Archeology and Agriculture

 

Continuing to Tell Our Story

 

Celebrate and Honor Black History Month with a Preservation Donation

 

For Every $4 You Donate Today We Will Get $6

In case you missed the news, we’re launching phase two of a historical trail, cemetery, museum, and education center at the Flatwoods Community and the Moore Family Century Farm, a 154-year-old historically Black community in Benton County, Tennessee.

Thanks to an extremely generous offer from the Tennessee Historical Commission, for every $4 you donate we will receive $6.  In honor and recognition of Black History Month, we are launching a campaign this year asking for your financial support to preserve one of the few remaining historically black landmarks in Tennessee.

“Our Federal Historic Preservation Fund grant program is one of the main ways the Tennessee Historical Commission makes meaningful contributions to the protection and study of our state’s treasured historic places,” said Patrick McIntyre, State Historic Preservation Officer, and Executive Director. The Federal Historic Preservation Fund provides 60 percent of the project costs with a 40 percent match of project funds from the grantee supporters.

Make any size donation to develop phase two of this outdoor interpretive educational complex to provide jobs and attract tourism dollars in our county and state. Please share this letter with your friends and family.

State Representative Bruce Griffey echoes our intention, “…the Moore Family Century Farm is one of the last few remaining historic African American farms in the country. I feel that the preservation of this state treasure and the documentation of the generations of honorable family members that lived and worked there, is of vital importance for the edification of ours and future generations of Tennesseans. I thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration of this worthy project and urge you to approve any needed funding for this historic landmark.”

DONATE TODAY!

Tax-exempt (EIN: available upon request) donation platforms include:

+ Mail: Check payable to NAPAS, PO Box 135, Whites Creek, TN 37189

+ Zelle: 731-415-2588

+ Cash App:  $NAPASTEAMS

If you have questions or comments, see our website www.visitmoorefarm.org; call or text 615-364-9075.  

Take care,

Moore Family 

Hobby Happiness

 

I have very fond memories of participating in the childhood of my nephew. I witnessed many of his “firsts”-first crawl, teeth, steps and words. His first and favorite sentence was “Is everybody happy?” This question would always make me smile. After a few months of hearing the question from him, my smiles turned to meditating on that question. Am I happy? 

 Happiness is defined as a combination of how satisfied we are with our life and how good we feel on a day-to-day basis. We have the ability to control how we feel. We can form life-long habits for a more satisfying and fulfilling life. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 reminds us that happiness and service are a gift of God. The word states: 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. (NIV) 

This wisdom guided me to ask another question – “What makes us happy?” Buying stuff, status, wealth, popularity, the refrigerator, the medicine cabinet — all have failed to get the job done. Research suggests that what really works, though, is a passion or a hobby – a time to play. January is National Hobby Month. 

A hobby is an activity or interest pursued outside of our regular occupation for pleasure. Hobbies are a great source of relaxation. They can reduce anxiety and increase concentration. A hobby can add eight hours of joy, gratification and contentment to your week. 

For example, businesswoman Lisa Brown is a perfect example. A dinner and salsa dancing demonstration at a Latin restaurant inspired her to take dance lessons at the age of 40. As her mastery grew, she was competing in numerous dance categories and found something that ignited her entire being. “It’s changed me totally,” she says. “Salsa has given me a great gift. I went to the office, had a great family to care for, but dancing shifted my spirits and direction in such an amazing way. I feel 20 years younger.” One of my sparks came from a recommendation from my physical therapist to practice yoga. Therapy turned into a passion to achieve an advanced certification to teach this ancient mind body system. 

So how do you get your hands on this happiness pill? Select an activity that interests you or has value. Try different activities and see what connects. Meditating on this question expanded my life. Over the years, the answers for me have included traveling to 34 states and provinces in North America, exploring the continents of Africa, South America and Europe, African dance, drumming, gardening, singing, crocheting, sewing, coin collecting, painting, weightlifting, basketball, volleyball, creating jobs, advocating for a living wage, writing a book, producing a radio show, teaching African American history, mentoring women…I am sure you get my drift. I continue to explore this question during my quiet time with God. Use your imagination - the possibilities are endless. 

 These hobbies re-introduced me to myself, long forgotten under a pile of duty and obligation. They reacquaint us with the enthused, eager soul we used to be and give us a reason to be that person as often as we can each day. Celebrate your favorite hobby this month. Host a hobby party with friends. Research different hobbies with your children and select a new one to try. Hobby happiness is the truth. Have fun because the Bible tells us so!

Source: explore.chicagocollections.org;  http://collections.carli.illinois.edu:80/cdm/ref/collection/uic_7sh/id/3198

Year In Review: Just Be Thankful

Just be thankful for what you got

William DeVaught

Wow! 2023 was an amazing year for our organization and the people we serve each day. Thank you, friends, for your support in helping us achieve the following:

 

Impact

1325    

People Served and Counseled

238

Acres and Homes Preserved 

$94,000     

Volunteer Hours Value

300% Increase

Donations and Grants

200% Increase

People Practicing Mind Body Stress Reduction Health Techniques

200% Increase

Resident Housing Placements

In the News  

Press Release - UTM Agriculture Department issued a press release on May 15, 2023, about the service they provided to the Benton County Moore farm;

Television - a documentary titled “Uprooted: The History of Black Land Ownership” that aired on PBS affiliate Nashville Public Television on April 24, 2023;

Radio - a panel discussion titled “The traditions and challenges of being a Black farmer in Tennessee” on National Public Radio affiliate WPLN on April 18, 2023, radionwtn;

Newspaper - articles in Camden Chronicle “UTM Students Study Modern Uses for Moore Century Farm", issue May 25, 2023”; “Public Television features Benton County Century Farm” issue April 27, 2023 and “Century Farms” issue Vol 127, No.41, October 14, 2018; on WBBJ-TV.com issue May 15, 2023, “UT Martin students help local farm owner with study”; “Tennessee Historical Commission Unveils New Historical Marker in Holladay”, June 15, 2023; 

Magazine - article in Benton County Genealogical Society Quarterly, “The Moore Family Century Farm” issue Vol.25, No.1, March 2023.

Social Media – Blog - Listed in Urbannite Juneteenth Directory, radionwtn.com, troytn.gov, parispi.net,  

Facebook posts through TN Historical Commission, TN Forestry Association, Forest Foundation Association, TN Civil War National Heritage Area, Hip Camden, TN Agriculture Museum, WBBJ-TV.com, Benton County Camden Chamber of Commerce, Parkers Crossroads Visitor Center, TN Century Farms Program, UT-TSU Extension Benton, MTSU Center for Historical Preservation, Historic Downtown Selmer Today, Anders Moore Family Group, Nashville Public Television; 

Twitter -This Is Nashville, Nashville Public Television; 

Linked-in – Dell Corporation, American Forest Foundation, USDA Forestry Division; 

Instagram – TN Forestry Association, Crime Seen Examiner News.

For Every $4 You Donate Today We Will Get $6

 #GivingTuesday is just one week away on November 28, 2023!

Because you’re such a wonderful friend to the Moore Family Century Farm, I want to let you in on an “early-bird” match offer. The Tennessee Historical Commission. has generously offered to match every gift!

That means for every $4 you donate we will receive $6. Your special gift will go far to transform the way people across the country understand our shared agricultural history and values by re-examining our story through an African American lens.

In case you missed the news, we’re launching phase two of a historical trail, museum, and education center at the Moore Family Century Farm at the Flatwoods Community in Benton County, Tennessee.

State Representative Bruce Griffey echoes our intention, “…the Moore Family Century Farm is one of the last few remaining historic African American farms in the country. I feel that the preservation of this state treasure and the documentation of the generations of honorable family members that lived and worked there, is of vital importance for the edification of ours and future generations of Tennesseans. I thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration of this worthy project and urge you to approve any needed funding for this historic landmark.”

DONATE TODAY! Make any size tax-exempt donation to develop phase two of this outdoor educational complex to provide jobs and attract tourism dollars in our state. Donation platforms include:

+ Mail check payable to NAPAS (EIN available upon request), PO Box 135, Whites Creek, TN 37189

+ Zelle 731-415-2588 Get Started with Zelle® | Zelle (zellepay.com)

+ Cash App - $NAPASTEAMS Cash App Login: Sign in to your account

If you have questions or comments, please contact us at 615-364-9075. This work is being funded in part with funds from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, and the Tennessee Historical Commission.

A Harvest of Health: Collard Greens

This time of year many of us serve the tried and true collard greens as a side dish for our holiday tables. Just be thankful for the early holiday gift we receive from this dark leafy green: preserve eyesight; strengthen bones, prevent cancer and anemia; grow hair; reduce wrinkles; lift mood.                      

Source: National Institute of Health