Hello Friends:

I'm excited to tell you about my expansive experience at Blue Hill and Stone Barns, but wanted to offer this right away. If you are a reader of my newsletters, you know about my upcoming retreat, The Clearing, from November 6-8, 2026 at Wild Candy Farm in Wimberley, TX. It is a reset to return to relational engagement with the land, nourishment from its gifts of food and rest, and a deep connection to one another. I'd like to offer one free seat to a dear reader, who could benefit from this unique experience. As I practice living a more reciprocal economy, like the gift economy, this feels regenerative and abundant, which is the lens through which I choose to view life. If you are interested in joining us, please respond to this email and let me know how this might allow you space to replenish for whatever comes next. I'll accept submissions until Tuesday morning (11/3) and notify by the end of Tuesday.

Now, on to the ways a heart and purpose can be invigorated...

I arrived in Tarrytown, NY on a crisp afternoon with fiery orange and red leaves falling like snow on each breeze. The serendipity of being in the Lower Hudson Valley in New York when I live on Hudson Bend in Texas is not lost on me. I'm staying in a gorgeous Victorian home with my friends Oscar and McKenzie, who live on the first floor with their kitty, Lobo.

I was given the rare opportunity to experience Michelin restaurant Blue Hill, the farm, and Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, along with meeting with several of the leadership team. (Thank you for the connection, McKenzie and Oscar!) In my quest to learn from the best organizations and business models as I build Soil to Soul Commons, this was an important piece of the puzzle for conscious stewardship.

After graduating from the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in 2014, I had read Chef Dan Barber's The Third Plate: Field Notes On the Future of Food and put it on my vision board to one day visit. I was captivated by his experiment of feeding chickens red peppers to influence the color and flavor of their yolks. Chickens can't detect capsaicin so they don't feel the heat of peppers like we do. The experiment easily showed that what we eat affects us. I was inspired by Chef Barber's passion for regenerative farming and using cover crops as a food source.

Oscar, McKenzie, and I began the morning at The Cafeteria (the melding of Blue Hill & Stone Barns Farm) enjoying a delicious breakfast of seasonal muffins, granola, eggs, and the best yogurt I've ever tasted. They serve a small dish of olive oil and sea salt for the hard boiled eggs.

Shannon Algiere, Farm Operations Manager, was the first to greet me and invite me to a programming presentation by Elizabeth Rhoads, Communications and Campus Experience Manager at Blue Hill. Elizabeth was presenting the events and programming to Greenacres Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Cincinnati, OH focused on education, research, and preservation and I got to listen in. From wedding rentals (almost daily!), to tours, speciality dinners, demonstrations, workshops, and partner events, Blue Hill and Stone Barns stay extremely busy. Their unique property also has a constant stream of public foot traffic. Stone Barns is comprised of 80-acres, (part of the original 3,400-acre Rockefeller Estate) but they work closely with the adjacent Rockefeller State Park Preserve (1,775 acres) on land management, trails (such as the Stone Barns Farm Loop), and rotational livestock grazing, though they are distinct entities. You can learn more about its fascinating history here.

For Soil to Soul, I understood more about membership tiers and benefits, event scheduling logistics, and coordination between the farm and restaurant. This helps tremendously with communications and collaboration with Soil to Soul's producers. I was lucky to be later invited to family dinner in the afternoon to hear the Greenacres Foundation's presentation on the research and farm and family activities that fill their schedules. They offer grants and support to farmers who are also solving for healthier soil, waste reduction, improved nutrition, and more.

Unlike startup world where pitch decks, angel investing, VCs, PEs, and accelerator and incubator funding are familiar to me, the innovative and creative ways farmers, ranchers, and land stewards gain funding are eye-opening. For example, one of the funding sources came from a partnership with Bloomberg Connects, an app that is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies that promotes culture and access in urban spaces, helped them turn Stone Barns into a self-directed educational tour. They were given a $20k educational grant and support to create all the elements required from photography, to content writing, and voice narration. It is brilliant marketing because discovery comes from those using the app to find opportunities for exploration and learning.

After Elizabeth's insightful presentation, I met with Shannon, whom I was able to ask my most pressing questions about the role of the farm and how its team works with Blue Hill for a coherent system. As I think about seasonality and how to plan on our market offerings, the importance of communication and timelines she shared were invaluable. The kitchens welcomed the farmers at their staff meetings to hear what was planned on the menus and 'why,' and the farmers could give input and maybe 'why not.' Or perhaps the farmers were inspired to try growing new crops, but all team members became more aware of growing cycles and what and when is realistically possible for the plate.

Shannon talked about the importance of building a crop plan, a biodynamic calendar influenced by crop behavior: dates, beds, row spacing, etc. and butchery dates.

In their non-profit capacity, Shannon also gave on possible programming for high school groups interested in food studies and training the trainers, all from "cultivating an exquisiteness of partnership with Blue Hill to deepen a content of inquiry." She shared unique ways they are solving for food insecurity, nutrient density, soil enrichment (cover cropping, seaweed, kelp), and the improvements in microbiome testing.

What keeps the farm and animals protected even with constant public traffic when Stone Barns is closed are well-designed, clear signage and communication channels with park staff for emergencies. They practice layering multi-generational internships and have a robust volunteer program especially to help with focused research.

I then got to speak with Jake Algiere, Director of Agroecology and author of Seeding Hope: What Plants Teach Us About Being Human and Jason Grauer, Executive Director of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. In this time together I got to ask questions about fundraising, hiring, culture, business models, and building infrastructure that supports mutual thriving.

Jason oversees all strategic planning, operations, production, research, fundraising, and community engagement. From his early roots in 2014 as a Crops & Seeds Director, he now leads one of the most inspiring combinations of for-profit and non-profit in the restaurant and farm industries. I was grateful for his advice. "As leaders, we can't take things personally. Our job is to hold the tension so that our teams don't have to--consistency and stability are essential."

Jack gave me insight on the mission and arc of Stone Barns and coincidentally referred to the place as a "commons." He advised creating a shared vision and inviting people to be a part of it. He is coming to advise a farm at Hamilton Pool in Dripping Springs this month!

I encourage you to view photos and visit this magnificent organization. I hope to bring its mission and essence in our work at Soil to Soul Commons.

Visiting Gabe

Gabe graduated a year early from the University of Michigan in May of this year and as quickly as he returned to Austin to unpack and pack, he left for New York in June to begin his Global Marketing Analyst job at Goldman Sachs in July. I miss him terribly while also celebrating his accomplishments, independence, and unquenchable quest for new experiences.

I enjoy hearing about his days working on various big projects like 10,000 Businesses designing the collateral and lobby displays for the launch, the new GS auditorium, and global presentations with the new brand identity. I love hearing about new restaurants, shows, concerts, volunteer opportunities, and friends he has been able to experience in the short time since he landed in Manhattan.

We got to walk miles of spooky neighborhoods, visit a farmers market, dine at delicious eateries like Ruby, Miss Ada, and Up Thai Kitchen, see experiential theater at Asylum, NYC, and experience Stone Barns together. But my most favorite times were resting and watching a favorite TV series and simply spending time together. I'm counting the days until he returns to Austin for the December holidays.

Farm Stop & Cafe Update

I have been fortunate to have the help of Steph Steele, owner of Tiny Grocer and Laura Licona, strategic operations of Tiny Grocer. They have given me the confidence, resource connections, and industry expertise I was needing to keep moving with this project. My friend Regine Pedersen, who has been my support since this was Equanimity Labs & Studio, continues to come on site visits with me, making sure I don't miss anything important. With Loretta and Greg of Black River Septic & Design, we are pulling records, looking through archives, and understanding the water and septic allowance for permitting at our Hamilton Pool Road location, which has been quite challenging.

This was the first property I considered when I dreamed of doing this. Even though I have negotiated several other leases since learning about its limitations as a cafe, this place keeps calling to me, so I am back answering the call and doing what it takes to do this.

Last month's Venus retrograde and now Mercury's retrograde in Scorpio: a colonoscopy, getting to the heart of relationships (especially with myself), septic systems!, research and uncovering from the depths where no one wants to go.

In the meantime, we continue to invite local producers to sign up to be a Founding Producer Circle Member as we plan to open in January. If you know of a local farmer, rancher, maker, or artist looking for a community-centric retail partner, please share our link here. We are also planning educational programming around growing, conserving, regenerating, culinary, and artistry, so if you would like to teach at our commons, please reach out.

Cosmic Weather & Events

November’s strongest thread is moving from review into action: Mercury and Venus turn direct on the same day, followed by Mars meeting Jupiter and a longer Uranus–Pluto cycle. The sky offers a useful hum this month: listen, reconsider, then put what you have learned into practice. All times below are Central Standard Time; timings are approximate.

November 4 — Mercury cazimi in Scorpio | 8:24 a.m.​
Mercury meets the Sun midway through its retrograde, offering a symbolic moment of illumination. Revisit a question or conversation unfolding since October 24: write, listen closely, and ask what you now understand differently before deciding what comes next.

November 9 — New Moon in Scorpio | 1:03 a.m.​
This begins a lunar cycle around trust, intimacy, and shared resources, while Mercury and Venus are still reviewing old ground. Let October’s discoveries inform one commitment you can nurture through the November 24 Full Moon: a more honest conversation, a clearer boundary, or a different way of sharing responsibility.

November 13 — Mercury and Venus turn direct | 9:53 a.m. and 6:27 p.m.​
Revisit conversations and plans developing since early October, alongside questions about love, money, and worth emerging since late August. Venus also echoes its Scorpio–Libra retrograde of autumn 2018: notice familiar themes, then begin adjusting agreements and commitments to reflect what you value now; integration continues through November 30 for Mercury and December 15 for Venus.

November 16 — Mars meets Jupiter in Leo | 12:23 a.m.​
This meeting amplifies the creative confidence and desire for expression developing since Jupiter entered Leo on June 30. With the South Node nearby, consider where ambition serves something beyond recognition: take one courageous, generous step while keeping your promises within your capacity.

November 24 — Full Moon in Gemini | 8:54 a.m.​
Look back to the Gemini New Moon on June 14: what ideas, conversations, or learning have developed? With Uranus close to this Full Moon, leave room for surprising information; ask another question, check your assumptions, and give yourself permission to revise your understanding.

November 25 — Mars enters Virgo | 5:37 p.m.​
​Turn inspiration into practical care: improve a routine, practice a skill, or make a task more manageable. Mars is already tracing territory it will revisit during its January 10–April 1, 2027 retrograde, so notice where effort becomes overwork and build room for adjustment.

November 29 — Uranus trines Pluto | 5:23 a.m.​
The second of five exact meetings, this continues a collective cycle that began in mid-July and extends through May 2028. Revisit experiments in freedom, community, and sharing power that stirred this summer; join with others to test one concrete change in how you organize, exchange resources, or make decisions.

When You Feel Scarcity

Robin Wall Kimmerer is a plant and spiritual teacher for me. Her Gathering Moss, Braiding Sweetgrass, and The Serviceberry keep me grounded and purposeful in my work and life. I wanted to share this episode with Dr. Vivek Murthy. It is a masterclass in the most nourishing interview listening and conversation.

If fear and scarcity are weighing on you, this conversation with botanist and author Robin Wall Kimmerer offers a grounding alternative: remember that we belong to something larger than ourselves. Kimmerer explores how gratitude and reciprocity can shift our relationship with what we receive—from treating food, objects, and the natural world as commodities to recognizing them as gifts. That change in perspective, she suggests, can inspire us to care more, share more, and feel more connected.

Through stories of a hunter sharing abundant food, a homemade birthday cake, and small acts like bringing soup to a neighbor, Kimmerer and Dr. Murthy consider how everyday generosity can counter loneliness and the feeling that there is never enough. They also reflect on finding meaning beyond productivity, and on turning to the land and the living world for guidance. It’s a warm, hopeful conversation about cultivating gratitude, strengthening relationships, and making room for both science and spirit.

I hope to plant a serviceberry at our new location.

Thank you for reading this far. I know your time is valuable and I hope you have found something here that is helpful on your path.

As always, you can Book a session if you'd like some cosmic guidance or business strategy. Past and recurring clients get 20% off all single sessions. Reply to this email for the code :)

Love, plants, & planets,

Monica