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What's New?
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notes from Fr. Maurice...
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A little history
in pictures...
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March 14, 2003
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Wow, has it ever been a long Winter!!! So...... you are invited to the Spring Equinox........this coming Saturday, March 22 at 4:00. We will gather near the barn area and creatively celebrate the coming of
Spring!!!
After a fun and thoughtful ritual we will process to the main house and share in a pot-luck feast overlooking the bluffs. Please bring a salad, covered dish or dessert to share.
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March 8
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This past Monday, the first seeds emerged into seedlings in the greenhouse!!! Amy is doing great!! Such promise and hope!
We had 2 fabulous days weather-wise haven't we?! And wow, we did some awesome fence building! AND, Bill Moyer and Jim White from the Rotary Club were working on the barn office all day long today and made significant
headway!!
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March 6
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Wow, we are going to be blessed with a stretch of good weather these next couple of days. 4 of us will be out doing some preliminary work on the fence on Friday beginning at 9:00. If you are retired
or off on Friday please call or just come by. We will be there all morning and a good part of the afternoon. If you will be here for lunch (at 12) on Friday, you are invited to join us at the novitiate, just let me
know ahead of time--466-5004.
Otherwise, the Saturday hours (both March 8 & 15) when more folks may be free to contribute are from 8 - noon and 1 - 5. Come anytime: bring gloves, boots, pliers, hammer.
What we especially need are old, white T-shirts (or anything to make strips) cut into strips
say, roughly 2 inches wide by 14 inches long. We need these strips to mark the fence, once it is erected, so the deer can see it and not run into it.
Bring along a sack lunch and let's picnic as it is supposed to be sunny and into the 60's!!!.
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March 3
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We had a really good gathering yesterday. And, we basked in the warmest spot in southern IL!! ....our greenhouse!!
We made believe we were in Florida as the inside temp hovered around 80 at the beginning of the meeting.
Our next gathering will be on April 6...can you say "springtime" ?! Yes, it will be here before we know it. I ask all of you to make a special effort to mark this date on your calendars and do attend.
Fr. Seamus Finn
will be in attendance once again. (He was extremely impressed walking into a cauldron of activity at our meeting back in January!) So, please make plans to come to the shareholder gathering on Sunday,
April 6 at 4:00.
Otherwise, one item that came up yesterday: we do need to complete fencing on the first field by March 17 as that is when Amy sows the first directly-seeded crops into the field. Thus, if you can give a bit of effort on either the
Saturdays of March 8 & 15. We will work from 8AM - Noon and 1 PM - 5 on those days, any time you can give would be appreciated. So , maybe we'll see you Saturday, its supposed to really warm up!....bring
pliers, hammer, gloves.
For those who are free on weekdays, we hope to do some work on Thursday day and Friday of this week, March 6 & 7, please call me at 466-5004 for updated times.
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February 28
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Well, after all the dreaming, doing, planning and praying...something wonderful happened here yesterday. Amy, our head gardener, went to the greenhouse in the afternoon and planted the first vegetable
seeds for the Community Supported Garden at La Vista !!
These seeds represent so much: Our hope, our nourishment, our efforts at creating a just, healthy alternative.
Let's join together on Sunday for our shareholder gathering (first Sunday of the month). Let's continue to be the seed ourselves for an abundant harvest!! See you on Sunday (March 2) at
4:00 in the greenhouse.
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January 28
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"how we eat, determines to a considerable extent, how the world is used"
--Wendell Berry (Kentucky farmer, author and poet)
During this poignant time in history, we shareholders, Amy and Oblates choose this alternative food source. One that is peaceful and sustaining. One that does not rely on vast amounts of oil for transport. One that
is socially just. One that upholds the dignity of the small family farmer. One that respects the soil and the mystery of life. One that is inclusive of humans of limited means.
We have much to be proud of and I believe that the energy of this project indeed ripples out and makes a difference in the world. Of course, there is much more we can pray about and do to promote harmony on this
planet. But we must not underestimate the broader impacts of our everyday food choices.
With this in mind and heart, I look forward to joining with you this coming Sunday, February 2 at 4:00
for our monthly shareholder gathering. Joining in physical proximity at this time (at any time) is a good thing. I also know of much involvement and contribution going on for this project behind the scenes. It will be inspiring for the group to hear of this positive energy and to see what may be evoked by it.
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January 13
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Great News! This afternoon I received a call from an organization from St. Louis called "St. Louis 2004". Some time back we applied for a grant from them and I was informed today
that we were awarded their highest amount that they give out = $2,500.00 !!
So, thanks to the grant writing committee and congratulations to all of us. Out of 322 grant applications, only 70 awards were given!! So pat yourself on the back: other people are noticing our innovative project and
believe in it!!
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January 10
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I know you received a message from Amy Cloud, our new head gardener, earlier this week inviting your participation to help clean up the spaces in the barn tomorrow from 8 AM - Noon
where we will then be creating an office and a restroom facility.
It does look like we will be working this month with the Rotary Club on the office and their expertise at building is duly noted and much appreciated. And they will be able to do it in January!! So it
makes tomorrow's cleaning of that space important.
No foolin, there is a forcast for a cold morning.....but to sooth too many teeth chatters, someone had the idea for a fire just outside the barn and a kettle full of hot water over it. Great idea!! So, bring your
favourite mug and tea bag or hot chocolate and we can stay warm that way. We will also have a heater goin in the office that should help.
There will be a crew simultaneously working stringing up the deer-proof fence....as there is no snow and the ground will be nice and hard (no slush, no muss!).
Thanks! Both Amy and I are constantly amazed at the positive energy of this group of people!
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January 1
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Happy New Year shareholders!! Hope this finds you and your family well and having had a meaning-filled Christmas.
Amy arrives tomorrow to officially begin her job as our head gardener. It is an exciting time!
And to help continue getting things off on the right track, we will meet this Sunday for our regular monthly gathering (1st Sunday). FR. SEAMUS FINN, (MY SUPERVISOR) WILL BE FLYING IN FROM
WASHINGTON TO ATTEND THE MEETING, SO I ASK ALL OF YOU TO MAKE AN EXTRA-SPECIAL EFFORT TO ATTEND.
It is supposed to be sunny and in the 40's on Sunday!!! We will begin at 4:00 in the greenhouse. We'll see you there!
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Last year's notes...
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