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Give a donation to help a family with essential home repairs
Become a Caretaker! Do you feel a calling to live in an intentional community? Become a Bethlehem Farm Caretaker, and join the Farm in living out the Cornerstones. Applications can be found at www.bethlehemfarm.net/caretaker
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Calling Summer Servants! Bethlehem Farm is seeking Summer Servants for 2023! Applications are still being accepted, and dates are given on a first come first serve basis. Submit yours today at www.bethlehemfarm.net/summer-servant
See the article below for more on these new Farm additions!
TOOL TUESDAY!!!
We need YOUR assistance with our home repair program!
Maybe you can't swing a hammer or drive a screw today -- but you can help make a West Virginia home safer, warmer, and drier by donating tools.
Monthly giving is an easy way to support the Farm each month, without having to plan for a large annual donation. If you are interested in joining the Monthly Giving Circle at Bethlehem Farm, then
Some monthly donors set up an auto-monthly bill pay to Bethlehem Farm in their online checking (we can give you our bank acct info to set up an electronic transfer OR send it to caretakers@bethlehemfarm.net or to “Bethlehem Farm, PO BOX 415, TALCOTT, WV 24981.”)
OR
Write a check monthly and mail it to the above address
Monthly donors give between $5 and $1,000 each month. In FY2022, the monthly giving circle contributed over $63,000, an important portion of overall giving.
We are in critical need of monthly donors at this time, since we lost six monthly donors in 2022 (job losses, etc.) and the need for low-income home repair in our area has grown at the same time that material prices have increased. We recently met a family who had experienced a house fire, and we had to approve $22,000 in deficit spending just to repair their roof, but we had to stop there, with so much more work to be done in the interior to get them back into their home. Meanwhile, we are having to deny services to other clients based on the budget constraints. Can you step up? We have a goal of adding ten monthly donors this month.Make a monthly pledge.
Why would you choose to be a monthly donor?
Some reasons that our donors choose to give monthly:
We decided that we needed to prioritize our faith not only in our time and actions, but also in our budget
Each time we visit Bethlehem Farm and see the life-changing work that is going on there, we are inspired to give a donation
This way our gift is an expense that is already factored into our spending, and prioritized above those extra dinners, cups of coffee and other luxuries
We can't be at Bethlehem Farm participating in the mission daily, but we can live out our vocation in our own lives while still supporting and being a part of the work of Bethlehem Farm through our consistent giving
Giving this way makes it easy for me to not forget
Our sense of continued connection to our special experience at Bethlehem Farm and our desire to assist in affording the opportunity of that experience to others. The work done at the Farm is true evangelization.
Because I believe the farm is an apostolic community, living out the gospel message, as authentically as possible
Because we feel that Bethlehem Farm is an authentic way to propagate the gospel and because we have seen just how far they can stretch resources towards living the gospel. $100 at Bethlehem Farm seems to go SO much further than we'd be able to stretch it ourselves.
I understand how real and alive the Spirit is working in the community
Because of the speech Eric gives at the end of each group week about the importance of tithing and how he and Colleen started this practice as newly-wed grad students making next to nothing. And the Farm touched me so deeply in so many ways, and was such a huge part of my life discernment, that I want to make sure I am doing my part to help it continue to exist.
I see how the experience of the Farm continues to affect and form my students into active, passionate, and engaged citizens and activists
Because I believe in the mission. As a volunteer, I fell in love with the community and as a Summer Servant, I was challenged in my faith. The decisions I make today - as a Catholic and as a teacher - are influenced by the Gospel cornerstones I learned to live at Bethlehem Farm.
As a way to tend to my spiritual garden, which does not get enough attention otherwise.
It’s a monthly checkup of sorts for us to see how we are living the cornerstones where we live. Additionally we feel its very important for the Caretakers to know they are not alone in their work, that they have partners in their mission that they can count on each and every month to help support them, even in a small way.
Your monthly commitment assures us that we will have the resources we need to hire staff, make promises to low-income families, and undertake sustainable upgrades around the Farm and out in the community. We’ll keep you posted each month on recent happenings and we can share prayer intentions with each other.
Monthly Giving Circle
Anonymous, Carrie & Andrew Archual, Jim & Chris Artmayer, Emma Baird, Chris Bellairs, Josh Bleisch, Matt Bono, Theresa Bottei, Claire & Pat Brady, Laura Buck, Jay Carney, Aaron & Catie Costello, Claire Crafts, Brenna Davis, Doug Demeo, Peter & Mary Denio, Steve Desmarais, Liz Drapa, Brent & Amanda Fernandez, Alice Foreman, Bob Gill, Adam & Kendra Goudreau, Andy Goyer, Hayley & Andrew Harmon, Zach & Carley Haselhorst, Luke & Jillian Hoefer, Brian & Coleen Hufnagle, Jenny Jeck, In Memory of Gary Karasinski, Jarusha (Lang) & Dustin Kimble, Matt & Kate Kosydar, Michael & Rachel Kraus, Lauren LaCoy, Pat Lampton, Alex Lazzara, Mariana Lo, Phil & Carol Anne Mahoney, John & Chris Marasi, Christina Mayhew, Mary Clare Mazzocchi, Patrick & Marie McKenna, Scott & Kera McNelis, Bryan & Christina Melcher, Sean & Katherine Mitchell, Caitlin & Aaron Morneau, Jennie & Mike Motto Mesterharm, Raine Nimmer, Regina O’Connor, Shannon O’Toole, Ingrid & William Paige, Lisa Patterson, Mark & Cynthia Peters, Emma Qualy-Pearson, Andy Rebollar & Andi Grandy, Bob & Pat Rebollar, Liz Riedel, Sarah & Tom Rooney, Dan & Ann Ruggaber, Sharyl (Pels) & Joe Rust, Mary Beth Berkley & David Salinas, Matt Sall, Rosanne & Tim Shovlin, Rachelle & Ariell Simon, Marc Slain, Claire Sofronas, Amy & De Spurlock, Gemma Stanton, Peter & Lynne Steiner, Marcelene Sutter, Jake & Alicen Teitgen, Kara Timmons, Oscar & Patrice Valenzuela, Nick Vergatos, Katie Wiggins, Mary Williams, Benote Wimp, Katelyn Wolf, and Anna Wright-Ebbers
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Winter Home Repair Update By Sarah, Caretaker
This winter we’ve been busy keeping homeowners safe, warm, and dry. Here are a few highlights!
Telisa: After not having running water for 4 years, Caretakers collaborated with a local plumber to re-plumb Telisa’s home. Turning on the water again for the first time was a moving experience for Telisa and her family. Volunteers from Alvernia University continued our work by installing flooring and building a railing for her stairs.
Rhonda: Rhonda is a beloved Kindergarten teacher’s aid at our local public elementary school, where the two younger Fitts kids attend. It was important to Colleen and Eric to help her out, especially since she has done so much for their kids. Volunteers from Alvernia University reinforced the floor joists and installed new flooring. We loved working with Rhonda and snacking on her homemade potato chips!
Dean: Caretakers helped Dean remove clutter from his home before a surgery, insulated his walls, and installed OSB on his walls to close up the studs. We also hired an electrician to run safe wiring in his home so that he could replace his unsafe propane heater with a safe electric one. Dean is enjoying his warm home and has called our work “life-changing.”
Kelly: We continued our work with Kelly this fall with hiring a contractor to remove and replace the unsafe front porch that compromised the structural integrity of her home. In addition, the contractor renovated Kelly’s bathroom to make it safe for her and her five children. Volunteers from St. Anslem’s worked on siding Kelly’s home and helped remove construction debris from the bathroom renovation.
Diane & David: A few weeks before Christmas, Diane and David had an electrical fire. St. Anselm’s volunteers joined Diane and David in replacing insulation in their home. We will continue this work by hiring a contractor to repair the seriously damaged roof on their home. We have found it deeply meaningful to provide hope in a difficult situation.
As we look ahead to a busy 2023 home repair season, we have an abundance of requests for ramps and steps for accessibility as well as weatherization through windows and door replacements. We are looking forward to our spring and summer group weeks!
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John & 5 New Donkeys By Steve, Caretaker
This is an expression of gratitude, joy, and love, along with sadness. Our beloved Farm friend John the Donkey passed away on Sunday, January 29, 2023. For the last 18 years (of his 34-years on the property, after being relocated from the Grand Canyon), Bethlehem Farm has been blessed by John’s decision to transition to being a member of the Bethlehem Farm community from the previous Catholic Worker Farm. John had tirelessly fulfilled his roles of grounds maintenance; pasture protector from predators such as wolves and coyotes; “Welcome Home” ambassador to group week volunteers, summer and seasonal servants, and guests of the Farm; and comfort facilitator. He always did so with his disposition of warmth, friendliness, and his welcoming nay call. John consistently received rave reviews on volunteer group week evaluations (four hooves up). John constantly reminded us that the Gift of God’s creation conveys God’s Love for each of us, God’s Joy for each of us, and God’s constant offer of comfort to each of us. John will be deeply missed and has passed on his donkey Farm wisdom and love to the five new donkeys that joined us in November 2022.
On November 4, five Jerusalem donkeys arrived at the Farm. They were previously at a neighbor’s farm, but her medical conditions no longer allowed her to properly take care of them. They are Midea, Heehaw (Midea’s son), Roxy, Jack, and Henry (son of Roxy and Jack). Midea and Heehaw are standard Jerusalem donkeys. Roxy, Jack, and Henry are miniature Jerusalem donkeys. We believe that John found comfort in knowing the Farm has been left in good hoofs.
We will miss you “Mister Buddy Boy”!
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Nature’s Day By Kaylie, Volunteer from Alvernia University, May ‘22, Jan ‘23
Before the sun rises, Birds are already awake. Singing, Chirping, Flying, Gliding— Preparing the homes they make.
Bluebird perches over the garden, Keeping watch over fruits at the post. With a coat dyed from ripe blueberries, He stands out the most.
Cardinal soars through the brush, Searching solely for worms and seed. The nest is high up in the tree, Bringing her babies the food they need.
Glowing bright—golden sun, Fragile, petaled buttercup, Recycling their energy from the sun, Back into the soil it trusts.
Gleaming, shining star of Day, Whose color is mimicked by honey, It is no wonder the bees buzz about, Visiting the flowers in harmony.
Asparagus, Garlic, Onion, Tomato, From the rich ground they rise. Oh—to see the busyness of Nature’s Day, To hear Wind’s howls and cries.
All is still, balanced, quiet— Earth doesn’t need us to function. She listens close to all in Her car, Keeping notice on everyone.
Conversations Earth cannot live without, Conversation—throughout the land. Chitters, whistles, wonders of awe, But Who is in command?
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Retreat
At the beginning of February, the Caretaker community paused for our annual retreat. Rose Ann Hefner, CSJ led us in “Changing Lenses” and exploring the Assumptions of Restorative Justice. These assumptions, as we discovered, have much in common with Catholic Social Teaching. Here’s a summary of those themes we sat with during our circle process:
Everything we need is already here.
Everything is interconnected.
At the core, each person is good, wise, and loving.
We are holistic.
Living from this true self takes practice.
We desire deep, right relationships.
Everyone has gifts to share with the community.
We hope to continue putting these themes into practice and sharing these them in our prayers throughout the year.
Special thanks to Erin, Joseph, and Tori for being our retreat parents and making this time of prayer and renewal possible!
State of the Farm Address By Eric, Director
As we celebrate our 18th anniversary year, we look back on the highlights from 2022.
Personally, it was a year of recovery, as I healed and resumed most of my normal physical activity after suffering from a herniated disc in my back and chronic sciatic pain in 2021. There were certainly other challenges, but it was a hopeful sign.
It is awe-inspiring to look back at all that we accomplished together over the past year--a testament to the strength and resilience of this community. Though service-retreat group numbers are still recovering from pandemic lows, 2022 still proved a fruitful year for Bethlehem Farm thanks to your partnership:
We hosted 237 week-long volunteers serving across 16 service-retreat weeks in 2022–over 100 more volunteers than 2021–and we kept to our goal of zero confirmed Covid cases definitively transmitted during service-retreats at Bethlehem Farm—making us one of the safest service opportunities available—remind me…which service-retreat weekare you joining us for in 2023?
In 2022, we hosted 16 Summer Servants, including two Notre Dame Summer Service Learning interns and one University of Dayton ETHOS engineering intern. Their impact was felt deeply across our programs.
Together, we were able to help neighbors with 113 essential home repair projects, planting seeds of hope throughout the local community, the fruits of which you can see in our 2022 virtual benefit celebration video.
We participated in a Mental Health First Aid training, as we continue our efforts to be inclusive in imitation of Christ.
Mann Farm Property Campaign Update
Great News! With your help, we met our Mann Farm Property Campaign Goal in just over seven months! What a blessing and a comfort to know that the security of the Bethlehem Farm mission and the future of the Bethlehem Farm experience will rest in the trusted hands of the Board of Directors and Caretaker Community with the purchase of this neighboring property. Not only do we now control rights to our driveway, but we can also conserve and steward the woods and rolling pastures for generations to come without fear of a noisy development next door. Thank you to everyone who participated in the effort to make this neighboring 42.5-acre farm part of Bethlehem Farm moving forward.
Master Facilities Plan Update
Danny Keith Maintenance Garage
This building will support the service with the local community aspect of our mission. Having a structure for the proper care and repair of our work site vehicles protected from the weather, and for the effective organization and storage of tools will make us more efficient, effective, and resilient as we extend our reach further into the local community. It will include vehicle storage, tool storage, heated high bay with auto lift for repair and maintenance work, wood shop, picnic shelter, wood splitting shed, and basketball court. In 2022, I led groups in January, March, and April insulating the cinder block foundation and beginning the interior framing, completing main floor walls, posts, and beam to support the loft floor over one bay (Bay 5).
Next, we’ll continue framing out the interior, run the wiring, install the vehicle lift, insulate, sheath the interior walls, build out the work benches and shelving, and outfit the auto shop and wood shop. Check out our progress!
San Damiano Center for Sustainability
This is a center for support of the gardens and animal care, which are essential aspects of teaching sustainable practices on the Farm. It will include a root cellar, composting toilets, tractor bay, garden tool storage, livestock shed for chickens or future livestock, and outdoor sustainability education area with demonstration rain barrels. Strengthening our teaching of sustainable practices and Creation care in light of the serious impacts of climate change is an important goal of ours.
In 2022, Masters Week volunteer Cal led us in designing circuits (built on work begun by ETHOS Intern Edwin) and installing more lighting and outlets. Cal also helped by drafting a material take-off for electrical supplies for both buildings, so we could lock in supply prices before any further increases.
Electrical work and metal siding continue next year, with future plans including interior framing, and root cellar wiring and insulation. No worries, there is plenty more work to be done when you come out this year. Check out our slideshow on YouTube for a time lapse of the project.
2nd 10kW Battery Back-up
We installed a second 10kW battery back-up for our solar panels, in partnership with the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters, as we continue to deepen the teaching of sustainable practices, and strengthen our resiliency in times of turmoil. Molly is now our in-house expert on configuring battery back-ups.
2nd Rainwater Containment
We plan a second rainwater containment, adding 32,000 gallons of rainwater storage to bring us up to 48,600 gallons of total rainwater storage, which will drought-proof the Farm as we continue to live into the challenges of a changing climate. We use rainwater for irrigation, laundry, and toilets, which takes pressure off of the aquifer from which we draw our drinking water. Rainwater is also better for growing food than ground water, since it has higher levels of oxygen and nitrogen (from falling through the atmosphere) and fewer minerals (which can damage soil structure).
ETHOS Interns Claire, Sammy, and Izzi (summer 2020) designed an installation manual for us, ETHOS Intern Sarah (fall 2021) worked out a supply list, so we have most materials on-site for a 32,000-gallon rainwater containment, and ETHOS Intern Therese (summer 2022) helped us refine our plan with an eye on installation in 2023 or 2024.
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God of Surprises By Molly, Caretaker
I’d been searching for oriole nests all summer.
Streaks of black and tangerine marked our garden and orchard since spring, but I never saw their distinctive nests. I knew what I was looking for: basket shaped, hanging from a tree. Once, while swimming in the Greenbrier, I spotted one hanging over the river—but never on our own property.
Summer passed. Late in the autumn, I was taking in the crisp morning air, when I noticed one hanging from the tree I passed by every day. No, it was two! Three!
It felt sudden. The moment I stopped looking, there they were, swaying with the breeze.
I’d looked at this tree from every angle in the summer. I had seen orioles flit around it, but without low branches to hoist myself up on, I was left staring up through the maze of oak leaves.
The leaves had done just as the birds had hoped, hidden them away from nosey neighbors. And now, nests empty and birds safely migrated, the tree revealed to me one of its (assuredly many) secrets. Loss brings about new vision.
Naturalist Annie Dillard describes a newly-sighted young woman who sees the “tree with the lights in it,” something Annie searches for throughout her life. A moment of true presence, experiencing the everyday with eyes not fogged by explanations or perceptions.
When Annie finally sees the tree with the lights in it, a common cedar in her backyard, “it was less like seeing that like being for the first time see, knocked breathless by a powerful glance.” While her experience does not last forever, the lesson remains. Vision is a gift. How often I fail to see! When I am open to the spectacular in the ordinary, not as a treasure to hunt down but as a precious gift to receive, I open myself up to the God of Surprises. Orioles come alive before me, whistling above my reach, dancing amidst flurries, blazing foliage replacing bare limbs.
How wonderful! And we can be, too–filled with wonder.
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Donkeys Lead the Way By Casey, Caretaker
In October, Jenna, Sarah, and I traveled to Kingsport, Tennessee for the annual Reframe conference, sponsored by the Coalition for Home Repair. We met with many organizations that are fixing everything from roofs to showers and door handles.
Along with picking up some different technical skills like how to make physical structures more stable, and organizational strategies like how to cultivate relationships and practices that nurture sustainable ways of working, we explored new ways to talk about aging. How can having a positive view of growing older support the wellbeing of all, including but not limited to, older adults? Fortunately, the conference had a whole track of talks committed to aging in place.
Keynote speaker Patricia D’Antonio, who works at the Gerontological Society of America offered this frame: growing older is a journey of building momentum and increasing capacity to actively participate in community. Imagine if we used language that reminds us of that inescapable though sometimes hidden truth that we are all aging from the moment we are born. Furthermore, what if we chose to recognize and approach aging as a gift of accumulating wisdom?
While listening to this reframed understanding of aging, some donkeys appeared amidst the doodles of my sketchbook. They seemed to be inviting me to deeper reflection. Whether at the farm, in popular culture, or in Scripture, donkeys seem to know how to embark on transformative journeys, not so different from the process of growing older. “Donkey's can see what mortals fail to recognize," says a poem by Madeleine L’Engle from the perspective of the donkeys who carried Balaam, Mary, and Jesus.
The donkeys who show up in popular books and movies echo this reminder to keep going even on the hard days. Eeyore, who often loses his tail, trusts he’ll find a new one again soon. Nestor and Bo discover the courage to go to Bethlehem despite their doubts, and then there’s the faithful friendship of Donkey and Shrek.
Not to mention the loving presence of our new donkey friends at Bethlehem Farm we witness each day. Waiting, heehawing in the pasture, they greet us with joy after a long day on the worksite, reminding us we are loved in this place we call home.
Meaningful, effective home repair takes knowledge of screws and careful measurements. This work is also an invitation to continuously reframe our understanding of living and growing well together, to include what even might sometimes make us uncomfortable. Thankfully, we have lots of teachers, including those who dwell in the pasture, to guide our way.
------------------------ Winter Squash Bars
2 cups winter squash or pumpkin, cooked, puréed 1 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 cup oil 4 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix together wet ingredients. 2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
MIX IN dry ingredients. POUR INTO LIGHTLY GREASED 11 X 17 INCH PAN.
BAKE at 350°F FOR 25-30 MINUTES.
Serve plain or with icing or homemade jam.
Adapted from Simply in Season
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Benefit Recap By Jenna, Caretaker
This December we celebrated Bethlehem Farm’s 18th birthday with our annual Winter Benefit. Though Bethlehem Farm is old enough to get a tattoo and go skydiving, she hasn’t entertained those ideas for a moment–too focused on repairing homes and renewing communities! :)
Happy birthday, Bethlehem Farm!
Since joining the Caretaker community in September, being on the Benefit planning team was one of my first major jobs. I wrote corny jokes and a parody song about garlic. What a job?! Throughout the fall, Caretakers Anna and Casey recruited items for our auction. Thank you to everyone who donated their time, talents, and treasure to that effort! I was amazed by the beauty and uniqueness in the collection of items that came together for our auction.
Though we couldn’t all be together in person this year, several watch parties convened around the country to enjoy the company of B-Farmers in their region as they watched. It was so fun to chat with community members virtually before the Benefit program began in our breakout rooms where we connected over the history, mission and vision of the farm; storytelling; living out the cornerstones; and live music. Much of what Bethlehem Farm has been up to was highlighted in our virtual Benefit. If you missed it, or you just want to experience it all again,check it out on our YouTube Channel (@BethlehemFarm)!
Eric paid tribute to our beloved neighbors, the Mann’s. Saying goodbye to Betty Mann this past year was a heavy challenge for many in our community. We are grateful to Bill and Betty for the example they gave us of how to be a good neighbor. This year’s Benefit was raising money to cover the purchase of a parcel of the Mann Farm property, which will extend the Bethlehem Farm grounds by 42.5 acres. We heard from Sarah and Colleen (the home repair projects team) about the home repair and the solar installations that were done in 2022. We got an update from Anna and Steve about the animals on the farm–and you all met our 5 new donkeys! We heard from some of the homeowners we work with and community members in our area, notably a heartwarming story from the extraordinary Anne Brown. We also heard from volunteers and Summer Servants who joined us over the past year about their experiences serving at Bethlehem Farm.
As you can tell, this benefit was a marvelous team effort, and it could not have come to be without the help of our Board, especially Brenna Davis, Brent Fernandez, Lauren LaCoy, Tim Shovlin, and Andrew Ketchum. Before the night ended, we raised over $23,000! Thank you to everyone who donated. Your generosity made the event a major success!
