Farm Fresh November 2020: More Than Warmth

Farm Fresh News - November 2020

In this issue:

A Sigh of Relief
Lewis County Hot Spot
More Than Warmth
Everybody's Cafe

More Than Warmth - a quilt of peace goes to India

Dear Friends,
First, let me join you as we breathe a collective sigh of relief over the election. We have taken a step back from the edge of darkness. May a new time of sanity prevail. Still, despite of all that has happened over the last 4 years, 70 million people voted for (he who shall not be named). We are a long way from what is needed to turn things around, to bury the specter of racism, to combat climate change, and build a world safe for our children and grandchildren. But for the moment, it feels like we are at least headed in the right direction.

Farm Covid Report - Lewis County Hotspot

Many people ask if The Farm is open for visitors or accepting new members. While the community has not had any new positive cases of Covid since my last newsletter, cases within our county have skyrocketed to as many as 100 new cases a day. That may not sound like a lot, but based on its population, right now Lewis is considered the hottest county in the state of Tennessee.

Word is the hospital in Maury County is currently overwhelmed, with patients in the hallways, which is not too surprising. When Deborah and I came back east from our road trip, when we crossed the river into Tennessee, almost no one was wearing masks. It was quite a contrast from out west, where almost everyone had on a mask when in public spaces, even at truck stops. Tennessee has been in the Trump world of Corona denial since Day 1, which is all to say The Farm is not ready to open our doors just yet.

If you are serious about moving to the community, I suggest:

Research and study us.
Watch all the videos (see Videos and the drop down list in the Navigation bar)
Go through the press clippings.
Buy my books.
Figure out how you will support yourself - Develop "Work from Home" employment.
Move to the area - If you can get established nearby, demonstrating that you can generate an income in these trying times, you will be in a much stronger position for when we do open up to new members,

And that day will come. We are open to having new members, especially people under 50.

Peace,
Douglas

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More than Warmth
Sharing Peace and Love around the world.

More Than Warmth Founder Judy Meeker appeared on a 2002 cover of Time in an article about peace activism.

More Than Wamth is a nonprofit project that sends peace quilts to children in need all around the world. It was started by Farm member and teacher Judy Meeker in the days after 9/11.

"I developed this project with my fourth-grade class. I asked them would they open their hearts to children in Afghanistan who were freezing to death during wartime,” Meeker said. “Together, we decided on the concept. It was going to be non-violent, not political and non-religious. It had to be done from the heart.”

Students first draw their square, encouraged to send a message of friendship. They write a letter explaining the meaning and symbolism behind their art, pushing students to think a bit deeper about the lives of the children who will receive the quilt. The first quilt went to an orphanage in Afghanistan. Hundreds and hundreds of quilts have gone to every corner of the world, Palestine and Israel, Africa and China, Cuba and Native American reservations, New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and on and on.

One of the most powerful things about this project is that it is very accepted by mainstream society. Over 700 schools have participated in the making of quilt squares. It plants the seeds of peace in the minds of every student who draws a square, from pre-K to college. More Than Warmth is developed with Lesson Plans, maps, and instructions on how to get involved.

This month Judy was recognized for her work by Nashville Metro Public Schools. Her English and Language Arts classes take place at Nashville's Juvenile Detention Center and at another school dedicated to students ages 17-21, seeking a high school diploma, and a second chance.

Thank you, Judy, for being an inspiring example of Right Livelihood!

Watch a slide show on YouTube. https://morethanwarmth.org/

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Everybody's Cafe

Socially distanced social time on The Farm!

The community is finding ways to hang out together that are safe and fun. Everybody's Cafe takes place outside our Community Center, where folks can be together while staying a safe distaance aprt, enjoying food and drink prepared by staff from the kitchen inside,or being seranaded by a singer off to the side. It has been a beautiful fall!

Everybody's draws its name from a vegan restaraunt The Farm had in Nashville back in the early 1980s. It was ahead of its time and was only around for a few years, but a number of us have fond memories of eating there. We are thrilled to see it reincarnated through the efforts of one of our second generation, who took over mangement of the Community Center just before COVID screwed everything up. Some day...we'll be together...again! Yes we will.

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Be safe! Be well! Take care of each other!
Douglas

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Peace,

Douglas

Douglas@thefarmcommunity.com