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This farm that
Lucinda and I
began in May 2005 is my second attempt at farming - happily a more
informed one than the 15-acre
farm I attempted to build in the late 1970's in Fulton County, PA. That
earlier
experience, which included two years working on a mid-size cow dairy
farm, at
least
introduced me to some equipment and honed my carpentry skills as I
built an
octagonal home for my young family that still stands. Most
of my life and
career has
been in nonprofit work. Before and after
getting a PhD in Sociology from Emory University, I have worked in
Washington
D.C. (twice), Birmingham AL, Atlanta GA and Baltimore MD in programs
and
services helping homeless people. Much of
that life I shared with my first wife Claire Marie Carmody, also my
partner in that earlier farming adventure, who died at 43 years of age
from cancer in 1990. My
faith and my abiding interests in protecting our environment,
practicing nonviolence, ending war
and struggling for justice all contributed - along with finding a
wonderful
partner in Lucinda - in maintaining a desire to live on the land and
ultimately coming to this place. Today I
am perforce joined in a fight against the dangerous practice of
drilling into
the Marcellus Shale below us for methane gas. I continue to feel
Lucinda at my
side, in my heart, whatever may come in the days ahead.
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Lucinda
Hart-Gonzalez, PhD
March 31, 1950 - November 14, 2011
My partner in life and
co-founder of this farm died on November 14, 2011 just five months
after being
diagnosed with
Stage 4 lung cancer. She had a fascinating life as daughter of a
renowned physicist, mother of two daughters Analiese and Carla from her
20-year marriage to a Peruvian man and his entire fascinating family
(who all still love her), and a career that spanned academia, acting,
music, and a post at the State Department. She was fluent in Spanish,
spoke excellent French and even some Quechua which she learned as part
of her doctoral dissertation in Social Linguistics. Her obituary here
tells more of the expansive, joyful and productive life she had, right
up to this farm when she threw herself into serving the sustainable
agriculture community in many ways. This farm that Lucinda
loved so
well will continue. On May 12, 2012 we will scatter her ashes on
the high pastures and she will join forever this land she loved.
Portrait
by Howard
Nuernberger, Penn State
Agriculture Magazine
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Wyatt is an English
Shepherd, bred as the classic
all-around farm dog, and he is an
Excellent Dog. He is smart and good natured and is One Lucky Dog to
have the run of the farm. Lying in front of him, we got Bella to
be Wyatt's companion. She
is a Springer Spaniel/Kitchen Sink Mutt composed of wriggles and
bounces with a fluffy white tail at one end and steel-trap jaws at the
other, set below the world's most mournful eyes. Wyatt and Bella
attend to everything
and everyone on the farm. They do guard duty, barking at
everyone that passes by, especially the horses drawing buggies and
carts and announcing all visitors. They are very friendly. When
you come to the gate, just say "Down" and come on in. These two
beauties have nothing but welcoming in mind for you.
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