In September of 2012, my wife Paige and I shut down our business in Kansas City, MO and moved to Western Montana for me to become the farm manager of ABC acres. Now, 4 and 1/2 years and two sons later, we are moving back to the Midwest. We are landing in Central Iowa, where we are both from and where nearly all of our family still lives. While we are excited to begin this new chapter of our lives with family, I cannot help but reflect on the time and energy I have invested in ABC acres, and be filled with gratitude for the people and the place that have caused me to learn and grow in too many meaningful ways to list.

First, I express thankfulness for the Southwells. They offered us the opportunity to move to this amazing and beautiful place, and entrusted me with helping them create their dream on the land that makes up ABC acres. Thank you also for your friendship. I am grateful for all the challenges and chances to learn useful skills that I otherwise would not be enriched by; skills that I will not only share with my sons, but also with others who are wanting to connect with the land and take more ownership over their resource use on this planet. The people of the Bitterroot Valley, too numerous to name individually, I am thankful to have met you and to enjoy your company. Lastly, I am grateful to the land itself. While I leave knowing that I have left my mark in the earthworks, livestock management, and thousands of plantings I placed in the earth here, I also acknowledge that the landscape of my mind and heart has gone through a similar process as well, informed and shaped by my interaction with ABC acres.

Over the past week, I have been having a series of “lasts” during my roles and duties here, allowing the truth of leaving to sink in a little more slowly and gently. I have been removed as a manager of various social media accounts and the like, and now, I will be part of the audience that enjoys seeing the happenings of the farm online as well. With that said, I look forward to future visits and to see, smell, and taste the developments of the Permaculture Farmstead I labored to help establish .The promise of new beginnings coinciding with the coming Spring in the Midwest beckons me to set my sights ahead for me and my family. At the same time, I will forever be thankful for the people and place of the Bitterroot Valley of Western Montana.

Love and gratitude to you all!

Blessings,

Grant

P.S. This week’s video shows that our YouTube channel is left in good hands with Tim, as he is informative and funny!