This is a memoir of our lives and sometimes risky decisions. We relate our early years, meeting and raising kids, and building the farm, the organic movement and a healthy community. We didn’t always go along with what most Americans were doing, especially in the areas of diet and health care, employment, debt and consumerism, energy use, and culture. In this book we explain what we did, why we did it, and how it turned out. We hope it is both entertaining and helpful to people wanting to fashion a purposeful life.
– Jack and Julie
Order your book directly from us by sending a check of $29, which includes shipping.
Make check payable to MHSC, 411 Sheldon Rd., Barre MA 01005. We will mail a signed copy of the book to you. $12.50 of your order goes Many Hands Sustainability Center.
When Pain Defines Everything
/in Newsletter /by AmandaJuly 7 2025 When Pain Defines Everything That sore leg last week turned out to be a bout with Lyme disease, my first since 2021. Similar to my experience that year, the pain was excruciating, by far worse than childbirth. But by Sunday we had a diagnosis, and I had my doxycycline and pain meds. […]
Solstice Update
/in Newsletter /by AmandaJune 23 2025 Solstice Update I hope you enjoy the attached video update of the west field at Solstice. Watch on Facebook Watch on Instagram Gratitude Friday was a special day this week. It is really nice when there are 9 of us in the field, and especially on the Solstice. Although some days seem […]
Gradients
/in Newsletter /by AmandaJune 16, 2025 Gradients Jack Kittredge Walking down our road this Spring has reminded me of the sense I had when moving to Barre with Julie years ago, that life here was a little more analog, flowing, not jerky. There are still seasons, sure, like in the city. But they seemed to change more imperceptibly: […]