We (that’s us — Chuck and Debbie) live in Chatham, a charming town of 1300 residents in south central Virginia. Debbie is an artist and gardener, and you can see both her art and her flower gardens at her blog, Goodthoughts. Chuck pastors Chatham Baptist Church and you can catch his blogs at Confessions of a Small-Church Pastor, and Amicus Dei.
But this blog, Eden’s Path, is ours together. This is the diary of our journey toward a more sustainable, simple, and gentle life. We’re trying to spend less, save more, re-use, recycle, or do without. We’re also going to grow our own food (we’re mostly vegetarians), and reduce our carbon footprint as much as we can. Sounds strange, but it’s already lots of fun. So stop by often, leave a comment or two, and some help if you see us going off track.
Nice Blog!!! I wish you a million readers!!
Love, Christy
Thanks, Christy! Come for a visit this summer and garden with us. We’ll send you home with lots of tomatoes!
Hi, Chuck and Debbie!
Over the past few years, I have evolved to share the same goal as the two of you…. I strive to live a simpler life, to use less and give more… I came upon your blog while researching for work and am so glad I did. I look forward to following along on your adventures and maybe even sharing some of mine with you!
Thanks, Julie! Sorry to be so late replying. It seems that a lot of folks are finding the joy in living a simpler life. We wish you well on your journey and would be happy to hear more about how it’s going.–Debbie
Dear Chuck and Debbie:
I loved the photo of the two of you sitting back in Green Plastic Adirondack chairs that we also have in our garden in the Bay Area of San Francisco.
Since withdrawing from small parish life last May, Lindzi and I are establishing our home as ‘The Abbey of Merton St. Ambrose.’ We are leaving the formal blessing and dedication of our household (as a private house with a public purpose) until the early summer of 2009 when I shall celebrate the 50th anniversary of my priesting at the hands of Archbishop Ramsey in York Minster.
After my morning meditation today I was inspired to google “Celtic Abbey Churches” and it brought me directly to your site. (I did not even pass Go or collect 200:). Everything about the site has further inspired me, especially as this year we dug up the back lawns of the Abbey Garden and planted vegetables and the front lawns are now an Orchard of 11 dwarf fruit trees. (According to Lester Brown’s “Plan B – 3.0″ Americans spend something like $40 billion on their lawns each year!).
Our house is a 1963 ’snout model’ in a Californian subdivision without rail or bus service, and I no longer drive! So my ministry is to those houses around us within walking distance of an old man and his dog.
Enuf for now. I tried to attach a photo of our amphora and garden stream but your blog rejected it.
If you send me your email I can mail you some photos.
But I am sure you are making an eloquent witness. Consider yourself as having gained a partner-in-ministry in (still sunny!!) drought stricken (in more senses than one!)
California.
Shalom – Richard Mapplebeckpalmer
Richard,
Thanks for your lovely comments. Glad you found us and please let us know how your abbey develops. I like the phrase “a private house with a public purpose.” That is very much what we would like to do, too. Let’s stay in touch! My email is chuckwarnock @ gmail.com — remember to take out the spaces before and after the @ sign. -Chuck
Gardening this year?