Giving Thanks and Looking Forward
Written by Rachel Wohlander
November 16, 2018

Hi friends! We’re wishing you all a fruitful season of giving and gratitude.

There’s a palpable shift here at Terra Cultura. There’s a chill in the air, and even the promise of rains next week. But more than that, after nearly 8 months on the land, we’re entering a new phase in which our vision and programs are solidifying and expanding. We’ve been taking stock of what we’ve accomplished in the past two years, and it’s a lot! This time two years ago, Terra Cultura was still a very big dream, and now, with your help, it’s in full swing. As our plans for the next several years take shape, we’re realizing how much work we have to do, and how excited we are to do it. I hope you’re ready for even bigger dreams ahead for Terra Cultura, because we are. We’re so grateful for your support along the way. 

Many of the programs that are currently in the works are the result of community members approaching us to express a local need. Here are some of the exciting upcoming initiatives that local farmers, educators, artists, and diverse community leaders have asked us to operate and facilitate: a collaborative CSA to help small organic incubator farms find local markets, an after-school eco-arts program for underserved youth, a community market for local artisans and growers, revitalizing elementary school garden projects, a community collaborative public eco-art mural, on-site community eco-art installations, a farmer’s resource-sharing collective, and developing curriculum that meets the Next Generation Science Standards. This is all in addition to our on-site initiatives, including a raised garden bed to make our programs accessible to people of all physical abilities, and an outdoor classroom to host hands-on eco-arts educational workshops for people of all ages.

We’re making dramatic progress on our teaching farm and infrastructure as well. There are exciting volunteer and intern opportunities to help with farm and infrastructure projects. We’re preparing for winter, which with our slope and sandy soil, means everything we can do for erosion control and water harvesting. And of course we’re always working on our major farm project: regenerating the soil which was depleted of nutrients by previous tenants, while putting into practice resource-conserving land management methods that contribute to healthier local ecosystems for plants, animals, and people.

It’s all very exciting, but we can’t do any of it without you. You probably know by now that we’re in the middle of our big fundraising push for 2018. So many of you have contributed, volunteered, and offered your support, and we are grateful for that every day. If you haven’t had a chance to donate yet, we really hope you’ll consider clicking this link and giving what you can. All donations, large or small, help us to empower and educate the next generation of ecologically-minded culture makers. We think it’s a really important time to be working towards cultivating local communities that are empowered to advocate for a better world socially, economically, and environmentally. That is Terra Cultura’s mission, and we hope you’ll join us in making it possible: terracultura.org/donate. Monthly donations are especially helpful to us right now! Just a dollar a day goes a very long way, so click the link, and then click the box to make it monthly. Thank you so much for your friendship and support! We can’t wait to share this next exciting phase with you. (By the way–have you seen our video update yet!?)

Wishing you abundance and laughter with friends and family as we give thanks for nature’s bounty. Let’s work together to keep nature bountiful for future generations. 

Written by Rachel Wohlander

Rachel Wohlander is a co-founder, and the executive director of culture and education at Terra Cultura. She is an interdisciplinary artist and educator with a background in performing arts and creative writing.

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