Spirit. Land. The Future.

I Am Abu Francis

Hello, friend! You may know me as a journalist for newspapers and magazines. You may know me as a community organizer around peace, justice and sustainability. You may know me as a permaculturist.

What you may not know is that I spent an amazing, formative year in the Middle East when I graduated from journalism school. There I learned that Arab men receive a nickname when their first son is born. A man’s friends often refer to him as “Abu” – “father of” – followed by the name of that first-born son.

My eldest son is Francis, named after the wonderful patron saint of ecology. St. Francis of Assisi is also the inspiration for Pope Francis of the Catholic Church. Although I do not live in the Arab world, it occurs to me that my Middle Eastern nickname would be Abu Francis. I’m rather excited to explore the last couple decades of my life using this nom de paix.

I am developing a sustainable homestead in the Humboldt Bay area of Northern California. Our foundations are Care for the Planet, Care for the People and Fair Share of the Surplus – the three ethics of Permaculture as well as three of the 7 themes in Catholic Social Teaching.

With this newsletter, I am inviting you to listen and to speak, to dream and to build. Spirit, land, the future.

I am Abu Francis. I am the Catholic Farmer.