This summer we had our 2nd annual Flytree Garden Soiree. It’s the one party we throw each summer where we invite friends over in the height of the summer to enjoy an evening outside in what we call the grove – a nice flat spot, on our otherwise hilly land, with 4 old apple trees circled together. It overlooks our house and kitchen garden, which is now called Madi and Fia’s garden, and out over the dog river valley with Paine Mountain and Irish Hill on the eastern horizon. The first year we made food for everyone but this year we decided to do a potluck with the invitation to BYOP – bring your own performance. This served as an open mic of sorts where you could share a poem, story, talent, … anything really. We also had a community art project going where people helped us paint the end wall of our new high tunnel. It was cool to feel how our community has grown since last year. We spent such a long time searching for a town and community we wanted to plant roots in and we couldn’t be happier with where we landed. We love Northfield and our central Vermont community.
Here were my welcoming remarks that I feel like encapsulated the spirit of the evening for our family and what this community means to us:
On days like this I know we’re going to be okay.
It’s been a long day already, but the excitement of friends and family coming to spend time with us and our family and with this beautiful land has kept us buzzing.
We need each other, simply put.
And the land needs us to remember that.
Because when we do, we realize our interdependence is our strength, and from it emerges resilience.
And we also realize our interdependence with the more than human community and we rekindle our kinship with the plants, animals, mountains, and waters.
We realize our capacity to behold the beauty of this world reflects our capacity to create beauty in this world.
And that’s what we’re doing tonight!
Beholding the beauty of the world, of each other, this place and time.
And creating beauty…
with our bounty of delicious food we made and will eat, the enriching hugs given and received, unique company and new friends made, many laughs had and certain to follow with some performance.
There is so much going on in the world right now. Lots of uncertainty, lots of uneasiness, and lots that we need to grieve.
But there is also lots to be hopeful and happy about. And tonight, being here with you all, is certainly something to celebrate.
And let us not forget the importance, now more than ever, to find joy, allow ourselves to feel it, and celebrate it like it’s all we have.
Because really when you think about it, its true.
All we ever have is the present moment.
So tonight, may we all be present, enjoy each others company, enjoy the food we have, and be grateful for this moment we have together!
Folks showed up with amazing food and we had some stellar performances – stories and jokes told, a group sing, some fiddle and bodhrán, and even a live demonstration of how to play the grass harp. So many laughs. It was even more special because my folks, my brother and good buddy, and Madi’s brother were all in town for the event. We look forward to this day every year now and are excited to see how our community grows in this place.