Dear F&W Community,
It is with great spirit that I want to let you know that I am retiring from Farm & Wilderness. I say great spirit
because I’ve had an incredible experience at Farm & Wilderness, and it’s time. My wife, Brenda, and I have many ideas for our next phase of our life in Barre, VT both personally and professionally. I’m excited to have more time for the DEIB consulting business, Strength Perspective, which I started several years ago with Dusty Clitheroe, and I expect to get more involved with the BIPOC community in VT.
As it says on my Circle of Light plaque, Farm & Wilderness saved my life. I came from northern FL during some tough racial times. About like it is now, actually, with legal permission for hate. I came to F&W and found my home and family. So much so that I live near my F&W family currently. I have had ups and downs, pain and sadness, joy and excitement, and all-around fun. I’ve made life-long friends. I’ve learned how to sit in silence, and how to motivate kids to do hard work and find joy in that. I’ve seen that our youth are much stronger than we give them credit for and can accomplish way beyond our wildest dreams. I’ve gained extra children who call me mom and fill my cameras with funny pictures that I find later.
I’ve raised my kids and god children at F&W and worked alongside one. I’ve watched our camping systems change from praying you have all the parts for your equipment to having all the parts and in great condition. I’ve been through so many changes at F&W. All changes that we had to work through and made us safer and more inclusive despite a feeling
of loss. I have the honor of working under every ED except for Ridge and Jack Hunter. I was a camper when Ridge was director. Jack was a mentor and made the best blueberry pancakes for our day off. I’ve been through a macrobiotic cook, floods, fires, extreme heat, intruders, and many other natural events at F&W. I’ve gone from mimeograph reports to computer reports.
I am excited to end my last summer as “Utility Player.” It is my favorite role at F&W. I do different things each day to help. It’s an excellent job for my middle-age onset attention deficit disorder. I’ll share more stories and reflections on an upcoming F&W Podcast, and I will be hosting some summer events, so keep an eye out.
I wish you all luck and look forward to spending my last summer as a full-time staff member with you!
Peace,
Polly
