GEORGIA'S KOINONIA REFUGE

Sustainable Farming & Permaculture Bundled With Love

“I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in;  I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me.”

                  Matthew 25:31-33

By Doc Lawrence 

AMERICUS, Georgia. Sustainable agriculture and organic farm products necessarily suggest an ideal lifestyle. The one place I found this along with working permaculture in place is deep in Southwest Georgia, just a few miles down the road from Jimmy Carter’s home in Plains.

Koinonia Farms, the birthplace of Habitat for Humanity, is also a refuge like no other. Founded in 1942 with an open arms policy, it managed to survive violence fueled by mindless racism: bombings, cross burnings, boycotts, gun blasts in the night and unconscionable harassment from state and local politicians during a very sad era in Georgia. Today, the children and adults along with farm staff live in peace, welcoming visitors from throughout the country and world while maintaining their operation just as it was started by Reverend Clarence Jordan.

Peace in the Orchard

Tom Key and Harry Chapin’s fabulous musical, “Cotton Patch Gospel,” is based on Reverend Jordan’s work of the same name. I took my mother to see it on a beautiful Easter afternoon at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. How proud I was that what began in rural Georgia brought such joy to her.

For those in need of refuge, victims of abuse or rejection, or find themselves hungry, unbearably lonely or otherwise helpless, Koinonia’s gates are open. This is a real deal, the working embodiment of the Sermon on the Mount. There’s no screening regarding gender, race, a troubled past or other unimportant things. Come and depart when you are ready. If you stay and are able to work, the farm needs you and in return you’ll get the shelter, exercise, fresh air, wholesome food and restored positive self-image to help you recover.

Koinonia has no mega church backing. They survive on what they produce. Pecans, baked goods, peanut butter, jellies, books, oils and more. Plus, contributions. I buy my gifts from them. They always deliver tossing in some extra love for good measure.

A Habitat Team At Work

The director is Bren Dubay, a wonderful person and a cancer survivor who works tirelessly to make ends meet for the farm and its missions. Join me in helping this wonderful operation by either buying from their mail order store or sending a contribution of any amount.

Plan to visit Koinonia. Enjoy lunch and spend the day walking the farm, petting the livestock, resting under the shade of the ancient pecan trees. Making new friends is easy here. Before you leave, load the trunk with reasonably priced farm products.

It’s a proven way to lose those big city blues.

Koinonia Farm

1324 GA Hwy 49 South

Americus, GA 31719

www.koinoniafarm.org

Joy at the Farm