The Grovestead
  •  Blog
  •  Events
  •  Publications
    • The Family Economy
    • Durable Trades
    • The Grovestead Newsletter
    • Audio Recordings
  •  Gather & Grow
  •  Ivar’s Workshop
The Grovestead
The Grovestead
  •  Blog
  •  Events
  •  Publications
    • The Family Economy
    • Durable Trades
    • The Grovestead Newsletter
    • Audio Recordings
  •  Gather & Grow
  •  Ivar’s Workshop
  •  Blog
  •  Events
    • Farm Camp
    • Workshops
    • Internships
  •  Publications
    • Durable Trades
    • The Grovestead Newsletter
  •  Farm Stand
  •  About Us
  • Events
  • Faith
  • Family

Blest Be the Tie That Binds

  • September 10, 2022
  • 3 comments
  • 450 views
  • Rory

With great joy in our hearts, we just wrapped up our second Gather & Grow get-together. Last year was our first big gathering, and it was after that event that we realized we had a ministry on our hands. This year confirmed all I felt last year, and I simply felt grateful that we have been called to this work. It is good. I spoke to a friend after the event who’s been to both gatherings to ask her what she thought and she said “just like last year we got in the car and dreamed bigger dreams. That’s why we’ll keep coming.”

We feasted and fellowshipped and listened to a lot of thoughtful talks on Christian Community, the theme of this year’s gathering. (Speaker sessions are available for download here) But as always, it is the people who God calls together that make this event so special. We cap it at 20 families, and this year we had people come from Oregon, Texas, Kansas, Iowa and Wisconsin. This was remarkable to us!

Allan Carlson was our keynote presenter and having him to our farm was a real joy. His writings have been so influential for our own family direction—encouraging mothers to be mothers, fathers to be fathers, and for families to come back together to work at something meaningful.

The work of Gather & Grow is simply that: calling families to work together towards a shared vision, (rather than spending their days apart in separate pursuits) involving the kids in the work, using their gifts and talents as part of the family economy.

To that end, we had our first Children’s Show and Tell. This was so great we plan to make this an annual tradition. We had six kids share what ventures they have started up with their families. One boy bakes artisan bread and cookie bars each week to sell at their farmer’s market. He shared about how he has regulars now who come to buy his bread, and how he always sells out of the cookie bars. He even brought samples to share!

Ivar talked about raising meat rabbits, Elsie showed her knitting looms, another boy hatches chicks to sell, and another family told about milking goats, making soap and raising ducks, chicks and turkeys to sell. It was so fantastic to hear the kids explain what they’re up to in their own words, and inspire other kids to start thinking about how to contribute to the family economy.

And during the rest of the speaker sessions there was always lots going on for the kids and… lots and lots of “gaga ball” (dodgeball).

Elsie sold some of her hats and scarves and Ivar set up a little canteen of ice cream treats and pop. Hattie, Alden and Elias were faithful customers for Ivar, coming to me many times for a few more dollars. They are very supportive of their big brother!

We closed the weekend sharing hopes and dreams and what each person gleaned from the time together. Mostly we felt the goodness of kindred community—finding new friends who see what you see and want to move in the direction you are moving. It made me think of the C.S. Lewis quote:

“Friendship is born when one person says to another, What! You too?
I thought I was the only one.”

CS Lewis

That is the goodness of gathering together. I lost count of how many people said they discovered they were not crazy, they were not alone. We found kindred community and ended with full hearts and the gladness of having been together.

And once we said goodbye to the last family, we all took a nap.

0
0
0
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
Avatar photo
Rory

Rory Groves moved his family from the city to the country several years ago to begin the journey towards a more durable way of life. Rory and his wife Becca now reside in southern Minnesota where they farm, raise livestock, host workshops, and homeschool their six children. He is the author of Durable Trades: Family-Centered Economies That Have Stood the Test of Time.

Tags
  • family economy

NOW SHIPPING!

The Family Economy

Discovering the Family as It Was Designed to Work

"...a clarion call for the restoration of the family economy in the twenty-first century." —KEVIN SWANSON

PURCHASE


Durable Trades

Family-Centered Economies That Have Stood the Test of Time

"Not every book is necessary—not by a long shot—but Durable Trades is necessary." —WENDELL BERRY

PURCHASE


Receive our Print Newsletter!

We publish a free quarterly newsletter to encourage Christian families and cover articles about farming, family, and faith.

SIGN-UP

You May Also Like
View Post
  • Family

Awesome and Wonderful, part 2

  • May 13, 2025
  • Becca
View Post
  • Family

Field Trip to Seed Savers

  • March 26, 2025
  • Becca
View Post
  • Family

Snow is so fun.

  • March 8, 2025
  • Becca
View Post
  • Family

Sixty-five Years on a Farm

  • March 7, 2025
  • Becca
View Post
  • Family

Snow Day!

  • March 6, 2025
  • Becca
View Post
  • Family

Children Slow You Down

  • February 18, 2025
  • Becca
View Post
  • Family

Thanksgiving Talent Show

  • November 30, 2024
  • Becca
View Post
  • Family

Fall on the Farm

  • November 10, 2024
  • Becca
3 comments
  1. Susan says:
    September 11, 2022 at 3:46 pm

    Sounds wonderful. Wish I could have been there. I’m in CA.

    Reply
  2. Nancy says:
    September 11, 2022 at 8:55 pm

    How wonderful! So great that you’re having them!

    Reply
  3. Rosemary Pratt says:
    September 13, 2022 at 11:26 am

    I really appreciate your newsletter and your emails. This email today was especially helpful to me. Thank you.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts
  • MACHE in Duluth
    • May 18, 2025
    • 38 views
  • Awesome and Wonderful, part 2
    • May 13, 2025
    • 51 views
  • A Day at Blissful Bee Pastures
    • March 30, 2025
    • 235 views
Popular Posts
  • Managed Intensive Rotational Grazing for Sheep
    • December 27, 2016
    • 26.1K views
  • Where’s the Beef? It’s time to build our own supply chains.
    • April 25, 2020
    • 24.4K views
  • The Rory’s and the Becca’s
    • April 16, 2024
    • 23.2K views
EMAIL LIST
Contact
The Grovestead
  •  Blog
  •  Events
  •  Publications
  •  Gather & Grow
  •  Ivar’s Workshop
Copyright © 2022 by The Grovestead. All Rights Reserved.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.