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Dear Friends,As you may know Deborah and I are traveling and currently traveling down the California coast. I hope you enjoy this newsletter about my time with one of The Farm's nonprofits.
I have talked before about the role of service, of giving from yourself to a mission, to a cause, as a key element of the path to sanity and fulfillment.
One period of service that has been especially dear to my heart was my time with Swan Conservation Trust, a nonprofit land trust organization that established the 1400-acre Big Swan Headwaters Preserve that wraps around The Farm Community.
I served on this board for 12 years, including a few years as its president. My focus was on fundraising and altogether $1.5 million dollars was brought in over a period of 10 years to purchase the land for the Preserve.
Swan Trust Board Members (back when I was still on the BOD) meet with a member of TN Green (in green) to establish a Conservation Easement on Big Swan Headwaters Preserve.
Money came in from a variety of sources. In addition to donations from individuals ranging from $25-$50,000, some portions of the property along the outer edge were sold. However, the during same timeframe, two more adjoining properties of strategic importance were purchased.
Green Pond, a vernal pool
One provided much needed road access to a northern boundary and included an important wetlands, known as Green Pond, a habitat for salamanders, snakes, and related critters. Unlike the land's other wetlands and seeps, which are along the edges of stream banks above a creek, Green Pond is a rare vernal pool high up on a ridge top.
A restored prairie on The FarmThe second property purchased added an additional mile of Big Swan Creek, and included several huge creek bottom meadows, which have been converted from hayfields into native grasslands.
The Boiling Springs as it comes out of the ground and flows into Big Swan Creek.
The crown jewel on this property is an incredible, boiling spring. Boiling springs are so named because the volume of water gushes up with such force that the surface of the pool appears to be a rolling boil. The hundreds of gallons of water per minute are like a creek that just starts up right out of the ground.
I left the board in 2018, but I’m happy to say, Swan Trust has remained active, and this year we celebrate an additional 141 acres added to the preserve. This land went up for sale at the beginning of the pandemic when fundraising efforts were particularly challenging. A benefactor purchased the land and held onto it, while grant proposals were written. Additional funds were raised through traditional grassroots efforts, with the final payment made in the fall of 2022.
Using Your Gifts and Talents
Of the most important things I learned during my time with Swan Trust was the power that a small group of dedicated individuals can have, accomplishing so much more than any one of us could do alone. We came together as a diverse set of friends and acquaintances, each sharing their individual talents and strengths.
Our fearless leader, Cynthia Rorhbach worked for various state environmental agencies where she made important contacts. Her education and knowledge were invaluable as a powerful grant writer, bringing in checks of $25,000 or more for the preservation of songbird habitat.
Chris Roman kept us on solid ground with her skills as our bookkeeper.
Michael Lee was a successful building contractor. He and I worked together brokering some of our different land purchases his business expertise helped guide us through mitigation contracts and legal strategies.
My gift was media and communications, networking, and the spearheading of our grassroots fundraising efforts. I built an attractive and informative website, and created the newsletters that went out several times a year. This included organizing volunteers for mailing parties, with a couple dozen people folding the newsletters, attaching mailing labels. But at a deeper level, we were simultaneously creating a bond among us, solidifying our collective commitment and dedication to pulling off this project. Thank you Rose Diamond for taking on this role!
Perseverance Furthers!
It took us 10 years to raise that $1.5 million, paying off the land. There was never any guarantee that we could pull it off and somehow raise the money, as much as $8000 a month for the land payment.
We all knew that it would be one thing to try and fail… but to not to try, to not make that leap of faith, would’ve been something that would have weighed on our conscience for the rest of our lives.
Hiking Trails
In my travels around the country, I’ve benefited from and come to appreciate the trail marking systems in place at state parks and national forests.
One of my goals for Swan Trust is to work toward marking its trails and creating a map, so that visitors to The Farm Community can stay in our B&Bs and enjoy hiking this beautiful land.
Recently, Swan Trust board member, Kenny Breckenridge, and I went and marked one of easist trails to access leading down to Big Swan Creek. But first we had to clear the trail of trees blown down in a recent windstorm.
Although there are often tornadoes in the area, the land on The Farm and in the preserve is more often hit by sheer winds, air along a line rather than in a spiral like a tornado. These high winds with gusts of up to 70 mph can strike along ridge lines and sweep through valleys, sometimes dropping hundreds of trees in a single blast of air.
Most vulnerable are the red oaks. These tend to be our largest trees, since they were not considered valuable by foresters back in the 40s and 50s, who preferred to harvest white oaks and hickories. Unfortunately, red oaks do have a lifespan, and our largest trees may be 150 to 250 years old.
We were told by one Forrester that during periods of drought as we have experienced in recent years, ants will attack the roots, which doesn’t kill the tree immediately, but weakens its hold on the earth. When these big red oaks fall, the root system does indeed appear to be very shallow, going down just a few inches, with no large central taproot to anchor it deep into the earth. The weight of branches in the crown makes the trees top-heavy, so it is easy for them to fall when struck by a mighty wind.
My Calendar
- July 16-23, Mendocino Sufi Camp, CA
- July 25-32 Lava Hot Springs, Idaho
- August 14-18 Parliament of World Religions
Location: Chicago, at McCormick Place Lakeside Center.
There will be Dances as part of the program as well as "pop-up" Dances throughout the week. Many, many workshops, by people from all across the spiritual spectrum, including several by members of the Dances of Universal Peace community.
A reminder DUPNA is offering NextGen dancers and Dance Leaders (age 18-40's) scholarships with pre-paid registration ($250), plus lodging, and travel, up to $560. Contact hayatdupna@gmail.com to learn more. Click here to apply.
- Sunday August 27 and Saturday September 2 for Dances on The Farm
- September 12-25 The Turkey Dance Caravan and Leader Training
- November 22 - December 10 The Vietnam Dance Caravan
The Farm Market Day is Saturday, August 13
and is a great way to visit and get to know The Farm!
- Food from local Farmers and Artisans
- Food Trucks (Grab lunch!)
- Live Music - Arts and Crafts
- Yard Sale items
Thank you for your time and attention!
My books:
Out to Change the World and The Farm Then and Now
A big thanks to everyone who has become a patron of Farm Fresh! When you become a subscriber, your contribution helps spread the word about community-based alternatives and the spiritual path.
Take this one small step to be part of the solution!
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