harvest

The Story of Our First Co-Op

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment
Photo from a 2022 Co-Op at Olive Branch Farm

Simply Living

A new co-op introduces Indianapolis area families to the joy of cutting back to the basics in life.

By T.J. Banes, first featured in the Indy Star on April 29, 2002

While many 20-something women may be running the career fast-track and juggling duties at home, Sarah Brown is slowing down and inviting other women to do the same.

She recently formed a family co-op called Simpler Times, which introduces people to the joys of basic living. News of her effort has spread by word of mouth, and her mailing list now includes more than 200 names.

Most co-ops start with a shared interest in benefiting a local economy, said Phil Schutt, grocery buyer for Bloomingfoods Market and Deli in Bloomington. That co-op, which specializes in locally grown organic foods, has two locations and has been in operation for 26 years.

Sarah wants people in her co-op to share their goods and services in exchange for points. No money will be used.

Twice a week, her 3-acre property comes to life with the company of other moms and tots, working the garden. Occasionally, her husband, Josh, 24, has to stop a farm animal from munching on the Brussels sprouts.

“I’d say I’m traditional, but not modern,” said Sarah, 25, the mother of Isaac, 3, Anna, 2, and Esther, 7 months. “I just don’t want the rest of the world to influence what I do and when I do it.”

Karen Kornelsen, 25, a stay-at-home mother who lives on the city’s Southeastside, said she loves being outside barefoot digging in the dirt.

Recently, she set out plants while her 9-month-old daughter, Laura, slept in a backpack. “Being part of Simpler Times allows me to fellowship with other women and to bring home fresh produce so we can eat healthy.”

Eventually, the co-op’s harvest will become part of a twice-monthly trading day on Fortville’s Main Street.

Both the garden, and the trading day, mark the beginning of Sarah’s attempts to spread the simple life to other families. In addition to produce, families trade homemade baked goods, crafts, used clothing and books.

Click here to read more and find out about the perfect tool for you to use in setting up your very own Co-Op!

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Autumn Crafts & Fun-Schooling Ideas

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Autumn is one of the best times of year for a variety of reasons – holidays, family gatherings, and of course the changing of the leaves! As a way to learn from and cherish the season, here are a few activities your fun-schoolers can do during the fall:

  1. Leaf Identification & Prints Take a nature walk to collect leaves, and teach kids to identify different tree types! Once home, you can use paint or other art materials to create leaf prints by pressing painted leaves onto paper. This introduces children to plant science and creates beautiful fall art. It’s perfect for younger children, and gets them inspired by and connected with nature!
  2. Pumpkin Science & Math Pumpkins and gourds are great for hands-on learning! You can teach your children how to measure their heights, circumferences, and weights, then compare pumpkins of different sizes. For a long-term project, you can also carve or decorate a pumpkin, and plant its seeds to observe how they grow!
  3. Autumn Sensory Bin
    Fill a bin with seasonal items like dried leaves, small pumpkins, pine cones collected from your yard! Then, you can let your kids explore the textures and sizes, practicing sorting and scooping. This activity promotes sensory development and imaginative play!
  4. Fall Harvest Collage
    Provide construction paper, fabric scraps, and dried leaves for kids to create a fall harvest scene or abstract collage! This craft encourages creativity and fine motor skills, all while celebrating autumn colors and textures! It’s also a fun way to learn what sorts of leaves and seeds are in your yard during the autumn season!
  5. Autumn Storytime & Craft Read a fall-themed book to your children, or have one of your older children read to the younger ones! Afterward, have kids create a craft based on the story, like making their own scene or even a fall item, like a scarecrow! This combines literacy, creativity, and storytelling.
  6. DIY Bird Feeders Teach your children about wildlife by making bird feeders from pine cones, peanut butter, and birdseed! Hang them outside to attract birds and observe different species, helping children understand the importance of nature conservation! You can even use the Fun-Schooling Birdwatching Journal!

Find more nature-themed Fun-Schooling journals here!

Harvesting Joy!

/ Sarah Janisse Brown / 1 Comment

I am so thankful for the trees that someone cared to plant 80 or 100 years ago. As fall comes into its glory, and the one who planted lies beneath the soil, I am grateful for the beauty they gave to our neighborhoods and lawns.

Do you care if your legacy outlives you on this earth?

Plant trees, invest in children, create art, build with stone.

Do you care if your legacy touches eternity?

Give life, spread hope, share truth, plant seeds that bring an eternal harvest. Live in the light of eternity, living like Jesus. Be His hands, His feet, His heart, His voice to a lost and broken world. Lay up your treasures in Heaven.

Here are some of the blessings we are harvesting at Olive Branch Farm this autumn!