Updates and rethinkings

Following is my most recent post from "Greenwood Grove," another blog I run:

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Updates in a number of areas of life today, almost six months after my last one!

Yesterday (Saturday) I performed my first act as a newly-ordained Minister in The Nature Church of York, PA, and officiated at the wedding of two friends and fellow members of said Nature Church. A number of people asked me if I was nervous, and although I responded honestly, "yes, just a little," what really surprised me was how non-nervous I actually was. It felt... natural: just a particular manifestation of my general vocation to ministry, that I am finally able to live out.

My ordination in the Nature Church, which was coming up soon already, was accelerated slightly to enable me to officiate at the marriage of Shane and Traci - itself also accelerated, so that she could have an expensive dental procedure under his insurance. I was deeply honored and thrilled to have been asked to officiate!

And yes, this does mean that I am available to officiate at other weddings in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and probably other locations as well (although thus far I've only researched the requirements in MD and PA). So if you're looking for a wedding officiant, or know someone who is, feel free to contact me... I am also available to assist at other rites of passage, and to provide general spiritual guidance. Let me know if I can be of service!

In my previous post to this blog, I basically ruled out the likelihood of attending Sterling College for their year-long program in sustainable agriculture. I hope those words are tasty, 'cause I may be eating them! There are a number of reasons for this possible re-think, although some of the reasons why I thought that (including a painful and not fully functional right shoulder) remain in place.

I am currently in the process of taking the "Fundamentals of Human Physiology" prerequisite to Tai Sophia Institute's M.S. in Herbal Medicine, and my plans had been (and "officially" - e.g., until otherwise formally altered - remain) to start that program, the first and only fully-accredited graduate-level program in clinical herbalism in the U.S., this fall.

That was before I received my financial aid award letter. The short form is, $30,000 in student loans each of the three years the program requires means graduating with a student loan debt of $90,000. I don't think I can justify doing that, given an uncertain economy (to put it mildly) and the fact that an herbal practice would require being built from the ground up, and would take several years before being really remunerative.

Consequently, Sterling College is back in the mix. Adding to my inclination in that direction is C____, who when I broached the subject to her responded "I could hit you!" and reminded me that she'd been sad when I switched focus from farming to herbs! She also liked my "secret plan" of insinuating myself into the Sterling College community in hopes of eventually landing a teaching job there.

All of this probably will not occur this year: what I would be more likely to do would be to try to find more remunerative work, even if it's not in "my field," and save up some money (if possible), as well as get my condo in shape to be put on the market. Then, depending on whether I were to start the Sterling program in the summer or fall of next year, either next spring or mid-to-late summer I'd sell this place and move to Vermont with C____.

There we'd rent (unless I could land a place for both of us on campus) while I attended classes, and simultaneously look for our new place... a place where we could farm together, run an on-farm store to include not only the produce of our land, but also books, herbs, and related goods, and perhaps also offer sustainable-living classes and spiritual retreats. Who knows, maybe even wedding packages...?

That at least is the current plan! As the saying goes, "Want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans for the future!" But this at least seems like a more workable plan than spending 3 years going nearly $100K (probably very close to it, with miscellaneous expenses) in debt. And it would also push up the date at which, if we're as compatible in person as we seem to be via long-distance, we can get "hitched" ourselves, and start to think about beginning a family...

What will happen next remains to be seen, but unless something fairly miraculous happens to generate non-loan funding for Tai Sophia, it appears that my journey leads north to Vermont, in the next year or so!

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One thing is certain, and that is that I cannot continue at Cunningham Falls for much longer. Even if I were working there 40 hours/week, at $10.25/hour, it's still not enough to pay the bills. And since I'm usually working 32 hours/week, with an hour each way of commute added on to it, and taking a class, I don't have the opportunity to have a "side job." Unless I wanted to work all seven days each week, or a night shift on top of my day job! And that I simply can't do. I have enough trouble getting done all that needs to be done as it is. So I need to find something else, something more remunerative. And I hope I find it soon!

Good news from Sterling College!

Indeed, potentially excellent news. Just received the following letter from Pavel Cenkl, Dean of Academics:

Dear Tom,

Lynne Birdsall, our Director of Admissions, forwarded letter inquiring about Sterling’s Sustainable Agriculture degree program. From your email, your learning goals seem to be consistent with our program; I think that the breadth and scale of our program would certainly help you build on your experience and achieve your objective. I have attached an overview of a year-long program in Sustainable Agriculture, which, although it does not culminate in a degree, could be an appropriate vehicle further develop expertise in both practical and theoretical aspects of farming. This full-time program consists of Sterling’s core agriculture courses and room for further specialization in specific areas. There is also some flexibility in sequencing and scheduling.

As one of the smallest colleges in the country, we would look forward to working with you to craft a program to suit your specific needs. Please let me know whether the program described in the attached file is of interest.

Best regards,

Pavel

The program description he sent along is as follows:

One-Year Program in Sustainable Agriculture

The Sterling Program in Sustainable Agriculture provides opportunities for adult learners who hold B.A. or B.S. degrees (or the equivalent) to achieve competency in Sustainable Agriculture through a 12-month full-time course of study at the College.

The Sterling College Sustainable Agriculture program parallels the College’s mission by combining academic study, experiential challenges, and work. The College farm, consisting of solar-powered barns, pasturelands, gardens, fruit trees, a greenhouse, and a diversity of livestock, is a living laboratory for the exploration of sustainable agricultural systems. Working alongside faculty, students become involved in the farm through a college-wide work program, structured skill-building activities, and careful academic inquiry into farming systems.

Students study the principles of science and economics that underlie agricultural systems and learn a variety of agricultural techniques and practices applicable to the small, diversified farm and homestead. Further classes provide additional technical knowledge, explore and assess a range of agricultural models from biodynamic to corporate farms, and examine the human relationship to nature and agro-ecosystems.

Program Overview

Fall Semester

SS 140 Exploring Alternative Agriculture

AS 110 Agricultural Techniques

NS 245 Soil Science

AS 174 Draft Horse Management I: Driving Principles

Elective

Spring Semester

SS 212 Whole Farm Planning

NS 346 Plant Science

NS 315 Animal Science

AS 179 Draft Horse Management II: Work Applications

Elective / Independent Study

Summer Semester

Session One

AS 215a Agricultural Power Systems

AS 204 Livestock Systems Management

AS 209 Organic Crop Production

Elective / Independent Study

Session Two

AS 215b Agricultural Power Systems

AS 310 Permaculture Design (with certification)

Elective / Independent Study

This recommended course progression assumes students will have had exposure to courses in introductory lab science, ecology, and introductory math.

Please note that all residential students are required to participate in the Sterling College Work Program. For details on this program, please visit our online catalog at http://www.sterlingcollege.edu/cat.

All interested prospective students should contact Sterling College Admissions for information about applying as a non-matriculating student.

This program looks perfect for what I want to do. I have no real need of another degree, especially another bachelor’s degree; what I do need is basic, practical training and experience in the things I need to know in order to properly operate a small, diversified farm. And it looks like that is exactly what this program provides! So I am quite excited ~ bordering on thrilled ~ to have received this information. I am still not going to rush immediately into anything; it’s a major decision and a major step to be taking, and requires some degree of thought and prayer. But this actually makes it more likely than ever that next fall will see me heading north to Vermont.

Updating on this blog, and life in general

Previous visitors will note some changes to the focus, and even the name, of this blog. As I have written in the introductory blurb, the name “Albion's Meade” combines the ancient bardic name for England with a play on words: “meade” can be both a green meadow and the intoxicating brew Celts and Vikings alike considered the font of inspiration. It is also the working name of the small, diversified family farm I hope one day to own and operate: “Albion’s Meade Farm.” Much varied commentary may still be found herein, but a major focus will be my journey toward becoming, at last, a “yeoman farmer” in the Jeffersonian tradition.

Why this change? One reason is that I am currently out of work: Spoutwood Farm, where I have been employed in one capacity or the other for the last five years, is a non-profit educational organization, and the “non-profit” part became all too literal this year. With income failing to meet expenses, they were forced to cut my position, and therefore, me as well. This has led me to do a great deal of thinking and soul-searching, regarding my future, as well of course as more pragmatic job-searching.

Nothing is certain at this point, but the most likely outcome I can foresee is that I return to school, either in the Spring, Summer, or Fall of 2010; the program I am most strongly leaning toward is Sterling College's program in Sustainable Agriculture, after which I would start my own small farm (hopefully with the assistance of my “significant other”), most likely either in New England or Pennsylvania (Maryland, much as I love the state, is just too expensive). Although the Sterling program is undergraduate, I have found no graduate program which compares to the kind of practical, pragmatic, hands-on training provided there; with my existing academic background, I am hopeful of being able to complete the program in two years, same as for a masters. I am making inquiry, however, into the prospects of teaching at Sterling: combined with a small farm nearby, that would be by far the best of both worlds!

So, I am hoping to turn the challenge of losing my job into the opportunity of starting a newer and better life, one which is more integrated, fulfilling, and close to Nature. And as a writer, I am reminded of something I read some years ago – perhaps the best piece of advice ever given to a writer, especially an outdoor writer: “Live the kind of life that’s worth writing about!” That is something I have not really been doing recently. So, all things considered, I am optimistic about my future. With a little luck and a lot of hard work, I hope to be able to turn the challenge of unemployment into the blessing of satisfying, worthwhile work in harmony with Nature.

May it be so!