on the wings of a dream...

Our new garden friend.

Contra Costa Leaders in Sustainability Honored

from left: Susan, Jot, Robin, Ellen and Jerry

to read more, go here:

http://sustainablecoco.ning.com/forum/topics/contra-costa-leaders-in-sustainability-honored

Leadership in Sustainability Award

Last Friday evening, Ellen, Reuel, Jot, Jerry, Katie, Carol, Robin and Susan were present as the Meher Schools was awarded "Leadership in Sustainability - Best School" by Sustainable Contra Costa. Ellen's lovely acceptance speech follows:

Involvement is connection, contribution, association, taking part, interest, commitment, enthusiasm, inspiration.

At the Meher Schools, we’ve discovered that nearly everything we do that is worth doing comes from the energy of love. 

No one has exclusive ownership of Ideas. We discover when we become aware of an idea and begin to speak of our excitement and enthusiasm about that “idea,” that it is actually a vision shared by others, and that vision can take form only by real collaboration. Each of us holds a piece of the vision. 

We know that nothing can be forced. If the timing is right, then everything lines up to support the manifestation of the vision.  If the timing is right, and if the urge comes from the heart, the energy is there to accomplish the impossible. The work builds on itself, and provides the nutrition for growth and sustainability. .

Our Seven Circles Garden is such an idea, and is also its own perfect living metaphor. The timing was right, and indeed, everything lined up to make this wonderful platform for learning and growth possible. Hard work, collaboration, enthusiasm,  no one taking ownership, “being there and being involved,” with invitation but not obligation, Joining others as they catch fire.  To me, that is how we inspire others to become involved. 

People want to be part of something meaningful and bigger than themselves, and to feel that their efforts, no matter how large or small, contribute to the success of a project. We honor and appreciate all efforts. The work itself is the reward, as is the experience of connecting with others who have tapped into the same current.  Just look around.  We are all grateful for the opportunity, and wish that every school could have this experience.  And if an “award” follows, then it is one that is shared by every person who participates. 

The children are back in school! And we continue to enjoy the harvest of our summer garden. We are letting the beans go to seed, so that we might store and plant them next year.
We began our new garden curriculum this week with fourth and fifth grade....including "garden math," "journaling" and much more in addition to growing, harvesting and composting.
We also learned that we are finalists in the Sustainable Contra Costa Leadership Awards and will be going to their annual gala to find out what that means!! It's so nice to be included in these community events and share our "bounty" with others...."bounty" in terms of energy, commitment, and joy in being together in the garden.
We are also hosting a composting workshop on October 19th for the CCSW organization, and Robin and Jerry will be the presenters. that's at 3:45.
And last BUT NOT LEAST.... A BIG WORK PARTY IS BEING PLANNED FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 FROM 9:30 TO noon. the purpose is to prepare the circles for the winter crops. We anticipate receiving a truckload of manure from Todd and there will be lots of work for all. We plan on sending an invitation to the whole school. Hope you can be there.
Reuel continues to bake and sell zucchini bread in room 10.....sold before it's out of the oven! And soon we'll have another batch of Home Town Honey from Mike Stephanos! And, as we did last year, we plan on picking persimmons from the Roemer's orchard so that we can sell those as well.
We would like to continue making our produce available to the local homeless shelter. The children really enjoyed chopping vegetables for the big pot of soup that we delivered a few weeks ago.

Late summer afternoon

Susan, those photos are beautiful!! What a perfect week it's been in the garden. Reuel's zucchini bread is being consumed in record amounts. And when the squash is no longer producing, he'll start baking pumpkin bread. Should be delicious!