J and I are entering into a new adventure together. We are not farmers and we are not ranchers. Our backgrounds are diverse. He has experience in metallurgy, plumbing, general contracting, electric, logistics, communications, computer programming…should I go on? I have a background in art, occupational therapy, and permaculture design. I started experimenting with permaculture design at our home in the inner suburbs of Philadelphia. The connections and experiences that grew from that have been life changing.

After receiving my permaculture design certification a few years ago (has it been that long!?), I spent some time as an intern at Heathcote Community so that I could learn more about gardening, permaculture, and intentional communities. There, I met a fantastic group of people that touched my life in surprising ways. It is through that experience, however indirectly, that we came upon the Birthright Farm in Chester County, PA (now, StellaLou Farm). Artie Yeatman donated that land to the School of Living years ago. We worked with the School of Living (SoL) to take the land on as one of their Community Land Trust properties. This is the SoL webpage. The School of Living is an amazing organization with a heartfelt mission and we are very fortunate to be associated with it. You will find that Artie comes up in my posts often. Artie passed away in 2012. We are thankful that we were able to share time with him. We are, also, grateful to be getting to know his wife, June, who lives (I’m happy to say) just a couple of miles away.

“Why ‘StellaLou’?” you ask. In the spring of 2012, we brought four lovely hens into our lives. One was sort of special. She is StellaLou!

Now, we are straddled between two households as we get the Elkins Park house ready to sell. I’m glad that our Indie was able to spend quality time at StellaLou before she passed away. She had a long happy life. We’ll miss her.

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