b'We find that during these times, the land calls to us to hope for new possibilities we can manifest when we allow ourselves to reimagine and dream of new systems and ways of being. The land nourishes us with both food and lessons about how to connect with our human and nonhuman siblings in dignified and reciprocal ways. Lytisha Wyatt, Soul Fire FarmWe think about diversity from the soil up, all the way through the system.Paul Muller, Full Belly FarmWe must give standing to the new pioneers, the homecomers bent on the most important work of the next centurya massive salvage operation to save the vulnerable but necessary pieces of nature and culture and to keep the good and artful examples before us. It is time for a new breed of artists to enter front and center, for the point of art, after all, is to connect. This is the homecomer I have in mind: the scientist, the accountant who converses with nature, the true artist devoted to the building of agriculture and culture to match the scenery presented to those first European eyes. Wes Jackson, The Land InstituteComing home to start up a small farm business has been quite an adventure. Most days you depend on natural forces beyond your control to make your living. The money part has definitely been a wild ride, particularly in the beginning. The financial stress of farming doesnt ever go away completely. We have good years, and we have bad years. We have business growth spurts that require elusive capital, and we routinely weather unfore-seen, expensive disastershurricanes, floods, droughts, barn fires, broken tie-rods, runaway horses, diesel thieves, global economic meltdowns, cucumber beetle infestations, hungry deer and the neighbors bloodthirsty dog. Sometimes things knock us flat, but my passion for farming and the movement is alive and well. Theres still so much more to do if we are going to make a real difference.Zo Bradbury, Valley Flora Farm27'