It’s the end of the Shmita year, the 7th year in the ancient Jewish agricultural justice tradition in which debts are forgiven, the enslaved are released, and our fields are released from cultivation. Traditionally we gather at Sukkot to conclude the year, and begin a new cycle full of intent for growing justice, solidarity and community resilience. Join us on Saturday October 8 at the beautiful Farm On Jennings for study, imagining your personal and communal next 7 year cycle, and to volunteer in the fields for a fall farm cleanup.
The Farm on Jennings has been fallow all season, due to illness in the family, and our work will assist the farmers in re-gathering all the pieces of the farm that were released this year. We’ll weed the perennial food forest, harvest pears, and weed the hoop house. This is a unique opportunity to actually see what it must have been like to reclaim food-growing and cultivation after a year in which farming was not done. RSVP Required.
This event is not for families with children younger than 15 due to farm safety issues, and please do leave your beloved dogs at home for this!
Where: The Farm on Jennings 6900 Jennings Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Dates: Study and Farm Re-Cultivation: Saturday, October 8.
Shmita program 9:30 – 10:45; Farm Volunteering 11 – 3.
Farm Volunteering Only: Sunday, October 9, 10 – 2.
Please wear waterproof boots, long pants and long-sleeved shirt, bring a hat, and gloves if you want to wear them while working. Please bring a journal and one personal object meaningful to you in this past year for the study/visioning session.
Parking is available in the circular driveway and along Jennings Road. Simple Farm lunch provided.
Beit Sefer Schedule:
Saturday:
2-4pm Sukkot building and tent settling! (Dave and Martin) *Option to help AARC help spruce up Carol’s farm, Shmita celebration* Tools, more people to come learn how to set up a sukkah!
3-4pm Search for schach with Parents! (snippers, any beautiful boughs from your property to share, and your children’s favorite fruits, so we can hang these from our sukkah)
4-5pm Art and bruchot sign-making for the Sukkah! (Mollie and Marcy) Markers, cardstock, fun crafting items
5-5:30pm Dinner Prep with Marcy compostable dishes and flatware two old tablecloths, your own mugs and bowls
5:30-6pm Kosher Fleshig Dinner Potluck (with hot dogs to roast, felafel, pita, salad, tahini, and homemade pumpkin muffins, apples for snack, prepared dishes to pass, whole wheat bread with sunbutter and preserves)!
6-7pm Active all-ages Games! (Otto and Mollie) a rubber ball, a kerchief
7-8pm Havdalah, S’mores and Jewish ghost stories (not too scary) around the campfire! (we could use parent talent for this!) Smore fixings, Bring your havdalah sets, candles, grape juice, spices, phones, cool stories
8-9pm Flashlight reading and board games in the kids’ tents, bed!
9-10pm Sweet shirot around the fire, with warmed wine for adults, bed! Box of wine, pot to warm it over the fire! Rise Up songbook
Sunday:
7:00-8:30am Early Riser Walks and Ad-hoc yoga! (Parents) That special morning person who would like to lead yoga ad-hoc
8:30-9:15am Brekkie around the fire! (bring favorites– we’ll supply oatmeal, hot chocolate, (four gallons of milk and ground coffee, maple syrup, plus other goodies that can be eaten straight up or warmed over a fire in a pot that you bring )
9:15am-10am Israeli Dancing with Drake! Your “dancin’ shoes”/ comfortable shoes
10am- 11am Beit Sefer students meet in the barn! (Parents hang out, pack up, etc.) Pencil
11am- 11:30am Beit Sefer kids and families decorate the sukkah! **Option to help the AARC help spruce up Carol’s farm* More construction paper, garlands, glue, string and tape
11:30-noon Dedication and first shake of etrog and lulav in the Sukkah! etrog and lulav
Noon Goodbyes! *Option to help the AARC help spruce up Carol’s farm, Shmita celebration* Parents to join me in leaving
