Sovereign seekers,

I hope autumn’s arrival has brought you the crisp, fresh energy it has for me and our community. As leaves begin to change, we collect our harvests and prepare the land for a season of rest. This week marks the final week of our inaugural sliding scale CSA. This has been a season of developing deep, meaningful connections with many community members and their loved ones, as well as an opportunity to facilitate strengthening their relationship with Mother Earth. 

We’re excited to welcome back youth participants of many field trips and the Teen Leadership Program this week as well. I’m blown away by its impact as I reflect back over the summer program, and the relationships Growing Hope facilitated between the teens, the land, and our community. At the conclusion of the summer, one of our teens shared that “[Growing Hope] gives me something to look forward to every single day!” One of our graduating youth rejoiced: “After experiencing the Teen Leadership Program, I am way more appreciative of our work at Growing Hope. We’re a necessary resource for the community!” ‘’

These are generational investments with lifelong implications. 

Cool-weather and the transition to autumn is a natural shift for all of us. It invites us to marvel at the bounty of the harvest and ask ourselves what we will do with it. Whether it is through consumption, preservation, selling, or distribution–it’s our responsibility to take what we’ve grown this season and share it with our beautiful community.

In sharing our harvest of produce, knowledge, stories, and transformation, we strengthen our relationship with Earth and with one another. In this, we navigate closer to building a more sustainable and just food system.

In solidarity,

Julius

P.S. We’re excited to announce that we’ll be relaunching the Ypsi Winter Indoor Market later in this season of harvest and reflection!