“We have lived our lives by the assumption that what was good for us would be good for the world. We have been wrong. We must change our lives so that it will be possible to live by the contrary assumption, that what is good for the world will be good for us. And that requires that we make the effort to know the world and learn what is good for it.”
This weekend we lost a shining light in the organic farming and food movement: Jack Lazor of Butterworks Farm.
Jack’s personal history and journey are worth reading about and can be found in his books. He and his wife Anne worked tirelessly for 50 years to create Butterworks Farm, which is one of the most regenerative and biodynamic farms I have personally encountered. Jack always strove to cultivate a harmonious vision of what farming and food production could be.
Above all, Jack was a very dear friend, colleague and inspiration.
I will begin with a cautionary word. We have all gone through difficult and trying times and continue to suffer losses of every kind. As December approaches, it feels like the beginning of a dark Covid winter. Every morning, I have been working hard to remember my farmer’s perspective: an outlook that sees these coming winter months as a time for healing and introspection.
Many years ago, I used to own and manage a horticulture business. Our operations would generally peak right around this time of year. To help with the Christmas tree and holiday wreath production season, I would find myself spending much of the fall up in Nova Scotia, Canada.
I just must share some news, it made me smile the largest one I have in a long time. As I was putting together a report for the Board of Directors of Farmers To You, one piece of data jumped out at me: our partner families — that’s you — doubled your donations this year to the Barre Food Shelf.
