Busy Days, Many Blessings!

Wow Friends,

July is steaming right along and picking up speed in more ways than one…. read on for the deets!

• Our Summer Budget Request

• Frolic Invitation

• Last Sunday’s Frolic Report

• Need Heat?

• Hope Kitchen Dinner

• Keeseville Community Arts Festival

• Keeseville 250 Celebration

• More Gorgeous Pics by Blake

Our amazing Kelsey is extraordinarily talented on SO MANY levels! She offers this eloquent message for our budget request.

I’ve spent the past several months participating in the labor of farming, feeding, and primarily coordinating the frolic program at Sand River Community Farm— a place where the food isn’t for sale. It’s offered as a gift to anyone who is hungry for any reason.

A couple times a year, we reach out to neighbors near and far and make a budget request to cover financial expenses that we haven’t yet figured out how to manage relationally.

I’ve been lucky enough to be a player in the game of how we DO manage this place relationally and without dollars. And that is through our infamous farm frolics.

All growing season, roughly from April to October, we host Sunday farm frolics where volunteers are welcomed up the driveway to participating in growing food and raising livestock that will feed the community. We’re practicing for the day when there’s no more food on the grocery store shelves, in a way. We gather, share in gratitudes, get a whole lot of projects done, and have a big ol’ feast in the barn from yearly provisions and the garden’s bounty.

This project is underwritten by an enormous amount of goodwill pulsing through this small rural neighborhood as well as gifted dollars from folks who see the vision and want to be a part of a different way of living. Is that you?

One of our interns this summer came from the high-paced world of direct-action activism at the national level. He has spent many years tackling systems of injustice that ought to be destroyed. He came looking for what will replace it once they fall. Your dollars help feed not only young people like him while he comes here to learn and contribute, but neighbors and strangers from all over who get to taste food from land that has been set free from the scarce and tight grip of the market. Food that is singing quite loudly— if you’ve come to a gratitude feast, you know the songs.

If you’re feeling like livening up by releasing your dollars into a culture-feeding project, the link is below. The cows and sheep will be quite thrilled to get their hay this fall because of you!

Here’s a link to donate or check our progress:

Sand River Community Farm Budget Request

Thank You!!💕

Come join us this Sunday as we unearth the lovely garlic that was planted months ago- it’s been maturing underground over the winter, and is now ready to emerge into the summer sunshine and our cooking pots!

There will also be more tasks and chatting and eating and laughing, so please join us this Sunday at 2:30pm, 1044 Mace Chasm Road. Bring a friend and a smile, and if you can’t get here until the meal at 5:30, no worries! Just show up with your appetite, and get to know and thank the folks who have worked to keep our small but mighty farm vital and healthy. Hope to see you!

We had a Fabulous crew converge on our little patch of joy last Sunday! Such a beautiful range; so different in ages and abilities, but all sporting the same smiles and filled hearts. There was building scraping and painting, corn shucking, tarp moving, swimming, food prepping and eating, singing, and lovely community building. Heartfelt Thanks to Simon’s friend Blake for these striking photos of the day.

Some of us who have been experiencing the HHH (hazy hot humid) weather here lately are saying “heck, No!” However, if you or someone you know has need of a used electric stove, we have a surplus one!

To the best of our knowledge it’s in good working condition- and it’s yours if you want to come collect it! It’s a 220 volt unit, so will need one of those high-power, high-tech plugs😉... Reply to this email or message us on Facebook if you’d like to connect.

Join us this Friday July 17 from 5 to 7pm, when this week’s community supper will be turkey and bean enchiladas! All are welcome and there is no charge to eat; 124 Hill St in Keeseville. Bring your family and meet your friends; dine-in or takeout.

It’s finally happening this weekend! 40 Plein Air artists who traveled from near and far have been working enthusiastically for the past four days to create over 100 stunning images featuring the landscapes and architecture of our neighborhoods. Perhaps you’ve seen them around our region! Now, after months of planning, tonight Friday July 17, come to the Old Stone Mill (126 AuSable Street) between 5 and 8pm where those freshly painted works are on display and up for sale. If you can’t make it tonight, stop by tomorrow Saturday the 18th between 10am and 2pm to check out the local scenes we all see on a regular basis, but now interpreted through the eyes of these talented visitors. If you’d like to make a donation to support this amazing event, you’ll be able to enjoy refreshments and can receive a beautiful commemorative glass as well. It’s the place TO BE this weekend!

Not excited by artwork? Got kids? The front lawn of said Old Stone Mill will be buzzing with boatloads of fun activities for youngsters during the same time frame on Saturday (10 to 2); tie-dying t-shirts, face painting, balloon art, magic, coloring books and more, and it’s all free! Do you prefer to shop for and buy neat creations? Cross the river and head for the back yard of the Library (1721 Front Street) for the Artisan Fair and music from 10 to 2. There’s also tons of other great things happening around town: Raku, Painting, Ceramics, Tattoo and Barn Quilt workshops to name a few. Click on the link below for a map and a detailed schedule, to help you plan your day!

Keeseville Arts Festival Schedule

Honestly folks, there is SO MUCH happening between now and our next newsletter… an amazing boatload of special events. Clear your calendar so you can catch as many as possible of the festivities planned for this week-long celebration of America’s 250th birthday! It begins on Sunday July 19; here’s a summary-

As you can see, there’s something for everyone throughout the week; the planning team has worked incredibly hard to make this fabulous celebration one that we will remember for decades! For more detailed information on each event, scroll through this Facebook page-

Town of Chesterfield Facebook

Simon lovingly tending the tomatoes and Maizey diligently patrolling the Swiss Chard crop😊

Thank you again Blake, for your exquisite gifts💖💕

Whew, friends; it’s quite The Much that’s been happening (and will take place) this week! Until you open the next edition of this newsletter, we hope your time is filled with great times and much love. That’s what we send to you!

With Deep Gratitude for your support,