I really like the flavor and texture of Ranch Dressing, but prefer this vegan recipe to the standard sour cream. It’s quick and easy to prepare and satisfies that desire for a creamy dressing.

• 1 cup vegan mayonnaise (Vegenaise or Nasoya Nayonaise)
• 1/4 cup soy milk
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp fresh chopped parsley
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Mix all ingredients together in a blender and combine until smooth. When I am in a hurry I even forgo the blender and mix everything together in a jar with a small whisk.

Enjoy!

Broccoli Plants

The Lettuce Bed

Last week The Farm School participated in the Bio-Regional Congress in many ways. The congress was a convergence of people looking to better their life’s through the way they interact with nature. It was also a space for all who came to share what has been going on in their various projects. The school offered nature based education to all the children of the congress. Most of the High School students attended the congress during and after school hours. Also the Congress used classrooms as a space for holding open-space workshops. This was a beautiful sharing of knowledge. With more than five countries represented at the
Congress, this really was an international event. – Noah Kindfield, Farm High School

I’ve designed the week to give you maximum rest and relaxation, with a full complement of adult and kid activities, something for everyone.

Come for all 5 days or just the weekend!
Register Online at www.farmcatalog.com

For more information and to see our current schedule of activities, visit www.sustainableliferetreats.com

Two are utilizing a relatively new form of construction that combines insulating foam and concrete, creating a tornado-proof structure with walls that have an R-value in the walls of R-22! Two of the new homes use spray soy foam insulation, also renowned for its great insulating properties and heating and cooling efficiency.

The Farm is also about the begin construction on a new duplex, rental housing for incoming and prospective members.

What is The Farm’s race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status?

Our main population have roots in the white middle class. Our early founding principle of a vow of poverty did not resonate with many other ethnic groups seeking greater prosperity and access to the American Dream. Over the years there have been numerous families and individuals representing people of color, but there are none here currently.

Although we no longer are bound to a vow of poverty, the local area has limited economic opportunity. Our general incomes for an individual family range from low (under $20K per year) to basic middle class($35K to $100K).

Could someone let me know a concern or two that the community has?

Our population is still dominated by the founding members. About 1/3 are under 40, which includes 2nd and 3rd generation members. The concern: Will there be a sufficient population of younger people to carry on the vision? How will the vision change? Will the core principles of nonviolence and community participation be transferred from generation to generation?

Who are the community leaders and is there any governmental authority?

Leaders are in the moment and are represented by people who have an established track record of making good decisions.

We work toward consensus in small groups and use democracy on larger community issues. The board of directors and membership committees are our two elected decision making bodies.

~ Michael

On March, 14, some friends and I went to Centennial Park for a peace action. There were only about 50 people, because it was pouring rain and it was freezing cold. I think that it was worthwhile to go, because I think that when people drive by and see that there are people standing on the sidewalk freezing just to tell them that peace is the way to go, some of the people in the cars really start to think.

~ Karuna Kindfield

We went to Centennial Park in Nashville on Saturday for a rally and held signs next to the road so people in their cars could see us. Then we went to a stage because there were a few speakers that talked about things like Free Tibet. I thought it was important to go because if you don’t go to things like this that how can you change anything? I would recommend going next year because the more people that go the more chance there is that we can make a difference and teach people how to be more peaceful with each other. This year there weren’t very many people because of the rain but hopefully there will be a lot more people next year.

~ Christina Davis

We went to the Peace Rally at Centennial Park in Nashville at the band shell. We went to a street with a lot of cars passing by and a lot of them ‘honked for peace.’ After a little bit we went back to the band shell and three people talked. I am glad that I went to the rally, but it’s not really fun to be cold and wet.

~ Kimberly Thomas

Going to the peace action was cool. It was really fun standing in the rain and having the people driving by honk in support (although I guess I don’t mind the rain as much as some people). It makes you realize how important peace is, that you and a bunch of other people will sacrifice their weekend and go and stand in the cold and rain just to raise awareness even a little bit. The talks that were afterward were neat too, but I’m mostly glad that I went to the Peace Day because of the action part.

~ Zachary Thomas

The peace rally in Nashville on Saturday, March 14th was a success. We did not achieve world peace, but the forty or so people that gathered at the entrance to Centennial Park on West End Ave brought a little bit of peace to everyone that saw us there on the street corner.

I went to this peace rally because it is important to let people know that the peacemakers are still here. Also we brought peace to that street corner. The most touching part of the rally was when we first got out on the street corner, Jake and I were giving everybody that drove by peace signs. This small child looked over at us and gave us a peace sign back, much to his mothers’ dismay. Fox news paints peace protesters in a bad light and now that kid knows that they are lying when they say peace protesters are bad people. He might even make the leap of thought to the fact that Fox news might be lying to him about other things too.

After holding signs on the street corner for about an hour and a half, we went back to the band shell for a very spirited sharing of causes. We heard from a Tibetan refugee for peace, a black Methodist preacher for peace, and an old hippie preacher for the separation of church and state. It was all in all a wonderful and very educative day.

So I’m very happy that I went to the peace rally because I feel like we really planted some seeds of thought in the minds of everyone who drove past us. It was all in all a wonderful and very educative day.

~ Noah Kindfield