Sad News From Green Man Farm

[Eric]

Dear supporters, friends, CSA members, and fellow farmers:

It seems that I can no longer put off reporting some sad news. This will be our last season at the Green Man Farm. By November I will put the garden to rest, cover cropping to protect and enrich the much-improved soil. Hopefully it will be for continued use by another ambitious farmer. After only a few years of living my dream I will return to south Florida with my wife and son and a new outlook. I am grateful to have had this time to do exactly what it is I have always wanted to do, in exactly the spot that I have always wanted to do it.

In January of this year it became clear that this was not the right long-term lifestyle for us as a family. We toyed with the idea of staying for two or three more seasons but in the end we settled on one last great season on the farm. For those of you concerned with the financial sustainability of small local organic agriculture please rest assured, because of you this farm is on sound financial footing. I am thrilled to see so many more eager young farmers at Market Square this year and I know that some will end up in it for the ‘long haul’. It is viable! There were many personal factors that weighed upon our decision. In no way is this decision a reflection of a lack of community support. On the contrary, we have had no trouble selling our CSA memberships, baked goods, eggs, meat, and vegetables to an eager community. For that, I thank you. We will miss being part of such a wonderfully inspiring and growing local food movement. Knoxville is fortunate.

To our loyal customers and CSA members…it is my greatest hope to be here through the end of October, when the CSA is scheduled to complete. I will continue to plant, weed, harvest, grow, and farm this land for the months to come. I will be at the farmers market and continue to deliver CSA shares. The reality of the situation is that we must begin marketing the farm for sale and this may not be possible. In fact we have begun seeking a suitable buyer through http://www.landandfarm.com/properties/green_man_farm_csa_for_sale.asp, preferably someone willing and able to continue on with the mission of sustainable agriculture that we have set forth. My hope is to pass along the momentum to another farmer. In the event that a buyer comes along prior to the end of October who is not interested in taking over the CSA, then we will offer refunds for the remaining weeks of the season. This would be unfortunate all the way around, but I must do what is best for my family. In reality I doubt this will happen. Please trust that I am working feverishly to ensure that the final months of our final season are the best possible. This is a matter of great pride to me. This has been my hearts work for the last three years. In no way will I ‘throw in the towel’ and short change those who have put their faith in us.

Nicole has secured a good job for herself in Fort Lauderdale in her professional field. She begins work in two weeks. She and Gabriel will leave for Florida and stay with my parents while I complete business here in Tennessee. It will be a long and lonely few months. I will miss his first day of preschool. In my mind, all of these sacrifices will have been worth the opportunity of a lifetime to live such an incredible existence. Thank you all for your support. I look forward to the remainder of my time at the Green Man Farm.

Sincerely,

Eric Gibian

Green Man Farm

[Tracie L. Hellwinckel]

Eric,
You all will be missed. I often ache for Florida, and though I am saddened by your departure and know that it hasn't been an easy choice for you, I wish you all the best.

I would like to include your letter in the Oct Agrarian Urbanite. Would that be okay?

Peace.
t.

[Eric]

I'm drinking one right now at Cafe 4 if you are nearby.

[Frank Callo]

I'll miss you all.

I respect you dedication to the needs of your family. I have had to make many sacrifices on this front over the years BUT being where I needed to be, for those who needed me also placed me in the path of inspiring folks such as your family.

Its all to the good my brother.

Lets try to drink a few pints before you leave

Peace

Frank

[Eric]

Thanks Chad. I'm keeping a positive outlook on it. You're right about the problem being the solution. At some time in the future we'll talk or email about me setting up a guild site in SF. I know you have also actually done stuff, hosting events, demonstrations, ect...which I hope to do as well in SF, but I think one of the single greatest things you have done in your effort was to simply create the guild site. It seems to have taken on a life of it's own, networking people, ideas, and events in the knox area around some common themes.

[Chad Hellwinckel]

Eric, I look forward to visiting you guys in south florida and seeing the great stuff you'll do there. I'm sure if you keep trusting your instincts and keep your imagination alive you guys can figure out a situation that will give all of you what you want. Remember the permaculture principle.."the problem can be the solution". Good luck, and let me know if you need help with anything in the transition.