Oh boy, if there is one thing I have learned as we have expanded our lives, it's that the bigger the vision and more you expand, the more help you need. My husband and I are pretty capable people and if there is something we want to do, we can usually make it happen. We are willing to learn and maybe even more importantly, we are willing to try…and fail if need be.

Over the past handful of years, since we have begun to raise animals (for fun and food) and expand our gardening efforts, in addition to upgrading our property and improving our home, most of the time I have a new idea of what I want to do and then tell my husband. The man is near genius in his ability to make my visions a reality. But, another reality is that he also works enough hours in each week to fulfill 3 full time work weeks. So, this means sometimes I just flat out need help. This is where one of the most incredible things has happened. We have developed community.

This hasn’t happened by our doing, it has literally come to us. Sometimes it has looked like my awesome dad coming over to help clean up the property, or a neighbor that saw we had 50 piles of woodchips that needed spreading and offered to come over with their tractor and spread them for us, or a friend that offered up their time to come learn how to clean chicken coops. Seriously, wanted to come clean chicken coops!! (If you don't believe in miracles… that my friend, is proof that miracles happen every day!) Other times a girlfriend would offer to come over to help plant flowers or pull weeds in my garden just because they wanted to get their hands in some soil, keeping their hands busy and their mind free.

This is a side of land stewardship that I never foresaw. I knew it was a passion of mine but had begun to allow it to become a burden I carried, instead of a joy I could share with others. What treasure I have found in allowing others to help me, finally realizing that it's a gift for them as well as help that I truly need. Plus, it just makes things so much more fun when you're doing it with friends.

I've also discovered that a lot of people are interested in what we are doing and want the opportunity to learn as well. I think many people desire to do the same but don't know how or where to start. I understand the feeling, having felt that way myself in areas that I felt were intimidating. There is so much to learn and its often easier with a resource to ask questions and even show you how.  This has created an opportunity for me to help some people either get started on their garden layouts, begin composting or get started with chickens, simplifying the process and removing all the guesswork so people can make their desires become a reality too.  It's a gift that keeps on giving and extends beyond them to the others they help in turn. I'm humbled and grateful for each of these opportunities and the community that has come around us in this journey. There's so much life in it that it helps me stay motivated to keep doing what we are doing and keeps me looking forward to the future.

So, cheers to the new people we will meet and the many adventures that lie ahead!