“The grass never sleeps. Or the roses. Nor does the lily have a secret eye that shuts until morning.”

How we walk through this week and beyond matters - the symbols we use; the words we say; our actions toward one another and the earth.

In between winter and spring in Vermont is the Season of Mud. The abundant snow disappears and dark, rich earth emerges.

In 1891 Elizabeth Wood Clement had a vision for Mission Farm - her birthplace- in the heart of the Green Mountains of Vermont. Elizabeth, envisioned this place should be dedicated to the betterment of the local rural community.

We often talk about the emergence of something new happening at Mission Farm. Seeds that have been planted years ago, now emerging as an invitation for connection.

In ancient sacred texts, a river can be a symbol of the abundance or flow from God to humanity.

We speak of light and darkness as if they are opposites but in reality, lightness and darkness only have meaning in relation to one another.

Permaculture in agriculture embraces practices such as swales, compost, companion planting, and regenerative farming.

Our focus this year at Mission Farm is ‘Radical Invitation,’ as we restore our inherent connection to nature, Spirit, each other and our ancestors.

Living in a transitional age such as ours is unsettling. We do not know what to expect.

Our Mission Farm chickens represent a pathway toward participation in a healing ecosystem: they help to revitalize our soil; build our compost pile; produce delicious eggs and they bring joy to life at Mission Farm.

It is reassuring to remember that the days are slowly growing longer as the Killington Valley finds itself in the coldest days of winter.

Mid-morning, the fog at Mission Farm clears and the sun peeks through the clouds and shines on the icy ground below.

"What matters most?”. This is a powerful question that arises out of the layers of the holidays and the anticipation of the new year.

A snowshoe with Simone on this winter solstice morning reminded me that the world is sparkling, spacious, generous and life giving.

I awoke this week with a list in my head - a list of all of things that needed to get done before Christmas…

I tucked bulbs of crocus, narcissus and tulip around the perimeter of the cemeteries at Mission Farm this week.

"I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." - John Muir

We shared a beautiful meal prepared and shared from the last of our garden’s produce and the neighboring farm.

The first snow arrived last night at Mission Farm. We are (always) rushing to finish all of the ‘things’ before snow covers the ground…