Homestead Farmers and Gardeners Gathering July 28

Full Fat Farm

Sunday July 28, 3 -5 PM

This month's Homesteaders Gathering will be on Sunday, July 28, 3:00 - 5:00 PM at the homestead of Valerie Hahn. The event is open to all Groundswell Members. Please register in advance to receive directions - see below.

Valerie and her family live in a rustic, passive solar house on a 26-acre homestead surrounded by New York State Forest lands. Our July Gathering will offer a chance to see how they use biodynamic and permaculture practices to maintain a diversified farmstead that includes two cows, a goat, hogs and chickens who graze on over six acres of pasture. During the visit, Groundswell Members will enjoy a special sampling of freshly-made raw cows' milk, cultured pasture butter and cheese!

The afternoon will include exploration of their pastures, the 1/2 acre vegetable garden, forest, fruit trees, herb gardens, ponds and creeks; and gravity-fed spring water.

When they bought the property in 2007 they set about creating a homestead that fulfilled both material and non-material needs. Join us on July 28th for this very special Homestead Gathering to learn more about how homestead life feeds body and soul.

Groundswell Members may register by calling 607-319-5095 or sending an email to info@groundswellcenter.org. You will receive a confirmation email unless the event is already full. To become a Groundswell Member click here.

**PLEASE NOTE:** THIS EVENT OPEN TO FIRST 20 REGISTRANTS.

From the Director

Just a couple Saturdays ago, I had the huge pleasure of hanging out with some of the area's most amazing farmers, foodies, visionaries, activists and dreamers.... and LOTS of energetic kids... at the second annual Asparaganza Festival at the Good Life Farm in Interlaken. What an inspiring community! These folks are passionate about re-learning skills, re-building farms and food businesses, and re-weaving the fabric of personal relationships that make up a strong community and local economy. They're creating the social and economic infrastructure that we're going to need so very badly in the coming years of climate change and all its attendant ecological, social, and institutional disruptions. 

What took me by surprise was just how many people I ran into at this gathering who were Groundswell alums and instructors! There were literally dozens of them - 20-somethings and 70-somethings and everything in between - who had participated in one or more of our training programs. I knew from our records that we have engaged 290 trainees so far in our programs. But here, at Asparaganza, was concrete evidence of the huge impact that Groundswell has had in four short years. 

Will you join us?
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We invite you to be part of this exciting movement! This month we are launching a new Groundswell Membership Campaign  to help raise funds to support our new farmer training programs. Your contribution of $25 or more will help us provide training and business incubation support to aspiring farmers, with programs like our Sustainable Farming Certificate Program, Farm Business Planning Course, Finger Lakes CRAFT, Farm Mentor Training, and the new Groundswell Incubator Farm. As a Groundswell member you'll get program discounts, a cool sticker, and invitations to member-only events like our new Homestead Farmers and Gardeners Gatherings for those of you want to be involved in rebuilding the food system in your own backyard.

Become a Groundswell Member Today!
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Click HERE to find out about member benefits and make a secure online donation. As always, thank you for your support of a strong local food system!

Joanna Green