Bellwether Farm is in an exciting stage of change and progress. Construction is well under way. The summer camp cabins, maintenance barn and animal barn are built and scheduled to be complete in August. Foundations are being laid for the dining/meeting building, farmhouse, and worship barn, and construction of these buildings will continue through the coming months. The land is being nurtured through rotational cover crops that build healthy soil for future plantings, and through a grant from Monarch Watch, we planted 130 Milkweed plants on the property to invigorate the Monarch Butterfly population.

This March, we welcomed a new full-time staff member, Jessica Miller as our Land Stewardship and Program Manger. Jessica has worked as an environmental educator and field botanist throughout Northeast Ohio. On the Bellwether team, her responsibilities will include the development of ongoing adult and youth programming and enacting a land management plan to maintain the highest possible ecological fidelity. We are in the hiring process for a Farm Manger now and expect to hire a full time Farm Manager by the end of September.

This past spring and summer, we held successful work days and a wonderful Family Camping weekend. These events have the community together and let many people experience the beauty of the farm. On November 12, the Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, will participate in the dedication of the center. He will begin the day with a conversation with youth and young adults of the Diocese. At 11:00 a.m. Bishop Curry will celebrate Eucharist followed by a dedication service and a community lunch.

We have been working diligently with the agency Thunder::tech, who helped us with the logo and branding of Bellwether, on our new website, which we expect to launch in October. As Bellwether Farm continues to grow into the invigorating space we have planned, we are thrilled to care for and grow with it.