About the St. Walstan Guild

At the heart of our guild’s mission is the conviction that formation and education are key when creating a culture surrounding the land. We have forgotten so much when it comes to the connection we have with the land and the food it provides. We are dedicated to creating opportunities for collaboration and community work, all while craft

At the heart of our guild’s mission is the conviction that formation and education are key when creating a culture surrounding the land. We have forgotten so much when it comes to the connection we have with the land and the food it provides. We are dedicated to creating opportunities for collaboration and community work, all while crafting spaces that embody both practical utility and enduring beauty within our parish.

Our commitment extends to a deep exploration of the Church’s teachings, particularly its insights on land ownership, and the cultivation of virtue through honest labor. We believe that by engaging intimately with the land, we not only honor its bounty but also foster personal and communal growth.

Moreover, we aspire to revive the cherished traditions of mutual aid and community awareness—a time when neighbors could instinctively recognize when someone was in need, often without a word being spoken. We envision a future where our children, having learned from the example set by previous generations, are empowered to master a wide array of skills and confidently take on responsibilities, reflecting the resilience and resourcefulness of their forebears.

Equally important is our dedication to preserving and honoring the knowledge of our elders. We seek to establish platforms where their wisdom—whether rooted in time-honored methods or innovative practices in managing the land and livestock—can be shared with the community. Their guidance not only helps us maintain our cultural heritage but also provides a vital resource for adapting traditional practices to meet modern challenges. 

The best way to understand what we are working toward is to visualize the end goal and actively engage in developing the skills required to achieve it.

Our vision is to create vibrant spaces that reflect traditional land management practices—methods that have been honed from the Middle Ages through to the colonization of America. By integ

The best way to understand what we are working toward is to visualize the end goal and actively engage in developing the skills required to achieve it.

Our vision is to create vibrant spaces that reflect traditional land management practices—methods that have been honed from the Middle Ages through to the colonization of America. By integrating these time-tested techniques, we aim to blend beauty with functionality while keeping farming both sustainable and affordable.

We plan to bring these visions to life through a series of community events and collaborative projects. By organizing workdays, feast days, and other communal gatherings, we not only celebrate our shared heritage but also contribute actively by providing agricultural products to other guilds. These partnerships, along with close collaboration with the church, will help us create opportunities such as:

• Farm and Garden Workdays: Regular sessions where community members come together to cultivate and care for our shared lands.
• Animal Processing Days: Educational events that focus on traditional, ethical practices for animal husbandry and processing.
• Harvest Preservation Classes: Workshops designed to teach time-honored techniques for preserving the fruits of our labor.
• Wildcrafting in the Woods: Guided excursions that explore local flora, teaching participants how to responsibly harvest wild edibles and medicinal plants.
• Traditional Bushcraft: Hands-on experiences in utilizing the natural resources that surround us to create useful tools and products.
• Flower Gardening and Creation of Beauty: Sessions that combine horticulture with the art of crafting decorative objects to enhance our community spaces.
• Forest Management: Programs dedicated to sustainable forestry practices and the creation of renewable resources through traditional methods.
• Garden-based Crafting – Basket Weaving: Classes that explore how natural materials from our gardens can be transformed into both functional and artistic baskets.
• Textile Creation Workshops: Opportunities to learn about cultivating and processing natural fibers—such as cotton, flax, wool, and hemp—into beautiful, usable fabric.

Each of these initiatives is designed to foster a deeper connection to the land and our cultural heritage, ensuring that traditional practices are not only preserved but also adapted to meet modern needs. By participating in these activities, community members will gain practical skills, enrich their understanding of history, and contribute to a sustainable future for all.

Our long-term vision for the guild is to empower the next generation by creating affordable access to land and nurturing traditional cottage industries that foster shared, community-based businesses within the parish. We aspire to revive entrepreneurial practices reminiscent of those from before the Industrial Revolution—business models 

Our long-term vision for the guild is to empower the next generation by creating affordable access to land and nurturing traditional cottage industries that foster shared, community-based businesses within the parish. We aspire to revive entrepreneurial practices reminiscent of those from before the Industrial Revolution—business models that have largely disappeared from modern economies.

While the project is still in its early stages, our initial goal to provide affordable land access is to acquire land as a collective guild. Then develop the land into a series of homesteads that can be offered to young people at discounted rates, and create a rent to own model that will relieve them of the additional burden of interest payments. This initiative is designed not only to provide stable, affordable housing but also to create a supportive environment where the next generation can thrive.

In addition, we are exploring various opportunities to establish cottage industries that complement this vision. By developing these traditional business ventures, we aim to create local employment opportunities that keep our community vibrant. This approach will help prevent our children from having to move away for work and ensure they can remain close to the church and their cultural roots.

As we continue to refine and develop these ideas, we are committed to keeping the community informed and involved in the process. More detailed information will be shared as our plans evolve.