• Common Ground •Irises are my favorite flowers

Our newest neighbors have finally moved in. If you recall, last year we were victims of vandalism and assault from the people living in the house on the property we surround. Our new neighbors have bought that house and property and have fixed it up to the point of moving in.

I grew up in a household where there were 'the folks next door' and 'the neighbors' and these designations had different meanings. I know that the word neighbor according to the dictionary, "is a person living near or next door to the speaker or person referred to". For us that was reserved for the folks next door; people who happened to live in close proximity but only that. Neighbor had a different meaning, or rather being neighborly was a very different category. This referred to giving kindness or help to someone in need. If you were lucky enough to have 'good neighbors' this generally meant someone you got along with and helped and got help from time to time.

It is clear to me that the concept of neighborliness is for me a core value of community. I do not need to agree with you on every issue. I do not need to be fussed over or made a big deal of. I do not need or desire to be included in every day issues of your life. I do clearly see a moral obligation to work with you to cooperate in doing the things that we together can do better than alone, and to consider your needs and interest where they interact with mine. In some sense the first aspect of being a good neighbor is that we agree to disagree at times. That way we also open the door to agreeing and collaborating at times.

Here at the farm, that means that when one of our neighbors needs help we do what we can. It is also intelligent,I think, because together we can accomplish more if we cooperate. Each person lends a hand to their ability and inclination and we get along well in general. It is surely a lesson of nature to observe and understand, even imperfectly, how complex the relationships are that make up the whole community that sustains life. It is also a lesson to see how if one aspect of that community changes, all others are affected by the change. Sometimes called a cycle, or web the bottom line is that all things are connected in some way.

The new 'folks next door' really have shown the making of 'good neighbors' and what an absolute relief and pleasure that is; especially having had folks next door who were making it their business to find ways to hurt us.

When I was living in the city it was easy not to spend the least bit of effort to know, meet, or even get along with the folks living nearby. They did their thing in their space and I did mine. Ignoring other people became a way of being and doing. From time to time though, and I am certain because of how I was raised, I made the effort to get to know at least the folks right around me. Some were suspicious and discouraged contact, and others were cautious but more open to at least getting to know me. As I recall though, when I needed help I asked friends and not neighbors even if it was a hardship for my friends to help.

For me that raises some questions:

How can we expect to have a basis on which to cooperate if we don't practice neighborliness?

What will we lose by not being neighborly, even if it takes energy on our part?

Is, in fact, the concept of neighborliness a unifying catalyst that enhances our function as a society?

Have we chosen to allow someone else [our government?, the courts?] to be the arbiter of our relationships with the folks next door to escape the effort required to get along.

Is this path sustainable?

I see in each member of this group an asset to the community supporting our agriculture [CSA] and congratulate you each and all for choosing to participate as neighbors in our food centered community. That is indeed sustainable!

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