Shmita is Coming!
The Jewish calendar sanctifies rhythms of rest and rejuvenation in cycles of seven: just as the seventh day (Shabbat) is a day of rest, the seventh year is a year of rest called Shmita.  And that year of rest starts in just a few days on Rosh Hashanah!

What is Shmita? According to the Torah, we should allow the land of Israel to lie fallow and release all debts. We also let down our fences and share our harvests with each other.  Sounds radical right? Well, that's what ideals are all about!


Inspired by the wisdom and values of the Shmita tradition, Pearlstone will be honoring the Shmita year here in a variety of ways: 

  • Much of our farmland will be taken out of production and nourished instead through cover crops that restore soil health and fertility.  We will also sell some of our animals, but don't worry!  There will still be plenty of crops and animals on the farm and new things to learn with special Shmita programming throughout the year-especially at Family Farm Days and a special Shmita Fest in spring 2015.
     
  • As we let our land rest, we will take a Shmita hiatus from our CSA.  We will also step back from production in order to formulate a new farm business plan for the next seven year cycle.
     
  • Similarly, we will be taking a Shmita hiatus from our apprenticeship program for young adults, learning from years past and reformulating our apprenticeship program for 2016 and beyond.  Shmita is the perfect time for visioning and renewal! 
     
  • Perhaps most importantly, we want to embody the Shmita values of rest and rejuvenation as an organization, so we are enabling and encouraging Pearlstone employees to use special "Shmita Days" during the year for both personal growth and community service.  Stay tuned as we share stories from our Pearlstone Staff Shmita Journal! 

What will Shmita mean for you and your community?  Join us in renewing this ancient wisdom for our time.  Learn more HERE.


THE ULTIMATE SUKKOT CELEBRATION!

  • Immerse yourself in Sukkot-the Jewish harvest festival-as it is truly meant to be experienced: on a  farm! 
  • Feast on delicious, healthy, kosher food in our new beautiful communal Sukkah.
  • Sleep under the stars in the Sukkah, or in our lodge rooms or beautiful rustic cabins
  • Build community through song, prayer, learning, games, and farm fun!
  • A la carte options: come for a day, a night, or just a meal during this four-day retreat. 
  • To learn more and register, visit pearlstonecenter.org/sukkot/.  See you in the Sukkah!


Join Pearlstone staff and apprentices at the People's Climate March as we make history.  This September the UN is hosting a summit on climate change in New York City.   We will join with citizens of all faiths and backgrounds in the People's Climate March to demand a world with an economy that works for people and the planet. 

THE HISTORY OF A NEW YEAR

Although Tishrei is commonly referred to as the first month of the Jewish year, and Rosh Hashanah as the Jewish New Year - it's actually the seventh month of the Jewish year and Nissan, the month of Passover, is actually the Jewish New Year! So what are we celebrating? One common answer is that we are celebrating the New Year from the creation of the world - true, but it's not that simple. Rosh Hashanah is actually the birthday of Adam and of Humanity, and not creation. Fittingly, the Hebrew calendar does not start with the beginning of time, but with the beginning of our time. For it is we who give time its particularly human meaning in our lives and in our year. Rosh Hashanah and Tishrei is the time we connect to our greater humanity and to the mitzvah we all share together which is to "serve and protect" our world. It is when we begin once again to reflect upon our effect on this earth, and to pray for the renewal of life in this year.
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