Heartland Farm in rural Pawnee Rock hosted this week’s Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Coffee, with staff treating guests to homemade breads in the garden pavilion as they explained the purpose of this ministry of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Sister Jane Belanger said the farm, located about 13 miles west of Great Bend on 1049 County Road 390, was founded in 1987 when the land was purchased.
“The rural farm agriculture community is what supports our area, and so we try to be good neighbors in our own way, which is to grow organically and to nurture people,” she said.
Heartland Farm’s media person, Theresa Johnson, said she hoped Thursday’s guests would experience what peace is like.
“This is a place of peace,” she said. There is a house where long- and short-term volunteers stay, such as the seven AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) volunteers who are there now. “We have international volunteers as well,” she said.
There is also a rentable guest house, a chicken house, a 100-year-old barn and a gift shop. With 50-60 hens, the farm will have eggs to sell later this year when the Summer Street Stroll Farmers Market opens in Jack Kilby Square. Heartland Farm offers classes in everything from beer brewing to fiber arts. There are places to meditate, including a repurposed silo with stained glass windows, 2.5 to 3 miles of nature trails through native grasslands, and a grassland labyrinth, which is being refurbished with help from the volunteers who are spending a month at the farm.
Chamber announcements
• Calie Doze from the Family Crisis Center said April 1 is National Wear Teal Day, recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
• Vicki Richardson with Kansas Children’s Service League said April 4 is the day to wear blue, recognizing April is also Child Abuse Prevention Month. Her office at 3520 Lakin Ave. is planting a pinwheel garden as a symbol of hope and a visual reminder of the need for safe and healthy childhoods.
• Chamber President Megan Barfield reminded everyone that the Chamber is hosting the upcoming Pints & Politics from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, at Dry Lake Brewing. It is not a forum with politicians “talking at” the audience and there’s not a formal program agenda. “It’s an opportunity for relationships and having a conversation.” Kansas Gas Service is sponsoring this event, which is open only to Chamber members and their guests. RSVPs are appreciated (but not required) to make sure they have enough food. Go to the Chamber website, greatbend.org.
• The next Chamber Coffee will be hosted by Great Bend Economic Development, 3111 10th St. Doors open at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 3, and the program starts at 9:30.
