I'm back. Took some time off from the column due to my work load here and wanting to work through the aftermath of the accident in the group. We are doing better now. Lots of news to catch up on. . .

This is a time of year that I enjoy a lot. The heavy harvest work is done and we are catching up on projects and maintenance that need our attention. We have been busy as bees preparing the fields and gardens for winter, getting equipment organized and put away, winterizing our buildings, rearranging some of our common spaces and gathering firewood to see us through the cold months.

It is also a time of year for farewells to our interns and friends who have been with us during the harvest. Jai has returned to Illinois and Jen to the San Francisco Bay Area. Both plan to work for a while while they plan new ventures. Jenny, Megan and Emily are back in Kansas City. Kris from Wygelia Community has returned home to Maryland after being with us for two months.

Former interns from 2001, Geoff and Jane, stopped with us for a time before continuing their bike trip on the Katy Trail. We received an email from them this weekend telling us that they are now in Santa Cruz, California.They are hoping to backpack on the Pacific Crest Trail while out there. Our friend Brad, who lives in Columbus, Ohio, and his friend Kate were here right at the end of the harvest.

We had visits from some new friends, too. Kit, Mary Ann and Will came and helped out in many ways. They are all exploring the idea of living in community. Kit has lived in Southern California for some years and Mary Ann and Will are from New York City. We hosted the Environmental Awareness class from Truman State on October 19th. They toured the farm and pitched in to help with field work for part of the day.

After sorghum harvest, we enjoyed meeting Terry, an old friend of Laird's. Former member Lotus and her daughter Emma, good friend Geoph, and another friend Carol and her little boy Nash, who is slightly younger than Skyler, have all been recent visitors. Mark, who lived at Sandhill as a teenager, came for a week and a half. He now resides in South Carolina and has recently left the Army after doing a tour of duty in Kosovo.

Laird went to Tucson to work with a co-housing group in October and is now on a trip that has included visits to his children on the East Coast. He then went to the conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan held by NASCO, which is an association of student cooperatives. Sue also attended the conference and sold books for Community Bookshelf there. She returned home after a visit with her family in Montague, Michigan and Laird has gone on to FIC organizational meetings in Tahuya, Washington. He will be home again the day before Thanksgiving.

Contrary to rumors that you may have heard, Stan still has organic farm inspections to do this season.

He will be Fairfield, Iowa to do some on Tuesday and then will head down to the Missouri Bootheel to do more later in the week

Gigi and Cory left on Monday for a visit with former DR member Halle and her family in Viroqua, Wisconsin. They will be back this coming weekend. Chad rode with them to Iowa City to meet his brother and go on to Michigan for Thanksgiving. After that, he plans to head to Twin Oaks Community in Virginia to do a labor exchange and will be back sometime in January. Cedar, Sol and Skyler have returned from visiting Cedar's family in Oklahoma and Texas for a week.

Jon, Angelina and their little girl Zoe are settling in here as extended visitors for the winter and are exploring the idea of living here as members. Zoe has just started walking and is very engaged with everything in her environment.

The accident during sorghum harvest this year has led to a period of reflection for us a group as we consider its impact on us. Several of us have had the opportunity on a couple of occasions to visit with Leanna, the young woman who was injured. She is facing more surgery, but is doing well so far and has maintained a good attitude and strong spirit. Thanks to everyone who has asked about her.