In Honor of a Life

World peace through nonviolent means is neither absurd nor unattainable. All other methods have failed. Thus we must begin anew. Nonviolence is a good starting point. Those of us who believe in this method can be voices of reason, sanity, and understanding amid the voices of violence, hatred, and emotion. We can very well set a mood of peace out of which a system of peace can be built. 

- Martin Luther King, Jr., December 1964

Echo Valley Farm is preparing for the best planting season ever. Baby lambs and goats will once again romp. Barefoot children will delight in the wonder of seeds becoming food. Adults will help to build homes for one another, and will find more ways to live simply and live well. The people in the videos we have made for your enjoyment are not paid actors. The smiles are not put on. We are a growing number of people who are choosing life versus choosing battle.

The collaboration is flourishing. The earth is a glorious cornucopia, we are all indigenous to her, and there is enough for all, is our growing awareness. One time a man came to Echo Valley to present his efforts towards peace and reconciliation of war. After observing our effort, he commented that we here “had chosen joy and for that reason, even the hardships that would come to us would be of joy.”

Choosing joy is natural to all of us. Kindness and learning are natural. Working together is a weaving of energy and skill, and an opportunity which brings our best to bear. It feels good. The land is a thriving classroom. Caring for her is gratifying. And we need to eat. The recognition that our food industry has deceived us with pesticides, antibiotics and cruelty to people and animals is slowly creeping into our consciousness. Change can be slow, or it can be thrust upon us. Here, at Echo Valley, we create our change. Because of the success we have had, we welcome others to consider community sustained farming, or, for those who enjoy city life, we hope you will check out the similar minded Growing Power.

Echo Valley Hope, Inc. has made the decision to increase our initiatives of peace. Each month we will dedicate an event, an action, money, and love to help establish peace. On January 29, at 7:30 pm, we welcome our friend, Sami Rasouli, founder of the Muslim Peacemaker Teams. Sami was the one who observed our joy, and it will be wonderful to share with him again. You are most welcome. In February, Echo Valley Hope will support The Water for Peace Project, an opportunity to bring clean water to schools and hospitals in Iraq.

Farms Link People is continuing to move forward. In mid February, we will return to Tennessee to explore the wonderful property written about in our blog.

Our calendar of events is filling for the year. Old friends like Sami Rasouli, Deb May, Helen Bond and Fode Camara will return, as will the benefit concert Widening the Circle. Our commitment to host International Day of Peace and Harvest Fest will close out the season. We will also welcome new friends like Jason Moon for his April 16 benefit concert for Veterans for Peace. In July, The Tillers will perform for our concert celebrating life, “There is Enough.” We will again offer our free classes in sustainable living. And we hope that Prem Rawat may be able to come to Wisconsin this year and address people of peace with his message.

You can help us by passing this e-mail or our websites to a friend; come, lend a hand and have some fun; or make a financial contribution to Echo Valley Hope, Inc. A little over $13,000 of a recent matching donation remains to be matched. This means that whatever your donation, it will be doubled, up to $13,000. Our activities rely on your acts of support, small and large. We do not receive government grants, nor are we looking for corporate dollars. Every gesture of kindness is adding to this stone soup – and, it is working. Thank you for your continued support.

To make a tax-deductible donation, send a check or money order to
Echo Valley Hope, Inc., E 14604 County Rd. F, Ontario, WI 54651,
donate online securely through our website,
or donate on Facebook here.