Community Life and Meaningful Work for People with Disabilities
With great joy we announce the opening of the first High Spirit Community home in Great Barrington, Massachusetts! Our journey to this home started many years ago. Perhaps you were there at the Camphill concert at Carla Lynton’s house in 2000 when plans were first laid out. Perhaps you heard Paula Robison, at the Maroni’s concert in 2005 and again at Carnegie Hall, call for a Camphill in Massachusetts. For a long time we knew that a working farm and community for people with disabilities was needed in Massachusetts. Thanks to donations from our supporters we purchased a large home on two acres of farmland, and High Spirit Community Farm is up and running. Still, the most compelling stories of the journey are those of our first residents and our house-parents, told inside this newsletter.
As exciting as this fledgling program is, we are still short of our main goal: to purchase a larger farm property, hire a therapeutic farmer, potters and other workshop leaders, and to have a day-program offering work options for many people with disabilities. Our long term vision is High Spirit as a Grange - the hub of the community for people with disabilities, offering home, social life, and at the core, varied and real, truly meaningful work. We have people lining up to become residents, and day-program participants as well. We have many worthy people interested in becoming staff people - workshop leaders and house-parents. The neighbors and community have embraced us warmly, offering to have us work on the horse farm and estate properties that abut our current property. Still, what we need is room to grow, to serve many more people, and that requires a larger farm.
Our task at hand, first and foremost, is to buy a larger farm. To make the program work, financially, the business plan demonstrates that we can maintain programming, salaries and all the expenses IF we own the property free and clear. This requires us to fundraise 1.5 to 2 million dollars. We cannot thank you enough. Last year we raised over $170,000.00. These gifts have brought the dream of High Spirit to reality. We are on our way! Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help High Spirit Community Farm grow. High Spirit is most grateful for your support, in any scalethat you can.
Thank you!
From all of us at High Spirit Community Farm
High Spirit Board and Staff
Standing: Peter Von Mertens, Bob Swain, Dea Angiolillo, Martha Bedell, John Greene,
Eric Maskin Seated: Penni Green, Jennie Reins
Missing: Ginny Swain
Profiles in Spirit
William, 23, from Lincoln Massachusetts
William has an intractable seizure disorder and significant developmental delays. The typical Massachusetts arrangement for a disabled adult like Will includes placement in a group house overnight and weekends, and in a workshop during the weekdays. We knew he would not be able to handle the constantly changing staff at the house and workshop as well as the daily transport. With High Spirit and the Greenes we found the realization of our dreams for Will; the life-sharing home at High Spirit Community Farm has proven to be exactly what he needs. On good days when his seizures are fewer, he fully participates in family life and the gardening work. He is in charge of wheelbarrow trips to the compost, filling the birdfeeders, setting the table and doing the recycling, to name a few of his daily challenges and successes. On days when he has many seizures he remains in this same home with his High Spirit family’s support, joining in as best he can. Under this kind of flexible, loving, and respectful care he is both challenged and thriving. Every parent hopes his or her child will find a nurturing community life that encourages that child to be the best he or she can be. I have worried for so long that Will’s special needs might prevent his ever being part of such a community. High Spirit has provided it for Will.
Caroline, 26 years old, from Sherborn, MA, with her mom Darcy
Caroline contracted Herpes Encephalitis at the age of 5 months, leaving her with right hemi paresis, a seizure disorder, and totally non-verbal. At the age of 11 years she entered Camphill Special School Beaver Run where she grew and blossomed into a beautiful young woman. When we were first looking for a school for Caroline we looked for an environment that offered a full and nurturing life experience. Indeed, at Camphill Caroline found the daily life of family and friends and a learning environment that included working side by side with people who respected her and taught her to live life in a positive and fulfilling way despite her limitations. When Caroline was to graduate, we hoped she could find a place in a Camphill Community for adults. Despite our best efforts, she was not one of the fortunate few that found a placement. So, at age 21, and with great regret, we moved Caroline to institutional care. No longer given the positive encouragement to be her own person Caroline became somebody who required constant care. Stripped of her authentic autonomy she lost all enthusiasm and motivation to participate in daily activities. She became isolated, dependant, and spent much of her days passively listening to music.Because we knew life could be better for Caroline we continued searching and learned about a life-sharing community being formed in Great Barrington Massachusetts. The rest is history. Caroline is now a proud resident of High Spirit Community Farm and living the rich, joyful and fulfilling life that she so rightly deserves. Thank you High Spirit Community Farm and all of you that made this wonderful dream come true for us and especially for our daughter Caroline!
Barnyard Chatter
Next week we add another member to the household. We will add more houses and more farm work and in so doing we will support the expansion of this incredible type of care in Massachusetts. Our leaders John and Penni Greene and their children Eire and Fion moved in on July 1st. Additional support comes from Michael and Suzanne Pearce, who have come to lend us a hand for our first season. In these first few months the Greenes have worked wonders. They have cleaned up and furnished the seven-bedroom house, creating an especially warm, joyful, and loving home for all the residents.
From Left to right, standing: Michael and Suzanne Pearce, John Greene, Caroline, Penni Greene and Fifon Seated: Ben and Will Missing: Eire (at school at the time of the photo)
The pool has been cleaned and put to use. Everyone has garden duties, chores and therapies each day. We plan on further renovation projects in the house, and more land clearing for orchards and gardens.
Something to Crow About!
We have received gifts of a loom to begin weaving work, and a piano for music within the home, and our new chicken coop is ready for its own residents as well! The coop is designed with windows and with enough space to allow two people to stand and work comfortably.
Many thanks to volunteer carpenters Carl and Peter Von Mertens, who designed and built the beautiful new chicken coop.
Keeping Spirits High in 2009!
KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS
ABOUT OUR UPCOMING EVENTS
Spring Musical Event • Fall Harvest Festival
Do you know a young person with disabilities who might benefit
from life in this nurturing community?
Contact us at the Farm...
John and Penni Greene
144 Seekonk Cross RoadGreat Barrington, MA 01230
413-717-4034
...or at our officeBob and Ginny Swain
21 Bowdoin StreetCambridge, MA 02138
617-547-8286
contactus@highspirit.org
Thank you for keeping things growing!
High SpiritCommunity Farm
21 Bowdoin Street
Cambridge, MA 02138