2 Years Later…
October 9, 2023
Dear ASLF Supporter,
I’ve been thinking lately about the power of sense memory…the smell of the air in these crisp fall days in New York sparked memories for me of fresh starts, back to school, and the possibility of new horizons – experiences that made me feel even more connected to the work we are doing at the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund.
It has been exactly two years since Anne’s sudden passing and the founding of ASLF and we are determined not to forget why we started. We launched a program dedicated to connecting, to teaching, and to creating meaningful experiences — all attributes of Anne. The time spent by our apprentices learning from our partner farmers will surely stay with them in visceral, emotional ways, for the rest of their lives. Sense memories have a way of never letting go.
In an attempt to understand how our farm program impacts our apprentices, we ask for a Storytelling Project that speaks to their journey. There is no specific format, it can be a film, poem, song, painting, or photo. The only guideline is that it creates a record of something that moved or inspired them along the way.
We are so happy to share some special ones below.
Anne was an artist. Her friends and family continue to find comfort in the beautiful pieces around them that she created. It is fitting that her legacy will include artwork of all kinds created by young adults in her name.
Stay tuned for our zine compilation of all the stories from 2023!
Please remember us in your end of giving — our goal is 100 apprentices on 60 sustainable farms and for that we need to raise at least $600,000! Every dollar counts! Please donate HERE
Sincerely,
Susie
1. Allison Sirota, who apprenticed at Ohio City Farm in Cleveland, reached out about a week into her stay and asked if we would rent her a specific camera for her project. We of course said yes, but we had no idea that she would create this mesmerizing FILM, featuring the vegetables she worked with.
2. Kristin Thesing made a powerful and sweet VIDEO featuring a day- by-day account of her experiences at Catskill Wagyu Hilltop Farm in Accord, New York.
3. Sofie Kanayama sent us this VIDEO of her creating a linoleum stamp during her apprenticeship at Ice House Farm in Goshen, Vermont.
4. Hadasya Pramesti who apprenticed at Deep Rooted Organics in Westby, Wisconsin made the beautiful poster below, featuring all the tomato varieties from the farm.
