We watch out the window as winter deadens the garden.   The freezing and thaw of fall water loosens and cleanses the soil of silt and salts.  The dried leaves, stems and flowers will provide life-giving humus by spring.  In summer we will be ready to plant again to nourish the many hungry visitors exploring our farm school.  


Reflecting on the growing season mirrors the cycle of our mission. Quiet Creek Herb Farm & School of Country Living is dedicated to increase public understanding of the importance for conservation, ecological thinking and healthful living.  


In 2008 thousands of people interacted with us.  Pre-schoolers to high school students with their teachers and parents gathered information throughout the school year feeding their minds and imaginations.  Six weeks of summer camps for kids and for teachers provided opportunities on environmental stewardship.  Worm composting and recycling projects at Farmer’s Inn Restaurant, Jefferson County Vocational School, Hickory Grove Elementary School and Quiet Creek kept tons of biodegradable waste from filling the landfill.  Community seminars on Healthy Farms Healthy Schools, Keep It Clean the Natural Way, cheese making, earthen oven building, square dancing, and organic gardening inspired hundreds.    


We find students of all ages are open to learning traditional and sustainable concepts. Their lush green excitement has transformed into life changing endeavors.   They have a chance to rid their media-silted and industrial-salted minds of the corroded culture.  An evening, a day and/or a week immersed in Quiet Creek’s mission provides refreshment, not only in healthy local food, but also sound ecological thinking and conservation skills.

As Quiet Creek’s stewards, we gratefully share our time and knowledge openly with any one.   Blessed to enjoy God’s resources of renewable energy, abundant water, fertile soil, green construction, and collaborative partnerships; we feel passionately compelled to sustain this cycle.    


We carry on because of folks like you.  Your words of encouragement, your tax-deductible contributions, your hours of volunteering, and your genuine interest, all these gifts support Quiet Creek’s mission.  Thank you for another wonderful Quiet Creek year.  Happy Thanksgiving! 

The boys are excited about Christmas, particularly the gift component.  They’ve enjoyed repeating a joke they heard from their friend Ember . . . Darth Vader tells Luke Skywalker he knows what Luke is getting for Christmas.  Luke questions . . . how is that possible?  The dark leader replies . . . I felt your presents.

Gift giving has never been a strong force in our child/parent relationship.  In fact, tangible, extrinsic gifts fall low on our love language priority.  Claire prefers acts of service (feeding the worms) and Rusty words of affirmation (What a wonderful father you are!), far more than a new sweater or a necktie.  

The boys, however, are eager to open any package offered to them.  Since they were babies, we have continued a Christmas tradition that began over two thousand years ago.  This spiritual custom prevents wasteful, impulse shopping and unnecessary accumulation of stuff.  
The Gospel of Mathew tells of the Magi traveling from the East and giving the Christ child three gifts:  gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  The wise men set the precedent; the boys anticipate the same.  Every Christmas wish list is kept short and the gifts under the tree from Santa (A.K.A God) total six. 

We could implement the time schedule set forth by the Bible.  The Magi gifts arrived two years after the birth of Jesus, but we have a feeling that might not go over too well.  

We are ever mindful that The True Gift given to the world was God’s best.  He gave his only Son, to the wealthy and the poor, the young and the old, the African and the New Zealander.  
As parents we recognize this sacrifice.  It is so challenging to even consider giving our boys to anyone, especially knowing they would be treated poorly and crucified in the end.  

As Christ followers, we and the boys are thankful for the gift of Jesus Christ who has forgiven us and granted us eternal life.  May your Christmas season be filled with the love, hope, and joy of Jesus.