GOD'S GARDENER

The Book of Genesis, in its very first pages, points to the wise design of the cosmos: it comes forth from God's mind and finds its culmination in man and woman, made in the image and likeness of the Creator to 'fill the earth' and to 'have dominion over' it as 'stewards' of God himself. the true meaning of God's original command, as the Book of Genesis clearly shows, was not a simple conferral of authority, but rather a summons to responsibility. Everything that exists belongs to God, who has entrusted it to man, albeit not for his arbitrary use. Man thus has a duty to exercise responsible stewardship over creation, to care for it and to cultivate it.                                                                     -Pope Benedict XVI

It's not enough to ask, "Where does this food come from?" And then answer piously, "Oh, it comes from God." We have to ask,"Who got it after God gave it, and how much money did they make on it, and what did they do to the earthly source and to other people in the process of putting it on your table?"                                                       -Wendell Berry

 

A letter we received recently from John Hannagan, a volunteer from Adult Week 2011:

I have a story to share with you. Keep in mind, as you read the story, how much I struggled at the Farm last summer and how crazy I thought you all were for washing aluminum foil and practicing "if it's yellow, let it mellow"! 

 

I'll start with sharing my experience last evening with some friends at my house. We had a lovely dinner of salad, baked chicken, zucchini and onion stir-fry, and quinoa. Dessert was strawberries and yogurt. My friends raved about how tasty it all was, and asked how I had cooked everything. Once I explained, they looked a bit surprised, as there was no magic to anything I'd made. You see, I told them, the lettuce was picked from my garden 5 minutes before they arrived, as were the radishes and green onions. The chicken was cage-free and naturally fed, raised about an hour from where we live. The strawberries, purchased this morning, were grown in the next town over. I made the yogurt yesterday with milk from grass-fed cows. I made the bread in the afternoon, and yes, it was a Bethlehem Farm recipe! I think my friends were a little shell-shocked when I went on to explain the significant issues that we have with the food chain in this country and how I unscientifically believe that it is the major cause of the medical issues that we face in the U.S. 

As we were cleaning up and doing dishes, someone went to throw away some foil - until I stopped them and explained that we could wash that and reuse it. I chuckled to myself just a bit!  

 

I have my own organic garden that I started last year with a bunch of leaves and manure from a horse farm. I've made friends with a local organic farmer and purchased all of my plants from her. Right now I have onions, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, lettuce and radishes growing. I try to buy locally and eat only organic foods. It's amazing how much better I feel when I'm sticking to that simple lifestyle. 

 

All this is to say that the next time you're wondering if the Farm is making a difference, think of my story and know that it truly is.

I grew up on a farm in southern Missouri and earned degrees in Graphic Design and Interactive Digital Media at Northwest Missouri State University. I offer many thanks to my parents for raising me in such a way that I love service work. I have been volunteering and doing community service since elementary school. After much discernment, God showed me that a long-term volunteer position was what I most desired.

Hard at work!

I love volunteer work, and using my gifts and skills for the benefit of others sounded immensely more fulfilling than searching for a job in order to earn money for myself and pay bills. Though I wasn't sure how I would make use of the skills that I learned in college, God has provided by allowing for me to manage Bethlehem Farm's website and also to use all of the power tools that I could imagine in low-income home repair projects. I hope to learn a lot about the people of Appalachia, sustainable living, and how my actions affect every other person on this Earth. From the first time I drove up the steep and very long driveway of Bethlehem Farm, I fell in love with the beauty of this place and the mission of the organization, and am now thoroughly enjoying the lifestyle!

Editor's note: Katherine joined us in April to serve as Bethlehem Farm's auto mechanic, website manager, and facilities co-manager. She has since run a lawnmower over every part of the grounds that can be mowed. Welcome home, Katherine! 

Bethlehem Farm celebrated Memorial Day weekend with a bang as we hosted the wedding reception of former Caretakers Joe and Julie. We did a little extra tidying of the grounds that week in order to make the Farm shine for this special day. Joe and Julie worked hard to procure local foods, like chicken from our friend Don and pork from our friends Anne and Mark, which the caterer made into a delicious dinner. Anne also provided handmade beeswax candles and local wildflowers to adorn the tables. Many friends and family members came together to make the event happen, and our Creighton University service-learning students went above and beyond the call of duty to help things run smoothly. The Farm seemed enchanted that evening, with Christmas lights, candles, dancing, and a big community enjoying each other's company. Congratulations, Joe and Julie! The world will be made better through your union, and we were honored to celebrate with you.