Creating The Future

The season is changing. Have you smelled the cool fall air in the early mornings before the late summer sun burns it off, chasing it another day down the road. Have you felt the sweet kisses of fall in the evenings as the sun relents to rest. Have you started listening for the sounds of the cranes coming home with their sweet announcement that fall has arrived?

What a beautiful time of year to reflect on transitions and changing seasons.

We too are entering a new season, and with it, we are excited to share a very special harvest and why it deserves its own writeup.

When this organization was founded we had a small group of dedicated volunteers. Sure they couldn’t drive, or hold jobs and were just at the mercy of whatever their mothers were dragging them to on any given day. 

These little people though. 

Magical, they are nothing short of magical. 

Their games of dragons under the branches. 

Their fearlessness climbing a bit too high.

Their willingness to explore the world with us.  

Hell, even their naps in the orchard grass on hot days.  

It was all of this and more that led to the creation of a volunteer model which welcomed other young people into the trees. 

Now, while they have grown, we have so many wonderful young people at nearly all of our harvests. 

I have chased bugs, snakes, made nests, approved of fairy huts, played peek a boo through the leaves, and laughed myself to tears. 

They cultivated community, before they could even spell those words.

A community where everyone can join. 

As with most things in life, life is cyclical. 

As those little people grew they also decided they wanted to do other things with their time

Coming along with their moms wasn’t the highest on their teenage lists

Their laughter in the trees echoing in our hearts even as our summers with them have since passed. 

We’ve found ourselves somewhere new in the season of life. 

A pretty great season, if I do say so myself. 

Those little people are not little anymore. 

They are young adults now with a passion for community and the desire to help how they can to make the world a little better than they found it. 

Children will grow, they will find their own paths to forge. That is just the way of life. 

As is also a way of life, they also will find their way back; filled with the stories of the adventures they’ve been on. Eager to show you the person they have grown into.

And so it is for us here at FIFABQ

They have come back

Full circle moment, you might say

It is absolutely my greatest pride to tell you that Laken and Echo will be leading their very first harvest!

If you do not know them by name let me introduce them, as they happen to be my children.

Laken is quiet, kind, and is never one to shy away from hard work. 

Echo is graceful, patient, and wittier than anyone I know. 

I know they will not only do great but will carry over that welcoming space

The space they created all those years ago

When they thought they were just playing games of childhood

Really though, 

They were creating a space which would welcome hundreds of community members

Our youth are our future

Let’s teach them well

Let’s surround them thoroughly

Let’s build with them

Let’s let them create the future they wish to see

Erin Garrison

FIFABQ Director

You kids are the greatest, thank you for all the lessons you have taught me.

 I love you,

  Mom