Here’s a koan that’ll get you thinking: “It all begins with the soil and yet it doesn’t stop there”. Science reveals the fact that billions upon billions of organisms are present in a spoonful of healthy soil. And that a similar quantity of organisms are present in a healthy body. The fractal nature of life, from the depths of the soil to the microscopic living membrane of our cells, forms networks that make up “soil” and “body”.

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts” – Aristotle.

The farm is a perfect example of this famous quote in action. We arrived on this piece of land 16 years ago, starting from scratch a second time on virgin soil and began to cultivate, grow, plant and harvest. In those first few years we pined the loss of our old farm, with it’s flourishing life of bird song and frog croak, and by comparison the new farm was desolate until one day, several years later, all manner of birds started to appear, a toad was sighted, ravens and vultures circled and new generations of gophers became active. Now, 16 years later, it just got a layer or two deeper when we made the shift a year ago to “no till” farming – it’s proving itself to be a game changer. It turns out that optimum soil health is when you do very little to it to disturb the structure/network of soil organisms. Plant roots find their way through these networks exchanging sugars and nutrients with bacterias and fungi, lifting them into leaf and fruit for us to assimilate as food. Humans as hummus is perhaps the easiest way to explain the connection. It turns out we can’t lead healthy lives if we don’t have access to healthy food grown in healthy soil.

As we move to ownership of the land in June we are examining all of the ways in which this “entity”, the farm, is so important to the community and how we can make it more accessible. Two great projects are being launched this year to meet these goals. First, we are making a corner of the farm available as a “kid’s garden” for homeschooling students to learn and grow; and secondly, we will soon be accepting EBT from CalFresh customers – a program that helps individuals and families on fixed income and whom meet certain criteria. They will be soon be able to use their CalFresh dollars with Outer Aisle Farm Stand and Bakery.

It’s been ten years since we stepped through the doors of the Outer Aisle Venue. The cafeteria walls and inner corral were transformed with fresh paint and open space, the echo toned down and a new vibe installed. It has literally taken the full ten years to come into full fruition and we are so happy to continue our original endeavor of creating space for all of us to be nourished.

There were many times in those first five years we wished we had never been so bold and followed our intuition. And then something miraculous occurred in the eleventh hour and we saved ourselves from falling into the abyss. The thing that saved us was simplification and with that clarification – a form of realism lodged into our senses and got us back on track.

Today we are owners of the venue, thanks to our generous partners – once landlords now financiers, and committed to creating a dynamic and caring work space that mimics our most intimate settings. It’s our dream to have the place feel like home when you walk in full of thoughtful and meaningful interactions not to mention intoxicating smells. If you get this far in the story then you’re up for a real treat! As visions do, they come around and around until they come true. Our original inspiration that fueled the ten year stint was the very successful Cafe that we created in Douglas Flat. Some of you may remember that delicious foray that set the stage for opening up Outer Aisle in our new location. Well here it comes again and this time we are taking all of the lessons learnt and giving it another go! Stay tuned as we bring the vision into reality and open up once again to hosting lunch again at the venue. As a teaser Eric has prepared one of his favorite soups, New England Clam Chowder (GF). It’ll be served both hot (in ToGo cups) and cold to take home to heat on one of these stormy winter nights.