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Gather & Grow

Rebuilding the Family Economy

Gather & Grow
  • Events
  • Our Story
  • What We Do
  • The Family Economy
  • Resources
  • Give
  • Family Discipleship
  • Family Economy

The Grovestead Gathering

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    Location
    The Grovestead Farm
    6200 134th St E Northfield, MN

    Date/Time
    Date(s) - Friday, September 1, 2023 - Saturday, September 2, 2023
    1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

    Our third annual conference on the family economy! 
Join with other newsletter readers and like-mided friends over Labor Day weekend in September. The event is held right on our farm in Northfield, Minnesota.

    Our theme this year is Ancient Paths:

    “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

    JEREMIAH 6:16

    Come and spend time with like-minded friends and be encouraged on your journey towards family-centered community.

    Speakers

    Robert Alexander is part of an Old Order Amish community in Mora, Minnesota. He joined the Amish forty-five years ago with his wife Deborah, and is a teacher and historian (amongst many other duties involved with off-grid living). Not having been raised Amish, Robert and Deborah bring a unique perspective to understanding the agrarian and communal life.

    Read an article from Robert in the Summer 2023 newsletter


    Rory Groves moved his family from the city to the country several years ago to begin the journey towards a more durable way of life. Rory and his wife Becca now reside in southern Minnesota where they farm, publish, host events, and homeschool their six children. He is the author of Durable Trades: Family-Centered Economies That Have Stood the Test of Time.


    Becca Groves is a mother of six, married to a never-saw-it-comin’ aspiring farmer in Southern Minnesota. As new farmers, I write about our transition from the city to the country with hopes of sharing our joy and gratitude for all that we are learning.

    Schedule of Events:

    FRIDAY, September 1st

    • 1:30PM – CHECK-IN
    • 2:00PM – OFFICIAL START & WELCOME
    • 2:30PM – The Good Way: Will We Walk in It? ~ Becca Groves
    • 3:30PM – Intentional Communities—Living With Our Choices… And Getting Along ~ Robert Alexander
    • 5:00PM – POTLUCK DINNER (main dish provided, bring a side to share)
    • 6:30PM – Just the Dads – w/Rory & Robert, Just the Moms – w/Becca & Deborah
    • 7:30PM – BONFIRE & FELLOWSHIP TIME

    SATURDAY, September 2nd

    • 8:30AM – COFFEE & DONUTS
    • 9:00AM – Looking at the Crossroads and Choosing ~ Rory Groves
    • 10:30AM – A Functional Home and Farm: Designing for Success ~ Robert and Deborah Alexander
    • 12:00PM – BREAK FOR LUNCH (bring your own picnic, fridge/freezer space available)
    • 1:30PM – Homesteading—Making a Living… Not a Killing ~ Robert Alexander
    • 3:00PM – CLOSING & SENDING

    * Childcare will be available during speaker sessions

    Lodging:

    If you are coming from out of town feel free to use one of the lodging options near Northfield, MN:

    • On-site tent-camping is available (inquire with us).
    • GrandStay in Faribault has a block of rooms (ask for Gather & Grow block or “Grovestead” conference). You may contact the hotel directly at 507-334-2888.
    • AirBNB options for larger groups (inquire with us).
    • We do not have space or hookups for RVs, but they may stay at nearby Nerstrand State Park


    Sorry... This event is fully booked!


    Please email family@gatherandgrow.us to be added to the waiting list for this event and we will notify you if any spaces open up.


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    I do not know a joy more thrilling than the first I do not know a joy more thrilling than the first snow of the year! What fun, what fun.
    This is the first cut bouquet I made all season. I This is the first cut bouquet I made all season. It took the threat of frost to get me out there! Elsie is good about cutting flowers to bring inside, but I think I had this in the category of ‘not-totally-necessary’…you know, with lots going on with kids and a farm. But that was the wrong category! I enjoyed cutting the flowers and arranging them so, so much (which shouldn’t be a huge surprise since I’m my mom’s daughter…) Anyway, we were suddenly motivated to keep these beauties alive a little longer so we covered the tall celosia late last night and woke to a site very much like ghosts in the garden. But it was just flowers tucked in for the frost.
    Elsie said to me, “mom, my history text book has Elsie said to me, “mom, my history text book has ideas for family projects and usually I just read about them and move on, but this one wants us to make a model of Stone Henge with Rice Krispie bars and I think we should probably do it.” I told her this was a good catch. Her education would suffer if we missed this project…
    It was discovered a few weeks ago that the same Sa It was discovered a few weeks ago that the same Saturday Alden turned 7 was the same Saturday we were butchering 90 chickens. Obviously a chicken birthday party was coming our way. 🎉🐓🎉 I blogged about the whole thing: family-scale butchering and this epic hen cake. www.thegrovestead.com
    My very favorite part of our Gather and Grow Farm My very favorite part of our Gather and Grow Farm dinner fundraiser was my dad praying before the meal. Which is saying a lot because the night was without a hitch, the kids played beautiful music, the people gathered were salt of the earth and the food was fantastic. Rory and I gave a presentation telling stories and sharing pictures. But man, when my dad prayed I could feel a peace fall on the room. He was asked in the moment, mostly to get him to stop talking to the caterer…but then he started to pray and you know, I grew up hearing him pray every Sunday at church, each time we ate, and every night when he tucked me in. But it had been a while. And it was so special to have his blessing over the whole night. I just don’t want to ever forget that.
    Tonight we have our annual fundraising dinner for Tonight we have our annual fundraising dinner for Gather & Grow, and I thought I’d extend the invitation to give and support this two-year-old ministry. The Lord is doing a mighty work, turning the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. We are going toe to toe with the some@pretty huge cultural giants saying the trade of relationships and intact families for material wealth and consumption was a poor trade. It has left us yearning for community, friendship and meaning. Which is where the family economy comes in. I could write a book right here- but Rory already has! 😅 So just know that we need partners in this work. You will  be joining an effort that is just beginning. It’s exciting! Go to gatherandgrow.us and on the Give page you can join as a Giving Partner. (And I’ll send you a copy of that book!)
    Gather & Grow
    Rebuilding the Family Economy

    P.O. Box 326
    Northfield, MN 55057

    Gather & Grow Ministries is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible.

    “We urge you, brothers . . . to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”

    —1 THESSALONIANS 4:10-12

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