Carrots are just some of the bounty the CSA garden is producing. There have also been garlic scapes, lettuce, onions, kohlrabi, arugula and other greens, rutabagas, turnips, herbs (mmm! cilantro) and more, as well as an abundance of wildflowers to enliven the homes and hearts of members.

This past week, the CSA hosted the Master Gardeners from Berkeley Springs, W. Va., who came to learn about CSAs. One important aspect of the CSA is to provide education about the food we eat, where it comes from and how it grows, so Halima and Amin were excited to welcome the Master Gardeners to the Farm.

The CSA has been getting lots of positive feedback. Colleen, a member from Washington, D.C., says, "I just wanted to let you know that out of the several CSAs we have belonged to -- you all are the best. I love your positive updates and little newsletter and we are loving the share every week. Even my teenagers are liking the delicious salads we have been making and I usually have to get them to choke down their greens. Thanks so much!"

As mentioned above, the Farm has recently acquired a WWOOFer -- what's that? you may wonder! A WWOOFer is someone from the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, an organization that finds farming opportunities for people who are passionate about learning farming. Our woofer, Darcy, comes from Bethesda, Md., and be with us during July and August, working with the CSA and learning about life on a farm. We welcome Darcy and look forward to getting to know her.

We have fruit! Maryam Hand, orchard manager, harvested a small amount of sweet and sour cherries (the birds enjoyed the bulk of them), and the apples, asian pears, and peaches are growing nicely. This year Maryam and her volunteer helpers planted 6 Liberty apple and 6 Asian pear trees, 25 thornless Triple Crown blackberries and about 160 strawberries. Maryam also planted comfrey, a plant that's beneficial to trees, around and under the trees.

Mu'min, Isa and Rifqa slaughtered 50 chickens last week, mostly for farm use. There are 150 10-day-old broiler chicks peeping in the brooder. In another week or two they will out in the pens in the fields, eating grass and producing lots of fertilizer as they get nice and plump. These are mostly pre-sold to beloveds and will be available in the first few weeks of August. Some will also be for the farm or Sufi School, with another batch, inshallah, in the fall. Thanks to Yahyah Daniel Miller, who helped repair the pasture pens, which we'll be using in a few weeks.

It's always fun to see the lambs when you come to the farm -- that is, if you can find them in the tall grass. Our 22 lambs are also growing fast -- in another month they will be old enough to be weaned from their moms. We usually wean at least the male lambs, for two reasons. One, so the moms can recover their condition after nursing the lambs and prepare for breeding in the fall, and also because male Tunis lambs are early breeders, and we don't want them breeding any of the ewes before they are ready. The boy lambs will go in with their daddy ram, who will keep them in line, while the girl lambs will go back with the ewes.

The performers that Allah so generously sent to us had such beautiful hearts and such talent! The vendors provided food that was just right for the occasion. One provided organic and healthy vegetarian and vegan food as well as green smoothies, another provided delicious halal food, and we had a full-service coffee vendor. The volunteers were generous and trustworthy and stepped in where they were needed. They were earth for the festival and for me.

The barn looked beautiful, decorated with Latifa Shay's paintings and Sabira Geraghty's photography. The people who came had fun. Newcomers were introduced to our community, the children's program was a big success, and of course, the music was quite a taste of love and joy. Our last performers, Native Deen, brought the audience to a state of joy, appreciation, happiness and worship, in the deepest sense.

There are a few moments I will not forget. The Unity Reggae Band was playing and an amazing rainstorm passed through. Right outside the barn's open doors, two beautiful, perfect rainbows colored the sky. Some people were dancing and others were running outside and taking pictures, and everyone was happy and excited. It felt like Allah was smiling on us; that He was pleased

I feel Allah is setting something in place for the farm through the Sacred Music: Unity Music Festival, and I'm looking forward to planning next year's festival. Alhamdu'lillah!

Peace, both physical and spiritual, is something that I have been robbed of for over nine years. At many times I felt alone and abandoned. I arrived at the Farm for the Unity Music Festival in the afternoon and sat on the front porch of the teaching barn, enjoying a spectacular scene of nature, feeling the weight of the world that I carried on my heart lifted a little. I noticed this beautiful bird flying in and out of the porch's wooden rafters.

The next day, I watched the same thing happen. I got curious to know where this bird was going. What was the attraction for this bird in the wooden rafters of the porch? To my delight it was a nest. It was a mud-and-straw nest, the edges pasted on to the wood rafter and the bottom part of it suspended in the air. It reminded me of the Dome of the Rock in Palestine, as it is also suspended in the air.

Seconds later I saw one small open beak popping out, then another, and another, around four or more little open beaks. The top of the nest was just high enough for the adult bird to stand, but too low for predators. The adult bird kept going back and forth feeding its chicks. As I gazed at this nest and the birds, endless questions raced through my mind. How could this small and fragile bird have built this amazing nest all by herself? How did it make the nest stick to the side of the wooden rafter? How did it know what type of mud to use? How did it know how much mud and how much straw to use? How did it know that this nest would be strong enough to sustain the weight of it and its most precious eggs and later its chicks? How did this bird know this architectural design? How did it know whether such building materials are right for the climate in this region? Or if this location would be a safe place to settle down in and built its home for its family? The only answer I could come up with was: God is Glorious!

At that moment, I felt so small and powerless. The fact is, this fragile bird knew how to do all these amazing things with neither a college degree in architecture nor the power of a human brain. This is a testament of my Creator's power to direct this bird's heart to do all the right things so perfectly. God is with us and will guide our hearts to make the right choices. I then realized that the feeling of peace and freedom can come through opening our hearts to emulate God's word, thereby making our faith strong.

In Peace Partners, Dr. John Abd al-Qadir and Jamila Davies will help you to uncover and transform sources of pain into insight, empathy and peace for yourself and those around you.

Abd al-Qadir and Jamila recently gave an introductory talk about their work in bringing harmony to relationships, which was streamed live online and is available as a video. You are invited to see and hear their presentation via the link below!

Here's what one participant had to say about the Davies' work: "John and Jamila have been wonderful mentors to my wife and me. They model how to deal with conflict in a way that helps us grow as a couple. The way they play off each other in illustrating the principles, and then give us a chance to practice them with feedback, is the best way to learn these skills!" - Andrew

The first class in the Peace Partners program takes place Aug. 12-14 at the Farm of Peace. The remaining seminars are on Oct. 28-30, Dec. 9-11 and Mar. 16-18, 2012. You can join for individual classes or the entire series. To find out more and to register now, please contact Jamila at 240-441-8715 or vicki_d@hotmail.com.

The circle has been discussing ways to better support the beloveds of this tariqa through spiritual opportunities and existing programs, through one-on-one support, through ways to enhance communication of what beloveds' needs are, and through developing open opportunities for beloveds to get together socially in support of community.

We are looking at a new web site, blog, or facebook page which would provide additional means of getting tariqa and individual information onto a site which can be easily accessed and updated. For instance: are you wondering who is reading/writing Sidi's books tonight? As you prepare to do salats, wouldn't it be handy to access a list of current prayer requests? Are you in need of a baby-sitter, a pickup truck, the name of a beloved who is waiting to answer your question in the moment? Are you planning to attend a movie and would love company? Wanting to host a potluck or a sewing circle? The possibilities are almost endless and depend only on you, our community.

Any beloved in this region is invited and welcome to be part of this circle, which currently meets in person at the Farm of Peace and by telephone. Please feel free to contact one of the coordinators if you have any questions or suggestions for the circle about ways to enhance our community's Sufi life: Abd'Allah Houck at 703-489-1884 or anhouck1@vt.edu or Kathy Zahra Blankenship at 410-258-6718 or atoubuilley@aol.com.

I learned to be with my Lord Who loves me and Who is enough for me and I am enough for Him, inshallah! I learned what it is like to feel Allah always singing a lullaby of love in my heart, and I will carry that everywhere. I learned that I do not need to be or do anything to receive this love. I learned that throughout my life I have piled up a storeroom of gifts for my Lord but I have failed to ever receive His Appreciation, His Rauf, His Rahim in return.

Now I am ready.

I am receiving from my Lord and the gutter of my being that was once clogged with self-hatred and deprecation is now unclogged, and the water of the love is flowing to every cell in my body, and for once in my life I can just BE!

Ginger-Vegetable Fish Chowder

• 1 lb. tilapia or cod, cut in 1" cubes
• 2-4 small red potatoes, diced
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1 head cauliflower, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 inch of ginger, peeled & sliced thinly
• 2 small zucchini and/or summer squash, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 tsp. ground coriander
• 1/2 medium yellow onion, julienned
• 1 can coconut milk
• 3 tbs. lime juice
• 2 tbs. fresh basil chiffonade

Boil 2 cups water with the 2 tsp. salt, add potatoes and cook til tender. Drain, reserving water, and set aside.

Return the reserved water to heat, add cauliflower, garlic and ginger until cauliflower is cooked thoroughly. Place contents of pot into blender with zucchini/squash, cilantro and coriander; puree til smooth and frothy.

Pour blended ingredients back into pot, add cooked potatoes, onion and fish. Boil; reduce heat, add the lime juice and coconut milk. Simmer just until fish flakes apart; remove from heat; add basil and serve. Serves 4-5.

During the Community Nourishment weekend, a group of beloveds helped unload a truckload of wood that Habib collected for the IPC woodstove. Thanks to all, including, pictured here, the Amsellem family, Abd'allah Houck, Benjamin Zaban-Boylan, and Habib Reineke.

Jamil Bastress has been helping Rifqa with feeding and caring for the sheep. Thanks! Thank you as well to Yahya Miller, who cut weeds along the electric sheep fence so the power can be fully operational, keeping unwanted critters out. Many thanks to Isa Konecki for mowing grass all around the farm.

Thanks so much to Maryam and Amin Whalen for donating a barn-full of straw to the farm.

At the IPC, Rahima Pasko planted flowers in the garden, and Kamila Dinning helped with cleaning. Thank you, Rahima and Kamila. And many thanks again to Nasir Possenig for his beautiful signs for the Farm.

Thanks and much gratitude to all who worked and gave so much for the Sacred Music: Unity Music Festival this year. Thanks to Maryam Hand, who organized and coordinated the event, along with Mu'min Shay who gave so much to make it happen. There are so many volunteers whose time and commitment were essential to creating this beautiful weekend. Thanks as well to those performers who donated their time and hearts.

We are grateful to all who are making financial donations to help the Farm continue its mission to bring the real love to the world and to care for the creation. For everyone whose heart is called, your donations are most welcome. You may send your check made to "Farm of Peace" to 1212 Haven Lane, Warfordsburg, PA 17267; or call us at 717-573-2956 and we will take your credit card information for your donation. Thank you!

Aug. 12-14: Peace Partners. John AQ and Jamila Davies present the first of four classes designed to bring harmony to relationships. Call Jamila at 240-441-8715 for information.

July 16: Free Healing Day, 2-4 p.m. This is a great way to introduce your friends to Sufi teachings and healing. There is no charge. Free Healing Day also held in Silver Spring, Md. Next Silver Spring event: July 17; call 301-565-7878 to RSVP.

Zawiyah Spiritual Retreat: Give your heart the gift of walking more deeply in proximity to God. Zawiyah is ongoing at the Farm of Peace. Cost: $130 per day includes teachings, room & board. Call the Farm for information and to register: 717-573-4722.

Dhikr: Sundays, 5:30 p.m. & Thursdays, 7 p.m. Sufi healing circle for healing of body, mind, heart and spirit. All are welcome! (Potluck supper follows Sunday's dhikr.)

Jumah: Every Friday, 1:30 p.m. Gather in community for prayers and teachings from the Qu'ran and Sidi's writings.

Salima Healing Seminar. In this individual three-day seminar, Salima offers a unique opportunity for deep healing. You'll receive individual assessments and healings with Salima, and a series of complementary sessions and bodywork. Call the Farm at 717-573-4722 to schedule.

Farm Stay: Enjoy a mid-week getaway in the country. Guests age 16 & older are welcome to stay at the farm (in the IPC) and enjoy the woods, fields and animals in a peaceful, secluded environment, restful and revitalizing in all seasons of the year. Call 717-573-2956 to make your reservations. The Farm of Peace is a member of the Pennsylvania Farm Vacation Association, www.pafarmstay.com.