Community – Page 30 – gregoryjoel.com

4th of July, Community, Faith, Family, Fireworks, Freedom, Gratitude, Politics, Public Policy, Responsibility, Social Justice, Songwriters, Spirituality, Truth

I Am a Patriot

July 4, 2021 gregoryjoel

Happy Fourth of July everyone! The celebration started with fireworks on Juneteenth and ends with fireworks tonight. Hope you all can join us!

4th of July, Community, Donations, Down On the Farm, Events, Fighting Poverty, Fireworks, Food Justice, Freedom, Generations, Gratitude, History, Juneteenth, Neighbors, Non-Profits, Opal's Farm, Parties, Relationships, Service to Others, Spirituality, Telemarketing, Unity Unlimited, Inc., Urban Farming, Volunteers, What Can I Do

Opal’s Farm 4th of July Celebration

July 1, 2021 gregoryjoel

Hey Opal’s Farm Volunteers! This is just a reminder that Sunday is almost here. That means our 4^th of July festivities at the farm will begin at 6 PM. Opal’s Farm is one of the best places in Fort Worth to watch the Fort Worth 4^th fireworks show. We have a 360-degree view of the other fireworks displays all around Fort Worth.

The area around our “barn” is being prepared to host the 4^th with cold drinks, hamburgers, hot dogs, and grilled fresh veggies (from the farm of course!) for all our volunteers and friends of the farm. Many of our neighbors will be there as well.

You don’t have to be a volunteer to come out and join us. Food and drinks are free for all our volunteers in appreciation of the incredible job they do every day at Opal’s Farm.

We’ve been celebrating freedom since Juneteenth (A FEDERAL HOLIDAY, y’all) and the 4^th of July party well be the culmination of a very special, historic time for all of us.

This is a come-and-go affair so please come by even if you can’t stay the evening. We’d love to see you!

If you can’t come, then please feel free to help Opal’s Farm by going to www.unityunlimited.org and donating on the Opal’s Farm page.

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Dig Deep: A Conference for Growers

June 30, 2021 gregoryjoel

I’d like to invite all Opal’s Farmers to come out to the 2021 Dig Deep Conference. Opal’s Farm will be talking about “Empowering Communities Through Food”. There are programs for all types of growers. We’d love to see you there.

Please join Tarrant Area Food Bank and the Tarrant County Food Policy Council for an exciting and educational event – Dig Deep: A Conference for Growers!

Growers of all kinds from all over the North Texas region are invited to attend the conference as a means to network with other growers, learn more about important aspects of growing, and participate in an event highlights the important and positive work being done in our area to help end hunger and promote a healthier community.

Tracks will be offered on Home, Community and Market growing, ensuring that there is something for every kind of grower.

For more information and registration, visit https://digdeepconference2021.eventbrite.com!

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How Do I Find a Title?

June 27, 2021 gregoryjoel

My heart is broken. My good friend, David Knight, passed away last night. I’m simply numb. The loss hasn’t hit fully. I can’t imagine what the days will be like without his oft bi-weekly visits to the farm and the looming silence of the telephone. I prefer not to even think about it today, but dwell on such a great loss makes that impossible.

I’ve written many times of my friendship with David. He holds a special place in my life. He and Nikki were the father and mother I could not be to my son Jeremy almost sixteen years ago. Jeremy lived with them for over a year while he got on his feet in life and recovery because I was unable to provide a home back then. David and Nikki were with our family when we gathered to mourn Jeremy’s passing last year.

I had a post-operative infection following brain surgery some eight-and-a-half years ago. I was in Neuro ICU for a month and friends and family worried about making the seemingly inevitable funeral plans. I was out of it for the first couple of weeks with only moments of consciousness. Yet, every time I woke up, I saw David sitting there in my NICU room. Later, when David found out about his cancer, I was given the honor and privilege of doing the same for my friend.

He beat the cancer and despite some lingering health problems (none of which were trivial by the way), he continued to be David – and for those who had the honor of knowing him you know exactly what I mean! He’d often visit me at the farm and Cowtown Farmers Market just to see what was going on. We shared about our lives and growing the best vegetables (both of us) in Fort Worth. We talked on the phone regularly. He’d often call just to say, “I love you brother”. It one of the highlights of my day.

I rushed to the hospital when Nikki called Friday. His survival odds were not good. He had received CPR earlier and was still unconscious until David Jr. arrived. He opened his eyes and looked at each of us. He couldn’t speak because of the intubation, but he knew we were all there. The greatest honor in my life was to have him know I was there. He slipped away on Saturday night.

I can’t tell you what I’m feeling right now. Loss, sadness, grief, numbness, extreme sorrow. I don’t know what I need to do next, but Nikki will need us more than ever. Right now, though, I think I’ll head to the farm and eat a tomato for David. I love you, my friend. Take Jeremy fishing again when you see him and keep our son In line…