Merry Leaflet

The newest issue of The Merry Leaflet gives an inside look into the fun-filled Nature Fest, a spring celebration where multiple Merry Lea program areas came together to pull off. We honor the master's in environmental education cohort that graduated in May and pay tribute to one of Merry Lea's founders, Mary Jane Rieth.

This newsletter features our very own Kerry Goodrich, who celebrated 40 years of service as Merry Lea's property supervisor this past year. Hear about the many ways our volunteers contribute to Merry Lea, including the experiences of Julie Davidson, who has been with us for 20 years. If you've ever had food from Merry Lea Sustainable Farm, you know how tasty it is - we share a couple recipes that you can make while you learn about the many ways our farm's food enriches our programs and people.

This fall issue features undergraduate students in the Sustainability Leadership Semester, who recently delivered presentations on their proposals for community development in a Fort Wayne neighborhood. Did you know Merry Lea runs an after-school program? Discover PROWL's beginnings and how it's adapted during the pandemic. Learn about one of Merry Lea's new education programs by channeling your inner detective as kindergartners explore living and nonliving things in their schoolyard.

The summer 2020 Merry Leaflet features the Environmental Education Outreach team, whose nature-based programs and trainings provide hope and practical solutions amid the pandemic. Get to know the summer farm crew, who took over projects and helped run the farm during an unconventional summer. Learn how the graduate students have been exploring their new surroundings as they participate in safe, outdoor classes in person.

These are unconventional times, but much has happened at Merry Lea that offers hope and vision for the future. The first cohort of the Sustainability and Environmental Education Department of Goshen College graduated in April. The education team and master's students are creating online learning opportunities. A new executive director was hired. And spring is blooming!

The Winter 2020 Merry Leaflet follows students in last fall's Sustainability Leadership Semester as they explore gravel pits, learn about food councils, talk with government officials and make pizzas in a wood-fired oven. You'll also accompany our nature preschoolers as they encounter a dead deer and watch ibises in flight in the Bahamas.

We asked our Merry Lea alumni what they were up to and over 25 of them responded. See who's got owls in the classroom, who knows how to make cabbage steaks, who married a man whose property she remembers canoeing past with the Sustainability Leadership Semester...and more. Also read about our new nature preschool.

Six students completed our Agroecology Summer Intensive this year. Learn about the varied interests and career paths that inspire students to study sustainable food systems. Also take a cross-property hike with the master's students or consider signing your child up for the new nature preschool that Merry Lea will host.

Executive Director Luke Gascho retires after nearly 22 years of service. Read comments from board members, employees and students; find out what he's planning next. Pages 6 and 7 review the month of May, from frogs and snails and eagles to rap.

See what keeps Merry Lea's master's students hopeful despite the state of the world, catch a glimpse of the new strategic plan and meet an array of new dialog partners. Page 7 will coach you on how to get the most out of Merry Lea's land management webpages.