If you’re freaked out, you’re not alone.

The writing has been on the wall, but the starkness of the warning in the most recent IPCC report by such a staid and politically hamstrung organization is truly alarming. It is becoming clear that our current institutions - governments, the market economy, the commercially controlled media - are all incapable of responding to our current crises. In fact, these are the main forces keeping a meaningful response from happening.

Here’s something you can do about it

All of this underscores the importance and urgency of the work we are doing on Highgrove Farm and Commons. Roland and I have been working to develop a model of resilience and regeneration for almost a decade now - a positive alternative to the mess we find ourselves in. The project continues to morph and evolve, but at the core are a few grounding convictions:

• We are all in this together.

• Nature is smarter than us.

• We are all the blind ones and the elephant .

• Leave the place nicer than you found it.

• We are better off when we work together.

Combined, that means we aren’t just trying to develop a farm that uses regenerative growing techniques, we are trying to create the culture that we need to replace the one that is currently in its death throes. So, what culture do we want to grow together?

Think of us as Stone Soup

Eighteen months ago - just before the global pandemic was declared - we signed a lease to develop 44 acres of former clearcut into a model of regeneration.

From the beginning, we intended it to be a collaborative project. We took the lease on behalf of all those who are willing to work together to figure out how to maximize our Quality of Life within a sustainable footprint. For us, these aren’t abstract concepts. Sustainability equals living within a Fair Share Footprint and Quality of Life means more “ flow ” - those moments when you are truly aligned with your purpose through action, and less energy wasted in fear, doubt, anger, and confusion.

By taking the lease, we hoped to provide the cauldron, and throw in the first stone, but success depends on everyone showing up with their special ingredient. Some add substance, some add flavour and every contribution is necessary and welcome.

Resilience = Relationships

We have been blown away by the outpouring of support and enthusiasm we’ve witnessed. We continually meet others who totally “get it” but who often feel isolated, alone, and overwhelmed. That’s why we are reaching out. We know we can do better together by providing the sort of mutual support and collaboration that is our homo sapien secret superpower.

We’ve learned a few things along the way. We had a lot of success on the ground (working with pasture-raised pigs as tillers, starting our first flock of chickens in rotation, building the first 50 beds of the market garden), and in our community (working with Pender Earth, our own Highgrove Bean Collective, and joining forces with others on the Gulf Islands working on food security), and working on our own personal transformations towards reconnection and wholeness.

We believe the key to success is, as Tom Peters says, finding ways to weave together our strengths in such a way that our weaknesses become irrelevant. And that, in turn, depends on creating the conditions where people can show up - warts and all. We can only weave together our strengths if we can recognize and accept our limitations and weaknesses.

We know you are out there, freaked out and overwhelmed; wanting to do your part but you haven’t figured out what that part is, yet. Come join us at Highgrove and we will figure it out together. We’ve been doing this long enough, that we have some ideas we know work and we know you do too. Let’s figure out how your piece of the elephant fits together with mine!

Let’s find ways to work together

There are lots of ways we can help each other out. If you are on Pender Island or nearby, and want to roll up your sleeves, come on over to hone some resilience skills, take on some chores, or join a project to make something positive happen.

We also need physical resources to get the work done. We are trying to stay as low on the carbon chain as possible, preferring to upcycle or reuse old equipment. We can help provide a new life and good home to old tools you may have sitting around. (Take a look at our wishlist to see if there’s something you might have that we need.)

And, of course, money helps, too. For us, more cash = more stability and sometimes the ability to fast forward some projects or provide necessary resources that make a big difference. We can accept e-transfers to office@highgrove.farm or donate through our FundRazr project. Every bit helps. 

We will use any donated money to continue building our model of regeneration. There's an irrigation system to put in, a new goat shelter to build, and acres and acres of backcountry waiting to be pruned and brought back into production that could use a chipper.

Most importantly, though, stay in touch! These are challenging times to live through and we need to take the time and space necessary to work through the complex emotions and experiences of grief and trauma, joy and hope, to be able to create the kind of supportive, nurturing, life-sustaining society we all know is possible. We are thinking of starting a "resilience circle" of folks looking to take practical actions to increase their personal and community resilience. Send us an email at friends@highgrove.farm if you are interested in that idea or in finding other ways to stay in touch.

Let’s hold the light for each other and remember (even when it may not seem like it) that we’re all in this together - including all our ancestors and all our relations.

Please share widely. Let’s rally the troops and get good shit done!

For more information on our project, visit our Web site @ highgrove.farm