massed Latvian choirs : thank you for the idea. Wishing you joyful singing!
Yes, that video from Latvia moved me as well. We won't have such a large crowd in the barn tonight as they did in that stadium, but we'll see how we can do.
Adam this was wonderful. I loved the tomato trellis story, and the idea it was like the alcoholic and his drink. And this is good:
Self-reliance makes such a highly-addictive story precisely because it robs us of our ability to remember life outside of its lonely walls. Once we don’t need the generosity of others, we stop pleading—or praying, or asking—for grace. Less grace, less gratitude. Less gratitude, less generosity, and a renewed commitment to self-reliance.
Thank you always Adam!
Cheers, Leon. It feels important to acknowledge over and over again that this work isn't easy, that choosing courage requires discipline, and that ends up being a daily or hourly practice. I have a couple of neighbors who are on the cusp of going sober, and I am in awe of their courage.
Well you give me hearty food for thought and salt rich tears each time I read this newsletter Adam..."In thrall to a story of self-reliance, supplication becomes undignified and faith recedes into the shadow of superstition;" I hardly know what to say/think when such a sad truth is delivered by your graceful words. These newsletters are changing me, I can feel a slow and gradual melting of my disconnected heart. Blessings to you and the farm.
Thank you, Heather. I'm glad to hear it. The self-reliance theme isn't an easy one to tug on, because it feels to me like it goes to the root system of our modern mythologies. "Self-sufficiency" is another one. It sounds like such a good thing, until you think about the lives and labors of the nonhumans.
I love your words: "Food gifting invites us to see greed as a symptom of disconnection rather than a personality trait or personal, moral failing." Beautiful reflection.
I'm glad this one landed there. Thank you, Naomi.
Yay! Tomatoes! Abundance!
Hoorah for your swerving the commercial 'solution'!
You are so generous, dear one, in your willingness to share these accounts of your endless scrambling across this difficult but rewarding terrain.
Bless you, Kathryn.
I wish I could come and sing with you! (but you are the other side of the Atlantic). I did go and look up Put Vejini and found wonderfully moving renditions from massed Latvian choirs : thank you for the idea. Wishing you joyful singing!
Yes, that video from Latvia moved me as well. We won't have such a large crowd in the barn tonight as they did in that stadium, but we'll see how we can do.