more than a farm
At the foundation of the “More Than a Farm” vision is the utilization of a farm as a means to develop and share practices that honor the earth and the interconnectedness of all living things. Our greater goal is to create a movement that goes beyond our farm, and serves as a model to build more resilient, caring, and sustainable communities in the Great Lake Erie Southern Shore (GLESS) Bioregion and beyond.
New Blog Post: The Challenge of Choice
We live in a world where every choice is fraught. How do we make conscientious decisions when what we buy, what clothing we wear, how we make a living for ourselves and families, what we put in our mouths, how many children we have, none of these choices have clearcut answers. Understandably, under these conditions, we (myself included) often close our eyes to the harm that our own choices inevitably cause. It’s often the only way to avoid complete paralysis. Just take our industrialized food system as an example: we can choose among corporate, conventional, omnivorous, vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, organic, pastured, beyond organic, and on and on. But make no mistake, none of these choices is pure. Besides the tremendous harm done by the corporate owned factory farming and food processing system to our psyches, is the vast destruction of formerly intact diverse eco-systems, along with the chemical, plastic and fossil fuel sourced pollution used to grow, process, store, transport and distribute food across the planet. Those who benefit from this system prefer that we don’t think about and cannot even see these negative impacts, and that we believe that we are separate from the natural world and its welfare.… go to the blog to read the full post.
Register for Summer Camp!
Sign your child(ren) up for one or multiple weeks of summer camp at Kelly’s Working Well Farm. Our self-directed model means every week is unique and each camper can develop their own relationship with the farm and other campers. Register here: Camp Registration Form
For more information go to Summer Camps.
Upcoming Events and Activities
Friday Potluck at the farm
We are opening the farm to the community as a fun place to gather with family and friends on Fridays. We are looking for groups/volunteers to organize/oversee each week. If you want to have a specific theme or activity, or use our cob oven to make pizza, email Kelly at kellyworkingwell@gmail.com to pick a date and arrange details.
To sign up to bring a dish to this week’s potluck go here.
As we lean into creating a Bioregional Learning Center for the Great Lake Erie Southern Shore (GLESS) at Kelly’s Working Well Farm, we are embarking on a Learning Journey with the goal of developing a shared understanding of our place in this time. Using a wide variety of activities, both online and IRL, together we will explore our roles, both individually and collectively in, not only surviving, but flourishing in the regenerative world our hearts know is possible. There is no charge and each person can determine their own level of participation. Email glessbioregion@gmail.com if you are interested in participating.
Metachrysalis is a social change role playing game that can help us navigate through these turbulent times, keeping us grounded in our place, in this bioregion, the Great Lake Erie Southern Shore.
Join us to play Metachrysalis on Wednesday, April 1, 2:00 pm at Kelly’s Working Well Farm. Bring a friend, a snack to share if you like, and be prepared to design your character for creating positive social change in the GLESS! Email glessbioregion@gmail.com to let us know you are coming so we can share additional information with you.
Spring is Coming - Save these Dates
For more information on these projects and events go to Workshops, Special Events and Opportunities
Help us Build a Bioregional Learning Center at the Farm
If you have driven by the farm you have probably seen the giant back-hoe used to dig sewer and water lines for a real bathroom, as well as a sink and temperature controlled space for some minimal food processing and storage. If we can raise the funds, we plan to finish this project early in the spring so we can say good-bye to the porta-potties!
Over the history of the farm we have operated on a shoestring, funding our infrastructure developments largely through summer camps and a few generous donations. Now we need your help to make our dream come true: a beautiful space to process and store products of the farm, and educate folks about how food can be grown regeneratively, giving back to the soil more than we take from it and thus literally nurturing life from the ground up.
Thus far, this project has cost over $50,000 for the permits and installation of the underground infrastructure and driveway extension. We will need another $50,000 to complete phase one this spring. Please consider donating to the farm to enable us to move forward and realize this major step in creating a community hub to educate about and support the local food system.
KWWF and CVLC on TV!
Thanks to Jack Shea and his crew from Fox News 8 for coming out to do a story about our situation! After the judge determined that our educational programming does qualify as agritourism, Bainbridge Township has decided to appeal that decision. This makes it harder for us to resolve the remaining fire code citations with the fire inspector continuing to claim that he is not qualified to inspect the buildings for which he issued those citations. Go to Public Awareness Campaign for updates and to learn more.
Kelly’s Working Well Farm is an educational permaculture farm dedicated to the community. We raise a wide variety of animals, and grow a diverse array of perennial fruit and nut trees and shrubs, plus herbs and an annual vegetable garden. The farm also showcases several structures using local materials and natural building techniques.
Sign up for the More Than a Farm/Kelly’s Working Well Farm newsletter below to keep updated on farm events, activities, initiatives and collaborations.
We are open to the public year round to host your agriculturally oriented organization, activity or event. Whether it’s a farm tour, an educational workshop presented by farm staff or other members of the community, or your own programming, contact Kelly (kellyworkingwell@gmail.com) to make arrangements.
Some of the activities available at the farm are: seasonal harvesting and processing of berries, medicinal weeds, herbs, flowers, fiber, meat (chicken, lamb and pork); making jams, tinctures, salves; spinning fiber into yarn or cordage, basket weaving; plant propagation; mushroom cultivation; “herding” chickens and collecting eggs; and much more! Contact us to arrange a tour or activity for your family or group.
Through our partnerships with like-minded organizations we are dedicated to building a more beautiful, healthy, inspiring community.
Read more about our work to weave a bioregional network of communication, cooperation and collaboration along the Great Lake Erie Southern Shore (GLESS).
Notice: The Farm is available only for agricultural and agritourism activities open to the public. Fire Code violations may exist on this Property. No agritourism activity shall be held within 10 feet of any of the structures including the yurt, pavilion, tree barn, red cottage, library and farm-store.