This week we are having our first real taste of winter at Cobb Hill, with snow on the ground (finally!) cold sparkling nights and blue sky days. It inspired me to set out this afternoon with my camera to see if I could capture a little bit of the beauty of it all.
More than a year in the process of writing and representing twenty years of practical experimentation, Stephen's newest book, Horse-Powered Farming for the 21st Century has just been released. It builds upon his first book about animal power in the small farm The New Horse Powered Farm, and includes contributions from dozens of farmers working with horse power in the US and Europe.
Read MoreThis Sunday we had a great treat. Instead of two or three adults volunteering to cook, the seven and eight year olds offered to cook a feast for us all (they had a bit of help from Jenna and Coleen). They planned the meal, cooked for a group of around 40 people, and helped with clean up. it was a great meal of burritos with ice cream cone cupcakes! Fun was had by all (in the cooking and the eating). Huge thanks to the cooks!!!
On December 13th, we celebrated St. Lucia's Day with pastries for breakfast, a roaring fire in the den and a very special visitor. This Swedish tradition comes from stories that were told by Monks who first brought Christianity to Sweden.
We moved in the middle of winter
We get to take care of the Chickens one day a week and help out with the sheep when we can.
I think Charlie has more fun than anyone
Visitors often come to Cobb Hill and are taken by things here. Sometimes, they write a story, or a song or even make a movie about us. Here is a video for Episode 75 of The Perennial Plate. Not only did the filmmakers make us a movie, they also made us a meal.
What is the secret ingredient behind some of the most innovative and promising approaches to climate change, approaches that protect the climate for the long term while increasing health, well-being and equity today?
We think it’s a particular type of leader – one who is able to implement solutions that solve multiple problems for the same investment of time and money, and I am off to Paris and COP-21 to test and refine our thinking.
COP-21 provides a focusing point for tens of thousands of change agents from around the world. Within the official venue – as well as at hundreds of events outside of it – these thinkers and doers are gathering to share their work with one another. Among these thousands of people, we know that there are very many multisolvers:
We love tracking and sharing these examples, and expect to bring many more back from Paris.
The Climate Interactive team is heading to Paris for theUN climate talks taking place in the next two weeks. Drew Jones, Ellie Johnston, Travis Franck, and Beth Sawin from the Climate Interactive staff team will be there. Professors John Sterman of MIT Sloan and Juliette Rooney-Varga of UMass Lowell will also be joining us in Paris as well.
(note: two community members, Beth Sawin and Phil Rice work at Climate Interactive. We are thrilled to share information about their upcoming work in Paris and invite blog readers to participate through webinars.)
If you’re in Paris, it would be great to connect! Details about our activities are listed below. We would especially love to see you at our World Climate COP21 Simulation event and our COP21 exhibit booth.
If you’re not in Paris, join one of our webinars to follow updates.
On Sunday we had a day harvest celebration. We started off, in the below freezing temperatures, with cider pressing and scarecrow making, then moved the newly painted chicken coop into it's winter location near the barns. Of course, a good chicken coop moving needs some celebration, so Alan (painter-in-chief of the coop) and Ruth served up some root beer float in the Common House. Dinner was pot-luck with the 'rule' that all the dishes had to be composed of ingredients grown at Cobb Hill (with the exception of salt and spices). From baked beans to corn bread to a multitude of winter squash concoctions the food was bountiful, varied and delicious. And we finished of the day with singing, drumming and hanging out in the den, munching on popcorn which was (you guessed it!) grown at Cobb Hill. I'm looking forward to next year's harvest celebration already!
Read MoreCobb Hill member Stephen Leslie is a farmer and a writer. We thought you'd enjoy one of his latest pieces, a reflection on ecology, farming, climate change, herons, and horses.
Read MoreWell, the goose is back to nesting in the hay loft window---we guess this must mean we are done with haying season. More than 4000 bales got put away in the barn. Thanks so much to everyone who pitched in---and special thanks to Hal who was a mowing and a baling like a house on fire.
Read MoreCobb Hill is a community of people who want to explore the challenge of living in ways that are materially sufficient, socially and ecologically responsible, and satisfying to the soul. Located in Hartland, VT on 280 acres.
