In Our Neighborhood

Sand River Community News 10.4.24

Bright Baby Nasturtium from a garden ready for bed

Greetings Neighbors,

You may not be able to hear it yet, but this week’s newsletter has a new voice! You have seen my visual work in your inbox before, and as of today I’ve been entrusted with bringing you the farm’s happenings in text too. I’m Annie. It’s a pleasure to write to you.

I’m here to tell you about the incoming life at Sand River Community Farm, and herald the upcoming liveliness in the broader Sand River Community.

As we approach the first Sunday of the month, we can remember the first Sundays of the summer— Prep, gather, feast, dance, rest, repeat. Only after the last feast, there is no such repeat. The cycle is broken open, the season is new, and the farm is very much alive. This Sunday, we will join hands with the E’town Social Center to host a brand new, brimming barnful of intergenerational joy.

Sign ups are full for this event, but as always you are welcome to attend frolic 2-5pm. More project leaders and kid playmates appreciated!

Laurie swooped me into involvement with the Social Center about a year after I showed up on her front porch, only having heard she was a neighbor and an artist and that we’d better get to know each other. Our brainstorm (keywords: youth, arts, community, food) this time around landed us on Sand River Community Farm. On the farm’s behalf, I agreed to host a field trip during which people of all ages could be a part of this place for at least a few hours. On my way home from the farm one Wednesday morning, I rolled down town on my bike and started poking my head any place I thought people-of-all-ages might spend time. Finally the friendly names from Adam’s stories had friendly faces and friendly places too. The library, the Grange, the local schools, and all the bulletin boards in between lent their surfaces and email lists to this event. In other words, our neighborhood believed my two dimensional flyer could become a four dimensional afternoon. Exhilarating. Scroll on for opportunities to meet some of these neighbors.

Near the end of my Teen Rec shift at the Social Center on Wednesday, I walked by the table where Laurie was sitting. She looked up from her laptop. Two sign ups. We’d have to reach a little further. We’d have to wait and see. If I’ve learned anything at the Peasantry School, where there is seldom an RSVP, it is the arts of Reach-Out and Wait-And-See. Thursday held a series of cautiously giddy emails. Friday (this) morning Laurie texted me: forty seven attendees. Will I sleep?

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If you consider yourself a frolic regular; if you know your way around Sand River Community Farm, we invite you to show up this Sunday at 2pm and show these families and neighbors how we family and neighbor one another. We would feel supported by a few extra crew leaders to match our mighty crew. It will be a regular fall frolic, with supper at 5, and the addition of a snack and art break.

Thank you to the elders who let your kids loose on this farm. More to come on that path.

opportunistic vining in the new guest cabin, finding shelter from the pre-dawn rain

Now is the part where we say “Dear neighbors, we believe in you too”

The Grange

The next meeting is on Wednesday, October 9th.

Food will be shared at 6:15pm, followed by a presentation by Greg Rowe of Cornucopia Gourmet Mushrooms, and getting down to business at 7pm.

Hope Kitchen

Friday night community suppers begin November 8. Much in the spirit of the Gratitude Feast, “These suppers are open to all and will be held 4 to 7 pm. If you’re hungry for a meal and connection, join us!”

Look out for more opportunities to get involved as the first meals approach. Hope Kitchen is also hosting workshops starting this month, sign ups available on their facebook page linked below.

Keeseville Free Library

This week: a creative writing workshop on Saturday, October 5th at 9am, and bead embroidery on the 8th, 5-7pm.

It’s possible that this library holds even more stories in its seats than on its shelves… Come by!

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The people who carry these spaces are vital parts of the Sand River Farm family. If you think of the farm as a tent, they are all the stakes, willingly grounded in the places that surround us.

Tune in next week for the colorful footprints Sunday’s guests will surely leave, and more.

Thank you,

Annie