STRAWBERRY FULL MOON, SOLSTICE AND COMMUNITY
The past couple weeks have been so intense for me that, at times, I was melting, crumbling, drowning, panicking and wondering if my heart was going to take it. Feeling the fate of humanity, and contemplating my own-holding on to a piece of land to pass on to future generations.
I am inspired to better explain here, what the Mil Abrazos project is, because for many, a community land trust is still a foreign concept.
The Mil Abrazos Community Land Trust is right now, simply a nonprofit (501(c)3) with the following mission:
- Acquire and hold land in trust in order to provide for permanently affordable housing.
- Provide permanently affordable access to land for such purposes as quality housing, sustainable agriculture, cottage industries and co-operatives by forever removing the land from the speculative market.
- Develop and exercise responsible and ecological practices, which preserve, protect and enhance the land’s natural attributes.
- Serve as a model in land stewardship and community development by providing information, resources and expertise.
The Mil Abrazos Community Land Trust owns the farm property in Dilia, NM, that we also call Mil Abrazos for the time being to keep things simple.
For 3 1/2 years, with very limited financial resources, Windy and I, and a handful of interns, friends and volunteers, have been building a cozy camp to start welcoming and nurturing community. Building lodging capacity with campground, vintage trailers for interns, outdoor kitchen and shaded lounge, outdoor shower, composting toilets, and a sweet farm building with a well stocked kitchen, a lovely bunkhouse and even a real bathroom with a flushing toilet for VIP’s!
So this summer is the time for us to welcome small groups of people on weekends (or weekdays if it suits you better) to introduce the land, the project’s current initiatives, and give people a chance to experience a setting that we wish to offer the larger community (you out there, my social reach!) for the practice of building, nurturing and being in community.
By simply spending time on the farm, lending a hand where you can (or wish to learn), preparing and partaking in common meals, sharing your skills and wisdom, making new friends and having your children interact with caring and inspiring adults. Nurturing a place that you like and want to regularly come back to. You don’t have to live here to enjoy, and benefit from, this place.
Our property is designed for and meant to be hosting interns and visitors. We can easily lodge, cook for and sit 12-15 people comfortably. The place is being designed to also have multiple activities going on at the same times, in order to offer a pallet of skills building that makes each visit a treat of learning (and sharing). About things, plants, self and others. Building community in the way we weave ourselves in the fabric of a creation.
From the flow of people and activities at the farm, our intent is that over time, a small group of people will emerge that will have the skills, preparedness and support to take residency at the property.
So to clarify to many who have asked, we are not yet a “community”. Just builders of a foundation for a future community.
I often tell people I don’t know if I’ll live here once a “community” gels and has co-created all the governance agreements it needs to ensure its future. It’s not that important for me as long as a new regenerative stewardship of farmland is practiced here, with the well-being of future generations in mind.
But for the time being, I am here, grounded and prayerful, managing my energy and resources in the wisest way while I await for the community to arrive.
Today, Natalie is coming for 3 days with her daughter Lysette. Another Natalie comes Monday to help. Evie will come lend a hand for a while after July 5th. Kimberly arrives on July 12th for an extended period of time.
All women!
It’s interesting because Marlene, a Mil Abrazos Board member, recently stated in an email:
“I wonder if you could mainly call on women to create a community - where you are not the stirrer who holds the reigns - but assists with your knowledge. I know there are many successful communities having been started by women in this country, growing food together, and naturally children become part of these settings - learning in the process of living. I am often in awe of the inventive positive ways and solutions that are being found and developed by women - having lived under oppressive patriarchy and belittlement for centuries - we have observed and honed our various skills mentally and physically - but also deep seated insecurities have stifled our trust in our wide-ranging capacities and strength - due to repetitious conditioning that we are weak and feeble and fit only for certain work - and yet - in my upbringing I saw that women worked seemingly endlessly - and where the backbone to success …. Am sure you know of what I’m saying here - you grew up in similar cultural ways …..The answers will arise naturally if we make space for them”.
If you’ve been following my adventures on the land, you may remember the account of a journey (https://www.facebook.com/poki.piottin/posts/10221806198047805) where I met the deepest of fears within me, and also received a clear message of “Women are now in charge” and “The project will be run by Hispanic and Native women”.
So here we are!
This is an invitation for all of you, my social reach, especially those in New Mexico, to help build this place. This is not a reality show or a spectator sport! This is the real deal!
Mil Abrazos is a project with big questions:
- How do we reclaim land into the Commons?
- How do we repopulate and regenerate farmland?
- How to be build the communities of the future?
- How to we build and nurture places of practice for community?
- How do we make a farm a school as well, to teach life skills to people of all ages.
- What regenerative agricultural practices do we need in order to feed future generations?
- How do we raise children in community?
- How do we care for the sick and elders on the land?
If any of these questions tickles your inspiration, there are countless way you can participate in the building of this community environment. From sharing this post to extend our social reach, to referring us to people who may be interested in being interns, financial sponsors, creative contributors or advisors.
Right now, these are positions we need filled:
- Intern with a serious desire to learn agricultural, mechanical, carpentry and project management skills.
- Bookkeeper familiar with Xero (system already set up)
- Airbnb and Hipcamp manager (can be done remotely)
- Beekeeper to check and possibly treat bees for mites.
- Outdoor Equity Grant coordinator (a paid position).
- Roofers (metal), welders and carpenters to continue building the farm building.
- Volunteer coordinator (person must first be familiar with the land and our activities)
- Grant writer ASAP (2 grant deadlines are coming up and we have grants we have written that need to be edited and resubmitted).
- A core group dedicated to tending the 2.5 acre Blue Corn field.
- A media-web person to manage our new Wordpress website.
- Parents to help brainstorm and design our environment for children and teenagers’ skill building activities.
Our work exchange is usually 4 hours a day. It gives you plenty of options from light to heavy duty work. The rest of the time, you have a superbly quiet environment to play, read, explore, tinker, nap in a hammock, enjoy the company of charming four legged, walk to the river and more. We highly encourage people to come for an overnight to enjoy the full spectrum of this sweet setting.
So I want to say thank you again to all those who responded to my last FB post with calming and reassuring voices.
The most striking voice said “I am well aware of the circuitous and challenging paths we find ourselves in when we attempt to live according to our vision and guidance. You are so capable and rooted in practicality as well, and I think in being with so many gifts the perfecting process can be excruciating at times. But the old cliche is true...you did not come so far... to see your vision turn to dust. Instead, it is sure to rise up stronger. If there is a way for you to let go a bit at moments and let Spirit do the work, the invisible work that I am certain is going on at this time, the help and guidance you need now, will find its way to you. The corn is listening, the Earth is listening, the air is listening, water is listening. I thank them, I thank you, I thank all who have brought their work to you and I thank difficult spirits, too, but ask them to allow Grace to enter now and make its beautiful, light and easy presence felt, ushered in by Summer”.
That day, which was on Solstice, I took some time off to sit. I decided to journey that night to indeed, ask Spirits for grace in the mix. Hard, focused, selfless work I know, but grace often eludes me when I am overworked, over-heated, and over-worried because I am holding so much.
The moon that night was extraordinary. With a broad halo and a cloudy sky resembling a snake skin. I bathed in the moonlight. I just let go to receive something. I had to surrender because I was flirting with despair, exhaustion, hopelessness and a sense of failure.
What I bathed in was cooling white light, imbued with calm, moisture and wisdom.
I am grateful.
I look forward to a dynamic engagement from this community, to help us continue building what we have started.
Questions?
poki@milabrazos.org
505-557-7962
Mil Abrazos Community Land Trust is a 501(c)3
Donations of cash, stocks, vehicles or material goods are tax-deductible
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