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The signs of spring are here, kin! We acknowledge with poet Abigail Carroll that

Cold’s empire has not yet been undone, but
the cardinals have begun to loudly declare
its undoing,
which is as good as the thing itself

(from Carroll's poem “Spring Forward”)

Personal Reflection and Update

It was about one year ago that we took the first tentative steps toward building Kinship Plot. Even with a lengthy sabbatical and this season in Tulsa, we are amazed at how those seeds slowly germinated and began to grow. One of our contemplative practices is “slow faith,” slowness meaning quality-over-quantity, attentive waiting, releasing control and a sense of urgency, and following the pace of a God who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Today we are celebrating because the IRS officially designated us a 501(c)(3) organization! We couldn’t have reached this point without the small but mighty Board of Directors, who walk with us every step of the way, and a Wisdom Council who have encouraged and nudged us in helpful ways. Many of you have also been part of this journey through cohort participation, special projects, events, giving, friendship, and much more. Thank you!

The Vander Lugts are settling back in Charlotte in mid-June. This season with First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa has been an incredible gift and we know that the relationships we have built here will continue to grow and bear fruit. In the meantime, we have some exciting upcoming events, so keep reading to learn more.

On April 7, we are hosting a community conversation as part of Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Mecklenburg County. Charlotte folks, please join us! In summer 2021 our County Commissioners charged the Charlotte-Mecklenburg library to research and craft a report on the harm caused by racist policies and practices of our county’s government from its inception in 1868 to today. We encourage all residents of Mecklenburg to read the report and join us for a conversation where we will engage the results, share stories, and imagine restorative practices that lead toward repair.

This conversation aptly sits in the Lenten season, a time for repentance and reorientation of our full selves to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe the gospel of Christ is good news in every way, and as members of Christ’s body, we are eager to participate in the mission of God to reconcile all things through Christ (Colossians 1:20). We are grateful to be co-hosting this conversation with C4 Counseling and Warehouse 242 and for QC Family Tree in providing the community conversation guide. If you want to join us, please RSVP on the Facebook event.

In the current learning cohort, Our Entangled Existence, we’ve been exploring with thirty others how our lives are intimately connected with the soil, the land, and its creatures. Gardening is a constant reminder of how this entangled kinship brings satisfying and sometimes surprising benefits.

As we plant the garden this year, we are seeking to increase our yield in order to share with neighbors and increase the scope of our kinship. Fancy plunging your hands into the soil and co-laboring for a few hours? Join us! Many hands make the work lighter and way more delightful. Email us if you can join for all or part of the time, and we’ll send you the address.

More Plot Developments

We are seeking fellow food growers and gardeners in the Charlotte area who want to participate in the sharing economy and mutual aid. We will be filling weekly boxes with homegrown produce to share with women who are re-entering the community after prison. If you grow food or know someone who might like to participate, please email us.
Now that we have 501(c)(3) status, we'll be migrating giving platforms and will communicate soon with all those whose generous giving is sustaining Kinship Plot.
We are actively seeking land (5-25 acres) for Kinship Plot as we move toward our bigger vision of land cultivation, formative artistry, collaborative learning, contemplative action, and liberatory welcome. If you know of anyone who might be interested in land donation or a long-term lease, please reach out so we can connect.

We value your prayers in all of this and as we prepare to move back to Charlotte in June. Thanks for being a valuable part of our kinship network!
-Wes and Stephanie Vander Lugt

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