Welcome back to week 18 of Longview Alive! with your cohosts, Aaron Brown and Jessi Stead.
Aaron’s amazing photography and videography are now available to you in the media services package that he put together with help from startWorks. Go to the get involved page to check it out.
Spooky Season Identified
I may be a novice nature guide, but I think I know when spooky season has arrived.
Our homegrown pumpkins were picked and placed as table decorations for this Saturday’s Celebration Festival.
The indoor plants got a facelift and feature too in their new homes in Andrew Snyder’s pots circa 2024.
Conservation Efforts
Moving into Fall, we will be concentrating our efforts to remove the remaining invasive species from the Longview Farm property. The main species include poison ivy, Tree of Heaven, Sweet Gum, multiflora rose, and burning bush.
“[Conservation is] preventing land development that does not align with or support natural processes and does not afford the land its innate worth and dignity”. - Ilya
Establishing a clear trail system in the woodlot, ensuring the safe passage through our forest with weekly upkeep of paths, and the installation of trail markers are all on Aaron’s to do list.
State of the Farm Reflections
Rounding out our September state of the farm reflections with 1 more quote from Ricky Eller’s September 2024 land consultation with Tyler K from Reviving Wisdom. Thanks,
!September 2024
The challenges of eradicating invasive species like Wintercreeper were highlighted, pointing to the necessity of ongoing vigilance and action. Land use and conservation were discussed, advocating for small-scale camping and creating accessible spaces without significant environmental disruption. Groundwater identification and conservation was also noted, with suggestions for using divining rods to locate water sources.
State of The Farm
Our Earth Focus
We have focused our attention on the Earth for this Longview Alive series to reflect our deepening commitment to environmental storytelling, community resilience, and ecological restoration.
With these ideals in mind, friends and family gathered on Saturday for Longview Farm’s 3rd Annual Celebration.
Oak Tree for Babushka
The highlight of the event was an oak tree planting ceremony where participants paid their respects through reflection and a moment of silence to honor Ilya Lehrman’s grandmother, Babushka Zinaida, who spent her final years calling Longview Farm home.
Earth is in the House
House Cup that is. As the new Experience Director at inWorks LLC (Ilya’s IT company that co-works out of our gallery), I’ve been devising a “House Cup” for our extended team to really get into our core principles here on the farm - by making houses of each. House Human, House Art and House Earth are all competing through the rest of 2025 for the title of House Cup Champion.
I asked the members of House Earth what their house means to them:
To be grounded in community, nature, and life.
House Mycorra represents the common home we all share, earth, and the connections it supports among us.
Earth - This house provides a space where we can discuss the intricate balance between organic and non-organic forms.
House Earth is already getting into it as a science-y bunch, they gave their house the name Mycorra, meaning they’re all “House of Mushroom.”
No doubt, our resident mycologist and cohost, Aaron Brown, was behind it!
Visit Us & Get Involved
Ways you get involved:
Explore Nature with Us on our Longview Farm page on iNaturalist
Partner With Us Find out how
Support Us by buying our merch
Thank you! We appreciate those of you who are following along with this Longview Alive series, commenting and engaging with our posts, attending our outdoor workshops, and supporting us when you buy merch from the gallery shop.
Until next time, stay alive and visit Longview Farm!
Longview Alive! was written by Longview Farm for visitlongviewfarm.com
Written by: Aaron Brown & Jessi Stead
State of The Farm Quotes by: Ricky Eller
Additional Quotes by: Matt Synder and Ilya Lehrman
Photography by: Aaron Brown, Jessi Stead and Ilya Lehrman
Film by: Aaron Brown
