How We Use Our Time, Talent, and Treasure

By Casey, Caretaker

Last December, a crew came from the Netherlands to film Bethlehem Farm for their documentary about politics, climate change, and Christianity in Appalachia. An important query for them was, what will you do during the upcoming presidential election? The answer they wanted to know was who will I vote for in November when both candidates have their challenges. But that’s not the response I can give; I’d rather lean into a question that inspires action rather than a half-hearted answer of resignation. What I wonder is how we will engage with this election season in a way that is aligned with the mission and vision of Bethlehem Farm?

Remember the line from Friday evening group week: “Voting is important, but maybe what matters more is how we use our time, talent, and treasure.” 

If we truly believe in our capacity to participate in the mission of transforming lives, we as part of the Bethlehem Farm community have an important role to play in this particularly turbulent political sphere. Beyond voting, which is something we will each discern carefully, we must practice solidarity with Appalachia and raise the stories that we know to be true: talk about the work of our friends at Healing Homes, the heartfelt meals with Ruby, the joy of holding Shelly’s new kittens, the generosity of beloved neighbor Richard Hypes. Tell also about the exploitation of big corporations, mountaintop removal, and fracking, always emphasizing how the people here continue to be resilient. Commit to learning more about this place. You can see a list of books to read to learn more about Appalachian culture and challenges on our website.

When you inevitably find yourself in political spaces or tense encounters these next months, I urge you to share the personal examples that debunk myths and stereotypes of folks in this region. Listen with compassion and give each person the most favorable interpretation. Remember that through your connection to Bethlehem Farm, you are part of the dream of the mountain’s struggle. No matter what happens or who wins this election, we can and must honor our call to speak the stories of transformative encounter.    

---------------------

Ode to Molly

By Colleen, Caretaker

The community of Bethlehem Farm waved a fond farewell at the end of May to long-term Caretaker and unofficial naturalist, Molly Sutter. We first encountered the delightful Molly as a high school volunteer with Merion Mercy Academy, then continued to enjoy her presence as a Summer Servant over the ensuing years. Molly quickly became known as a friend to amphibians, reptiles, and all "puppies" (her affectionate name for any animal), and a master in the garden. Whenever one of the Fitts kids would find a critter around the Farm, they quickly ran for Molly to help identify it. The Farm spaces have also been enhanced by Molly's varied artistic abilities, from an updated mountain scene on our kitchen counter to inspiring words painted on the hawk house to beautiful watercolor pieces for our benefit fundraiser. She has a knack for making order out of chaos, having cleaned, organized, and labelled nearly every inch of the farmhouse and garden storage spaces, at least once each. The farm honeybees are also fond of Molly, as she always makes sure to get me and the other beekeepers out to the apiary regularly to take care of these magical little critters. As lead house manager, she has patiently taught hundreds (maybe thousands) of volunteers how to make bread, make a toilet clean, and make mistakes and grow from them. She has taught me about being a flexible cook -- while I like to have everything "just so" with an extra tray of food for a buffer and maybe two some days, Molly goes with the flow and always manages to make it all happen. An emotionally intuitive person, she has connected with countless people and offered support, understanding, encouragement, and wisdom. She is an important voice in our community, always thinking of those who may not speak for themselves and helping us care for everyone we encounter. As a poet and recent songwriter, Molly's creativity has found a new way to bloom as she shares her insightful, witty, and playful music with us. I'll also credit her with converting a few of us "poetry naysayers" -- I now can say that I enjoy a few poets, thanks to poetry shared with us by Molly.

Molly has embodied the spirit of hospitality and "Welcome Home" found at Bethlehem Farm, despite her initial opinion that she did not excel in the kitchen (she does). She has been the hub of care as house manager, and works tirelessly to help people feel welcome and heard. Whenever possible, she also heads out to worksites on ordinary weeks to get to know homeowners and keep home repair projects moving. While she can do any task she's asked to do, she has the specialties of doing detail-work and enjoying the muddy jobs. She has managed the gardens since her first days here, and has coaxed many plants to grow out of the sometimes jungle-like farm garden while teaching countless volunteers about our friends the plants.

Molly will be dearly missed every day, but we are excited to see what the future holds for her as she pursues graduate school work in Appalachian Studies and beyond!

---------------------

Worksite Updates
By Anna, Caretaker

April Worksites: 
Martha is an 81-year-old friend and neighbor who was having trouble getting in and out of her house. After having knee surgery in December, she had to walk a long ways around her house to get in (which takes a long time especially when bringing in groceries) or try to overcome the steps. Bethlehem Farm volunteers, led by Caretaker Jack, built a new wheelchair ramp, landing, steps, and closed in her porch with underpinning. Martha is ecstatic about her new ramp, as is her chihuahua.

We've also continued the work that we began in March at Lynn's. Lynn is the adopted grandmother of her entire neighborhood. A retired school bus driver and prison guard, Lynn has had a lot of experience with teaching people, especially kids, how to be a light in their community. Caretaker Casey carefully removed the old trailer windows, installed 13 new insulated windows, and is working on detailed trim work both inside and outside the house.

May worksites:

Volunteers and new Summer Servant arrivals have been working on supporting West Virginia Healing Home, a nonprofit in Ronceverte that started five years ago. Healing Home has a focus on women and addiction, and offers many services to the community: childbirth classes, postpartum support groups, addiction awareness, support groups for those who have lost a child to addiction, gardening courses, agricultural therapy for veterans, a baby pantry, soon to be soup kitchen and much more. Healing Home requested a wheelchair ramp, porch, and handicap accessible door, which would make them ADA compliant and eligible to apply for federal funding to help sustain their programs. They've quickly become a hub of support for the surrounding community, and we've enjoyed the partnership of working with them. Volunteers received Narcan training at lunch, while enjoying pizza and cookies from Aeysha and the many stories of former midwives Danette and Shay, who all help run Healing Home.

Bethlehem Farm has also been working to get Mary and David a new roof, and just in time to avoid summer storms. Mary's roof had just begun leaking through the ceiling when we came. Volunteers, led by Marcus and Casey, braved the scaffolding to install a roof in record time. Mary's home is a place for everyone to feel welcome, whether it's being greeted by her seven chihuahuas, coming into the kitchen for a chat with her and David, or enjoying some treats.

June worksites:

Bethlehem Farm met Easter when she contacted us about making her home more accessible and weatherproof. The back porch blocked her back door from opening, had little support to it's structure, and leaned precariously to the side. The bathroom floor had been slowly rotting due to a leak, and the floor had begun to cave in where she showered. She is also incredibly lonely, and while she has her beloved animals, expressed wanting to talk to someone. Caretaker Jack was able to diagnose the source of the leak in the bathroom, installed new sub-floor and flooring, and rebuilt the back porch so that it is up to code, stable, and doesn't block the exit from Easter's home. Volunteers have enjoyed her treats and stories, and Easter also loved sharing them. She was particularly touched when one of the volunteers offered to dance with her, since no one had asked her to dance in over 25 years!

Bethlehem Farm also worked at Ruby's. Ruby's home was in great need of two things: a new ramp, as the old one was steep and becoming bouncy as it deteriorated, and a new roof, which had begun to leak in several places. Bethlehem Farm volunteers, led by Marcus, installed a new metal roof for Ruby (it's green, her favorite color!), and have also built a new wheelchair ramp so that she doesn't have to worry about falling through to the ground when she goes down it. Ruby is beyond ecstatic and has expressed wanting to write thank-you cards to every volunteer who has helped rebuild her home so far.