The idea for a Jewish communal farm was born of my desire for community and spiritual connection, not just on Shabbat, but every day; and for a place where I could live my values not just through acts of tzedakah, but through all the activities of daily life.  This idea has taken on added urgency with the intensification of global problems--global warming, dwindling oil supplies, degradation of land and water, to name a few--that threaten to disrupt the systems upon which we depend for our most basic needs.  I believe that we will be able to solve these problems, not as individuals, but only by joining with others in community, and that these communities must be rooted in the economics of our daily lives.  In that sense, a communal farm would be a microcosm of a new and better world waiting to be born.

So, why Jewish?  Because it seems to me that an enterprise of this nature has an important spiritual component, in that it involves consciously defining one's relationships with other people, with the land, and with the natural cycles that underlie our existence.  And for me, the way I express my spirituality is though Judiasm--a feminist, egalitarian, earth-based, adaptable, ever-changing, soul-nourishing Judaism.  

Does any of this resonate with you?  Want to know more?  Then please go to the Vision page, where I provide more details about my vision for the farm, and describe some ideas for dealing with the challenges that will be involved in making it work.

If you are interested in being a part of this project, or if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, I would love to talk with you.  You will find contact information for me on the sidebar and the Contact page.

Thank you for taking the time to visit this site.  I look forward to meeting and working with you.

B'Shalom,

Michael Alterman