Archi's Acres

What an amazing story this organic farm in Southern California is! Established in 2007,

Archi's Acres ™ is owned and operated by a decorated Marine Corps Sergeant , Colin Archipley and his wife, Karen. Perhaps the uniqueness of their operations is that it not only uses amazing sustainable practices, but, that they target returning military veterans to join their mission in providing real food security, sustainably farmed, for his country.

When Colin returned home from three tours in Iraq for the final time he found he wasn't prepared emotionally and internally for life outside of the military. He was in need of healing and he found it in the "land." It was in farming that he found not only a new and abiding peace, but, a mission and quest for the future that would benefit and serve the country he loved so much.

Colin and Karen saw a great need:

Then and now, veterans need help transitioning to civilian life, beyond what the VA can provide. At any given time, there are a quarter of a million veterans living on the streets, in part due to combat stress, and/or the brain injuries that roadside bombs can inflict. That same number of veterans, 250,000, have requested mental health treatment. Sadly, veteran joblessness is twice the national average, at 17%.

"We felt the need to address this issue," Colin says. "Job opportunities have been few and far between for everybody, and the skills many have learned in the military don't always translate directly into civilian life. The veteran community is a unique resource," he adds. "But many U.S. employers aren't tapping into it. The military teaches great leadership skills, a solid work ethic, and a unique ability to think on your feet."

"Our country needs a million new farmers over the next ten years. According to a USDA 2007 report, 65.8% of small farmer operators are over 55 and only 4.1% percent are younger than 35. Karen adds, "There's also the challenge of high-tech crop production. Farming is not easy; you have to be able to stay flexible, stay with it, hang tough. Every day is different; it can be an adrenaline rush. Combat vets are really good at that."

Colin and Karen thus envisioned the Veterans Sustainability Agriculture Training ™ (VSAT ™).

This unique program would recreate the closeness of the unit outside of the military and teach veterans all the farming skills the Archipleys had acquired.

There would also be the health benefits. Six weeks immersed in the VSAT ™ program at Archi's Acres ™ provides the down time that facilitates a much smoother transition out of urban warfare. Between the classroom and the greenhouses, veterans gather what they need to know to get started on their own. Trainees can interact with the public at Farmer's Markets, and experience the positive feedback and connection to their mission. Before they leave Archi's Acres ™ trainees create market plans, checked out by business leaders.

We at Catholic Stewards of Creation salute Archi's Acres and wish them "God speed" in their mission for sustainable agriculture!  

Marine Veteran launches new hot sauce business after completing VSAT ™ at Archi's Acres 

A batch of red hot sauce mixes up in the blender in the kitchens of a small food production company,

Earth Source Organics, in Vista. The recipe - all raw, all organic - was devised by Mike Hanes, a blond, blue eyed Marine veteran who returned home only to fall into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Yet, he found his new and fulfilling life through Archi's Acres Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training ™.

"It has three super foods in there," Haynes says. "It has maca, spirulina and mesquite."

Hanes has launched a business selling his hot sauce, named Forager Mike's "Dang !!! hot sauce.

EARTH: Home or Hotel?

This retreat coincides with an exhibition just announced by the Vatican Observatory, Stories From Another World: The Universe Inside and Outside Us set to open March 10th and run through July 1st.

There has been a great deal of media hype regarding 2012-END OF DAYS. But, what should we really be focusing on in our stewardship call to action? Take a Catholic spiritual journey through the cosmos to earth and answer that question.

Includes Buffet Lunch, study materials, notebook, and two books, RENEWING THE EARTH-USCCB and THE JOY OF CO-OPERATING WITH GOD, by Susi Pittman. Just in time for spring, each reservation is entered into a drawing for 2 Free Passes on the Old Town Trolley Tour in St. Augustine, $46 value.

$25 per person in advance or $30 at the door.

Become a Better Steward of Creation 

~by Susi Pittman

"Seek and you shall find." Such is the case if you truly want to make a Catholic difference in the world regarding the Care of Creation. There were three important figures in the Bible that moved before you in example, ask for their help.

READ MORE...

Words can help us and heal us by touching our more deeply spiritual nature. Father Ron walks us down this peaceful path to where the "touch of Jesus" awaits.

We Have So Much to Pray For!

~by Sister Marie Rene, S.S.J.

Prayer is the answer. Join Sister Marie Rene in prayer for our country and the world.

READ MORE... 

They're Out There!

~by Frank Gromling

They're out there! And Frank ISN'T talking about "the greys" of extraterrestrial lore.

READ MORE... 

Valentine, Saint of Love

~by Mary Galvano-Bajohr

 

Has Mary got a "Valentine Story" for you! You're going to "love" it!

Cyril and Methodius: Saints Who Created a Culture

~by Joseph Kaiser

It is a bit disturbing to think that a Roman Christian who died defending the faith is now chiefly associated with a pagan god, Cupid. St. Valentine is off the Church calendar for February 14th and has been replaced by St. Cyril and Methodius. Who are these two saints?

READ MORE...  

Parallel your cat's attitude and response to you...parallel your attitude and response to God...and WOW, do you have a great book! Michele's book review this month of

PURR-ABLES FROM HEAVEN: DEVOTIONS FOR CAT LOVERS gets spiritually purr-sonal with analogies and heavenly vignettes sure to inspire not only cat lovers, but, each of us.

NEW AFFILIATE SHOPPING for YOU!  

We continue to build a small but, well focused group of vendors, offering products in line with stewardship of the earth and its creatures. By visiting these product sites from our page, you are helping to support our mission.

is a small batch coffee roaster operated by the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming through an online gourmet coffee bean store. Many consider their website the ultimate source for gourmet coffee where it is easy to buy coffee online. The monks carefully craft each freshly roasted coffee to perfection for dark roast coffees, espresso, ground coffees, whole bean coffees, single origin coffees, fair trade coffees, flavored coffees and especially the monks' special gourmet coffee blends. Try our special auto delivered coffee subscriptions also for the best coffee online.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS

MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS has always taken a formidable and uncompromising stand when it comes to the protection and sustainability of our natural world and the delicate systems which balance all life as we know it. This complex and venerable planet produces all of the products we share with you, and it is simply a matter of appreciation and respect that must be given. Not only do we lead the industry in environmental stewardship, we also adhere to strict principles and protocols that ensure fair treatment and compensation for the people involved with the production of our products; both domestically and overseas.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS

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A Division of Engineering Services & Products Company, FarmTek was founded in 1979 with the purpose of bringing the highest quality products at the most competitive prices with exceptional customer service directly to the agricultural, horticultural, building and retail trade communities.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT FARMTEK

Sister Diane Couture, Sisters of St. Joseph Architectural Stained Glass

Artist-Teacher

www.ssjstainedglass.com  

"Telling sacred stories is what stained glass work is all about," said Sister Diane Couture.

Sister Diane has beautiful stained glass that is found all across the country. An average year will see eight to ten projects lovingly designed and brought to fruition. The top request...why traditional biblical scenes and personalities of course.

She also teaches others how to create artistic beauty in the stained glass art form, having done so since 1979. Students at her studio get a glimpse of the process as they design their own 12-by-14-inch panels.

But it's about much more than technique, said Couture, "there's a spiritual element to making the glass that makes each design unique."

"You get into that inner core where the spirit dwells, where God is," she said. "All you have to do is follow and do what you see."

That experience can be so meditative and time-consuming that Couture said she's had to rely on her fellow nuns in St. Augustine to help her come back down to Earth.

Visit her website: St. Joseph's Ministries: St. Joseph Architectural Stained Glass.

Food, Inc. 

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Treehugger Radio 

Green Kids Now 

(YEPS) Youth Environmental Projects of Sauk county 

The Organic Home Gardener  

GLOBAL ANIMAL: Keeping your pet healthy during the winter months 

NASA's GRAIL MISSION has beamed back its first video of the far side of the moon. The imagery was taken on Jan. 19 by the MoonKAM aboard the mission's "Ebb" spacecraft.

SEE MORE...  

Terri Crisp and the rest of her staff from the SPCAI have traveled to Iraq 38 times to rescue nearly 400 animals that our soldiers have befriended during their time overseas.

This is a beautiful account of how much these animals mean to these soldiers and how much the love and car of our soldiers means to these animals.