2021 Spring Update and Date Set for Fall Fundraiser!

Hello to each and everyone who has been so kind to help us out over the years with Spring plantings, Summer pruning, Fall harvests and our Annual Fall Fund Raising Party which was held for the past 5 years (except for the Covid-19 2020 cancellation!). Good news – We WILL have this event this coming fall. The FUND raising part will be held on Saturday September 11, so please plan to attend as it will be great fun and beneficial to our 3 outstanding charities we support!

This year our Lost Creek Hippies Vineyard Apple Orchard has had exciting events:

1. We fully enclosed the apple orchard, protecting it from deer and rabbits, and who knows else.
2. We moved all our remains dwarf Honeycrisp apple trees into the orchard and erected supports for their growth.
3. We purchased 7 more semi-dwarf Honeycrisp apple trees and planted them, and are now frequently watering them in our current 90F plus temps.
4. Unfortunately, a hailstorm occurred on May 22. We fear that all 5 productive trees were stripped of their buds at a sensitive time… we may have lost essentially all of our expected 3,000 to 4,000 apples… that’s life, but the trees are healthy, with growing leaves, so next year will be better.
5. We now have 30 dwarf and semi-dwarf Honeycrisp protected in the orchard…. They will begin to be productive in 2-3 years. Our older MacIntosh (2 trees) and Haraldson (2 trees) will be productive next year (assuming no further hailstorms or other calamities… we have had to mellow out to avoid pulling what little hair we have out!).

Meanwhile we are very proud to note that our 3 charities have adapted to the challenges of our times and continue to help our local and distant neighbors:

People Serving People: continues to help Twin Cities homeless families achieve stability and safety , and plan a secure and productive future: Stable housing for families at a downtown Minneapolis location, with support services as needed for education and employment planning. School support services for children, with distance learning services on site appropriate for the Covid19 situation, thus allowing children to continue age appropriate education programs. Center of Excellence: High quality child care for infants through school aged children.

Habitat For Humanity of Minnesota: continues to provide support and guidance for affiliate programs throughout Minnesota for the past 44 years. This support results in the construction of simple, decent, and affordable housing for persons in need, thus helping not only individuals but also helping to stabilize and make more healthy the local communities. Their Sustainable Building Program ensures that housing provided is healthy and affordable.

Central Asia Institute: provides educational opportunities children and adults in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, with an emphasis on girls and female adults. In this way the knowledge and opportunities which this education brings is empowering. This helps to break cycles of ignorance, poverty, and violence with education, employment, and safe and peaceful environments. CAI believes that “ She is the key “, that an educated woman will transform her environment, leading to benefits for her and her family, and her entire community. Students are helped through scholarships for advanced education, so that they can return to their communities as educators, doctors, and lawyers. School building projects are funded, resulting in safe and stable schools in rural villages and towns. Vocational Training programs are funded, helping adults acquire basic literacy as well as skills training for employment.

We are happy to be able to have supported the fine work that these 3 organizations are doing, and look forward to continuing our support in 2021 with our Spring and Fall donations, and with your continuing support of our annual fund-raising efforts.

We know that: We are all connected in this world, and when we help others to achieve a better life, then our lives improve also.

So, please plan now to join us for our 5th Annual Fall Fund Raiser Party on Saturday, September 11. It will start at 2:00 P.M. with an afternoon of yard games, appetizers, drinks (including our 2019 Altered States Apple wine … delicious!).   Followed by dinner at 5-6 P.M. or so (pulled pork and chicken and lots of sides).
Feel free to bring an appetizer – it will be so appreciated by all to enjoy!

We plan to have a Blues-Rock band coming this year (not giving their name as they are changing it!), great music will happen… maybe dancing?
We will have an evening bonfire and anyone who would like to stay overnight is welcome… we’ll be creative with the sleeping arrangements!

Each and everyone who attends will leave with a bottle of our 2019 Altered States Apple wine, as our thank you for the joy and help you have given us!

And if so inclined, please write out a donation in the name of one of our charities for any amount and we will, as each year in the past, match that amount 1:1.

In this way we are able to help these charities in a meaningful way, and we all have a great time doing it

Again, this whole effort has been an experience for us that cannot be duplicated. The many warm friends we have made, the many fun events, and the financial help we have been able
to generate for our 3 outstanding charities. We know that we are all ultimately connected, and that when we share our good fortune with others, we all benefit.

See you on September 11!

P.S.: We will post a final update around August 1, with particulars regarding the event. We do ask that all who attend have received the Covid-19 vaccine, as several of us have health concerns that would make exposure a risk (and we all know that 40% of exposures are without symptoms).

Any questions, call me at 763-354-0880