Embracing Autumn in Copake

From humid afternoons spent by our swim pond to relaxing vacations with friends, our summer was fulfilling in many ways. And as the seasons shift into fall, the energy in our community becomes rearranged. The transition to crisp evenings, cooking soups with winter squash from our gardens, and the beginning of festival season bring us so much joy in Camphill Village.

We’re delving into just some of the many traditions that we hold dear from now until Giving Tuesday on November 28th, starting with the delicious handmade fruitcakes that our amazing […]

Our gingerbread people have gone to the beach, they've been happy, and they've been sad. They've been gifted and they've been enjoyed by our bakers. What will come of our confectionery comrades this season?

If you have access to a bit of soil, we hope you're considering the many lovely things you can begin growing in just a few months. Turtle Tree Seed, where our community members of all abilities work efficiently to grow herbs, vegetables, and flowers for seed, can help you fill that garden space or even kitchen herb garden! The seeds we grow, package, and sell are all open-pollinated Biodynamic seed.

When we spend more time indoors during the warmer months, we concentrate on reading, hobbies, and enjoying musical pursuits. This is the time of year when we gear up for our Bell Ensemble performances, as well as welcome world-class musicians to Fountain Hall.

During the warmer months, and even well into the fall, the farmers of Camphill Village walk our dairy herd to fresh pasture where they stay until the next round of milking. But in the winter, conditions aren’t so favorable here in the northeast, so our cows are kept warm and dry in our loose housing area, which is attached to our barn. The loose housing is a semi-open environment that encouraged good air flow, invites in the sunlight that stays on our hillside through the morning, and is an ideal and safe environment for our baby calves when they arrive in late winter.

The annual Estate crew Christmas tree deliveries are a long-running tradition in Camphill Village. Just in time for us to set them up in our living rooms on Christmas Eve, members of the Estate crew load up a hay wagon with trees from a local farm, and spend the day making their deliveries. We decorate our trees on Christmas Eve and enjoy them through the Holy Nights ✨

Many of the young coworkers who live in our community come here from abroad. As such, we have exposure to many different languages and customs throughout the year, and these include culinary influences. Years ago, our friend Astrid—a confident baker—showed us how she makes a traditional German stolen bread when she lived in Capella House. Astrid is now a nurse in New York City, but we love it when she visits. We are so glad to share Astrid's lovely recipe for Christmas Stolen once again.

Giving Tuesday is around the corner, and we're excited to carry on the tradition of delving into Village life a little more deeply. The donations we receive during our Giving Tuesday campaigns each year play such an important role for our annual fund, especially when those gifts are matched by generous family members.

The occasion of our 60th birthday in 2021 enabled us to examine our place in the Camphill Movement of North America. Ours was the first Camphill Community established on this continent, and in the tradition of our communities being named after the place in which they were established, the immigrants who founded this organization named it Camphill Village USA.