Our Story!
Paul DeBusschere is a fourth generation farmer. He has farmed successfully on the Oxnard plain for almost 20 years, mostly citrus and dry lima beans. He is married to Julie Morris, who is an Episcopal Priest. Julie helped start the Episcopal/Lutheran Campus Ministry at California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI). The campus ministry is now called The Abundant Table...and that brings us to the church...
Beginning in January, 2006, a small group of people began meeting on the campus of CSUCI on Sunday nights to listen to sacred texts, pray, sing, and share bread and wine. Increasingly inspired by Jesus' vision of inclusive love and courageous commitment to peace, Rachel, Alyssa, Ted, Judy, Susan, Erynn, Paul A., Julie and others began to wonder: How could their lives be more about gratitude, compassion and justice? What could they do to help change the world? Enter Sarah Nolan. Sarah became the Chaplain in 2007. She was involved in The South Central Farm in Los Angeles that seeks to bring healthy produce to low-income families. Together they began to think and talk and play around with some ideas. Maybe they could do a farm project, too. But not alone...and that brings us to the community...
They floated the idea. "We're thinking of starting a new farm project, just down the road from the campus. It will involve interns living in the Farm House, working the land, and connecting their farm work to spirituality and social justice. It will be about sustainability and connecting people to each other, to the earth, to their food and their farmers, and to that holy mystery which is the ground of our being. We'll need an Advisory Board and subscribers to the farm. We'll need a village to raise this farm, and this farm will sustain the village. Will you join us?" And, starting with farmer Paul, they all said, "Yes." That brings us to you...help us keep writing the story. Join the farm!