It's 1970. Hippies are among all of us. They live from the dirt, love all living things, and, above all, want simplicity.

Hippies were cool then, and now, they seem lost in whirlwind of their own muddy fantasies...But, what if I tell you that we can live like that again, minus the lifelong damage to our brains?

Jerusalem Farm is doing just that, with a different worshiper in mind: God.

"Jerusalem Farm is a Catholic Intentional community located in Kansas City, Missouri, built on the four cornerstones: Prayer, Community, Service, and Simplicity. We strive to transform our lives and those around us through service retreat experiences, sustainable living and home repair."(http://www.jerusalemfarm.org/mission.php)

This community is something that I stumbled upon while visiting Kansas City, MO. I was attending as a chaperone for the Youth Mission Trip with my home church, Middletown Christian Church, Simpsonville Christian Church, and their respective youth groups: ARISE Youth (MCC) and SCC Youth. My small groups' job was to build and revive biking and running trails within one of KC's poorest neighborhoods: the Northeast, specifically on Cliff Drive. My group cleared about a football field lengths of honeysuckle, weeds, and other invasive plants and vines to reveal a hidden cliff behind it all. The ground we cleared will be stomping ground for a new trail, which we then began building.

(We cleared all that on the right, as well!)

With all this hard work came some down time: after our labor-intensive work days, we would cool down in our AC-lined bus and tour the Northeast, visiting specific areas on specific days. Our first visit and tour happened to be a little farm: Jerusalem Farm. Now, I was expecting cows, sheep, goats, and chickens on some distant farm land that did not make any sense visiting with urban KC. Well, I was wrong...besides the chickens!

Prayer, Community, Service, and Simplicity. These four cornerstones guide their every move and advancement as a community. According to their website:

• As a community in right relationship with God, prayer becomes our transforming action.
• As a community in right relationship with self, service becomes our loving action.
• As a community in right relationship with others, community becomes our forgiving action.
• As a community in right relationship with earth, simplicity becomes our sustaining action.

This farm was unique in every way. Not only did they believe in sustaining the earth that we take from, but they also gave back in every way imaginable. Just three months ago, they installed solar panels on their roof; in just one month, they spent about $.30 on electricity and then the following month, the power company owed THEM $2 due to their panels producing surplus energy! They also have a Community Garden, and a private garden that they tend to. Their neighbors and all can come by and collect whatever they wish from their garden including tomatoes, romaine, garlic, blueberries, and it is all FREE and organic!There are also many animals that roam the garden: chickens, a rooster, and a pig named Bruce. The chickens are obviously used for eggs and the occasional meal (only when one chicken dies, as they say), and the pig is there for grazing, and when he dies, food! One of the coolest items on the farm was this:

This is a standalone building that is used in prepping for community users of the Community Garden. But the coolest thing about it: It is made out of cut-in-half wine bottles and used tires! HOW COOL IS THAT?! What a way to reuse things that would otherwise half-rot in a landfill somewhere!Probably the best part of Jerusalem Farm is it's dedication to mission:

"Families, adults, and high school or college groups are invited to immerse themselves in a week-long service retreat experience. During this time you will live and pray with us at the Farm, while going out each day to serve in the surrounding neighborhoods. Click the group that applies to you below to find out more." (http://www.jerusalemfarm.org/volunteer.php)

It also has a Sojourner Program, which offers college-aged individuals to stay one to six months in the community and live, pray and work the community that Jerusalem Farm has. They also lead youth-based programs that come to the farm!

I believe that Jerusalem Farm teaches the world many things, including that being irresponsible in regards to the environment, being disrespectful to Earth, is not the "cool" thing to do nor is being a hippy live up to its bad connotations:

Suitability and simplicity, whether through faith or conscience, is the most important thing to realize and represent in this day and age. Jerusalem Farm teaches the world to hold on to the most important thing that we have ever grasped: Earth.

A big shoutout to Middletown Christian Church , Simpsonville Christian Church, and your respective youth programs for their dedication to youth and mission. Without you all, most kids could not comprehend the life-changing experiences that come with your amazing ministries wouldn't be even close to possible: THANK YOU!