Come and See
“If you want to make small changes, change the way you do things. If you want to make big changes, change the way you see things.” - Gabe Brown
This is my favorite quote outside of the Bible. I think one of the reasons it has been so impactful in my life is because it was said by a farmer. It didn’t come from someone most people would consider highly educated, although Gabe Brown is a very intelligent man. And while he may not be counted among the wise of the world, it’s one of those quotes that has the power to inspire generations. A man who simply loves farming, with the ability to make “big changes”. At Elizabeth Farm, we are making BIG changes. Following in the footsteps of people like Gabe Brown, we believe that the root of making these big changes is in how we see things.
One of the beautiful sayings at Feed My Sheep Temple is “People Matter”. This may seem obvious, but “people matter” isn’t something you do. It’s something you grasp, something you see… “People matter!” Now, there are things you do when you see that people matter, but intrinsic human value is at the very core of you doing those things. This is what we want people to be inspired to at Elizabeth Farm. We want our community to SEE the mission of feeding those that are hungry physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
At Elizabeth Farm, we are inspiring vision and bringing our community into that vision. By the grace of God, we are seeing the world how God created it, and using the systems He has given for us to use. We see God’s provision of land and His love for abundance of life. “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.” -Gen 1:28. We believe in cultivating life and expanding it, not destroying something simply because it’s “in the way”. So much of conventional agriculture today says we should restrict or kill certain vegetation and insects using chemicals so that a single crop can thrive. Nature doesn’t do that… God cultivates biodiversity in nature. Multiple species of grasses, shrubs, and trees cover and protect the soil, which houses billions of microbiology and fungi. That soil retains water, nutrients, and minerals that in return feed the roots of plants and trees. Those plants and trees then feed animals. The plants, trees, and animals feed humans, who benefit from the entire ecosystem. Humans are then able to work together to support, prune, and care for these ecosystems for their continuation and thriving, all while supporting other humans and continuing the cycle of life through provision and reproduction. It’s almost like God had a specific design in mind! At Elizabeth Farm, we are using this design to glorify God and to feed those that are hungry physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
At the farm, we are currently cultivating healthy soil, growing healthy produce, raising healthy animals, and creating a beautiful masterpiece on God given land. This all culminates in loving God’s greatest creation, humans. Can you imagine a world where we are all working to provide for one another’s needs through God’s provision and with God’s people? A place where we follow His commands, work His lands, and reach people for His glory and their good. This is Elizabeth Farm. We are doing the work, but more importantly, we SEE what’s happening. We SEE lives being changed. We SEE our community getting involved and coming together to provide for one another. We SEE the grace and love of Jesus on full display. We SEE God’s beautiful creation that He has given us to subdue.
This is the way forward for our community, and we need YOU to be apart of this life changing work! Reach out to see how you can join us in seeing our way forward. You can contact me at zach@feedmysheeptemple.org, or learn more at feedmysheeptemple.org/elizabethfarm!
