What a ride! My life, my ride! Well it was, and then there was the baby, Cedar Jace Jones. And he promptly ended my pretend sabbatical, and called me to jump back in with both feet, while finding time to be the best attentive Dad I can be. I am up for it all. This life is precious, and can be an invitation to creatively do-good. If you have tasted the beauty that comes with helping others, you know there is nothing that compares. So I am gathering my spices and herbs for the continuation of this epic stew - the one that goes on for years and years and feeds villages and continents.
So how do I make the biggest impact in this world? This is the one that keeps me awake on those odd nights that I can't sleep. Take care of self (pretty big task, getting better at it, though the toddler takes up lots of time), take care of family (check, we do it together), take care of my place (Whitestone Farm is always growing, and taking care of me too), and care for??? How to focus is my big question? And who are my allies, cohorts, compadres, co-creators?
I am looking back, and the answers are coming. You have been talking about a hub of place-based projects for years. You have been actively working on two for the past 20 years. Thousands of trees are in the ground, many buildings shelter inquisitive learners, and soils have been enriched and deepened. And we have been noticed by many, so how do we bring it all together, into a powerful glocal impact organization?
What is there to learn from the past?
My first project, Whitestone Farm is still up and running, it did have a year rest, but has been in production for some time now. I currently live here with my partner Meghan Cole and our son Cedar. This was a junkyard when I took over stewardship in the mid 90's. Now it is clean and full of beauty, the gardens are productive, and the forest is growing. We have a small loose community that is caring for the place. Big lessons to learn here, perseverance, comes to mind. Start small and do what you can. When I started I had next to no skills, but gained them as we picked up trash and restored the 100 yr. log cabin. Also, I feel in love with the land. Guess I remembered the early days when my Uncle had it as a hippie drop out, was sweet and wholesome. And the spring, creeks, and fresh waters have always been my friends.
The second larger project is the Virgin Island Sustainable Farm Institute on the island of St. Croix. It has been 200 acres of hard work and play. Looking back I see a playground of experience. We had resources to build and that we did. The project was ambitious and large for its vision, and especially for my inexperience as a general director. Was I over my head, absolutely, but youthful vigor and a deep pocket kept us busy building the dream of the future. The farm was our canvas, one that I designed and created with my best intentions. To this day, food is being grown, trees are getting massive, and children and students are still coming to learn in this tropical paradise.
So what went wrong? I was not grounded into my biggest truest self. I needed time to mature to face the myriad challenges posed by a project that essentially was a school and a farm, both very demanding on their own, and more so together. Our budget was big for building, but not so big for management, and then. The bubble broke just as we had the infrastructure ready to receive programs and students. The reality of living on an island way off the main land was setting in. It was not easy for people to pay to come to all the wonderful programs we were offering. Although we had some success in that realm, it did not do what I had projected.
So, mistakes - we started too big. We needed a better management team from the beginning. We were too capital intense though out the project. We should have established our revenue streams sooner. And the tropics are paradise if you visit for a week, but can be cruel when you live at the mercy of the elements for years on end. Beaten and blue, I limped away with a smile, knowing that i had done some real good in the world.
Forward to now, what am I taking away?
I am looking for co-creators with big visions and practical skills.
Perseverance and dedication are important, equally are: rest, adventure, and family.
Place designs should be simple and phased.
So how do I make the biggest impact in this world? This is the one that keeps me awake on those odd nights that I can't sleep. Take care of self (pretty big task, getting better at it, though the toddler takes up lots of time), take care of family (check, we do it together), take care of my place (Whitestone Farm is always growing, and taking care of me too), and care for??? How to focus is my big question? And who are my allies, cohorts, compadres, co-creators?
I am looking back, and the answers are coming. You have been talking about a hub of place-based projects for years. You have been actively working on two for the past 20 years. Thousands of trees are in the ground, many buildings shelter inquisitive learners, and soils have been enriched and deepened. And we have been noticed by many, so how do we bring it all together, into a powerful glocal impact organization?
What is there to learn from the past?
My first project, Whitestone Farm is still up and running, it did have a year rest, but has been in production for some time now. I currently live here with my partner Meghan Cole and our son Cedar. This was a junkyard when I took over stewardship in the mid 90's. Now it is clean and full of beauty, the gardens are productive, and the forest is growing. We have a small loose community that is caring for the place. Big lessons to learn here, perseverance, comes to mind. Start small and do what you can. When I started I had next to no skills, but gained them as we picked up trash and restored the 100 yr. log cabin. Also, I feel in love with the land. Guess I remembered the early days when my Uncle had it as a hippie drop out, was sweet and wholesome. And the spring, creeks, and fresh waters have always been my friends.
The second larger project is the Virgin Island Sustainable Farm Institute on the island of St. Croix. It has been 200 acres of hard work and play. Looking back I see a playground of experience. We had resources to build and that we did. The project was ambitious and large for its vision, and especially for my inexperience as a general director. Was I over my head, absolutely, but youthful vigor and a deep pocket kept us busy building the dream of the future. The farm was our canvas, one that I designed and created with my best intentions. To this day, food is being grown, trees are getting massive, and children and students are still coming to learn in this tropical paradise.
So what went wrong? I was not grounded into my biggest truest self. I needed time to mature to face the myriad challenges posed by a project that essentially was a school and a farm, both very demanding on their own, and more so together. Our budget was big for building, but not so big for management, and then. The bubble broke just as we had the infrastructure ready to receive programs and students. The reality of living on an island way off the main land was setting in. It was not easy for people to pay to come to all the wonderful programs we were offering. Although we had some success in that realm, it did not do what I had projected.
So, mistakes - we started too big. We needed a better management team from the beginning. We were too capital intense though out the project. We should have established our revenue streams sooner. And the tropics are paradise if you visit for a week, but can be cruel when you live at the mercy of the elements for years on end. Beaten and blue, I limped away with a smile, knowing that i had done some real good in the world.
Forward to now, what am I taking away?
I am looking for co-creators with big visions and practical skills.
Perseverance and dedication are important, equally are: rest, adventure, and family.
Place designs should be simple and phased.
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