Contemplation Precedes Cultivation
We are in a state of great change! Life as we knew it changed dramatically in January 2018 with the birth of our daughter at the foot of our bed here at Ardea. It has been a glorious transformation into a family of three. As human animals caring for our young, we immediately experienced some major role and priority shifts as Stacey became devoted to the care of Meissa and Alex began carrying the majority of homestead and business tasks alone.
We spent the winter of 2018 re-envisioning life and were preparing for a a vibrant growing season in 2019. However, we were never able to embody these plans because on April 1 we entered into deep and unexpected crisis. To make a very long and complex story short, we discovered some major issues with our old farmhouse, including the presence of lead based paint inside and out. We were forced to immediately vacate it. Since then so much of our time and energy has been spent trying to pick up the pieces, learn to coexist with gracious family who we have been living with here on the land, and figuring out next steps, all with our wildling one-year old running beneath our feet. Whew...take a moment to breathe with us.
Things are looking up as we will soon settle into a new way of life that has been a dream of our's for a long time. We are creating a homesite far back on the land of Ardea where our little family will dwell on the forest-edge in the little home - named Terrapin - that you see here. As anyone who has been through crisis knows, there comes with it an immense blessing of insight as the day to day assumptions that had been guiding you become visible again. There is an opportunity to reinvision life from this place of collapse. And that is just what we are doing.
We are surrendering to the reality that Stacey's work here at Ardea is going to be wrapped up for a long time in the care and unschooling of our daughter, Meissa. Also, that Alex cannot do all the things we've been doing under the umbrella of Ardea alone. There are parts that will continue and also parts that will shrink and/or disappear.
As we move through the year we will do our best to provide updates on the new plans and dreams we have for this place. We intend to open up an application process for individuals, families, and even organizations who may have an interest in future collaboration and/or cohabitation here at Ardea. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, please visit www.dwellerofthewood.com for details on the expanding Feralwood project and Nursery that lives onsite here at Ardea, as well as writings by Alex.
Wild blessings!
Stacey, Alex, & Meissa
We spent the winter of 2018 re-envisioning life and were preparing for a a vibrant growing season in 2019. However, we were never able to embody these plans because on April 1 we entered into deep and unexpected crisis. To make a very long and complex story short, we discovered some major issues with our old farmhouse, including the presence of lead based paint inside and out. We were forced to immediately vacate it. Since then so much of our time and energy has been spent trying to pick up the pieces, learn to coexist with gracious family who we have been living with here on the land, and figuring out next steps, all with our wildling one-year old running beneath our feet. Whew...take a moment to breathe with us.
Things are looking up as we will soon settle into a new way of life that has been a dream of our's for a long time. We are creating a homesite far back on the land of Ardea where our little family will dwell on the forest-edge in the little home - named Terrapin - that you see here. As anyone who has been through crisis knows, there comes with it an immense blessing of insight as the day to day assumptions that had been guiding you become visible again. There is an opportunity to reinvision life from this place of collapse. And that is just what we are doing.
We are surrendering to the reality that Stacey's work here at Ardea is going to be wrapped up for a long time in the care and unschooling of our daughter, Meissa. Also, that Alex cannot do all the things we've been doing under the umbrella of Ardea alone. There are parts that will continue and also parts that will shrink and/or disappear.
As we move through the year we will do our best to provide updates on the new plans and dreams we have for this place. We intend to open up an application process for individuals, families, and even organizations who may have an interest in future collaboration and/or cohabitation here at Ardea. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, please visit www.dwellerofthewood.com for details on the expanding Feralwood project and Nursery that lives onsite here at Ardea, as well as writings by Alex.
Wild blessings!
Stacey, Alex, & Meissa