Our Story

In a sense, our story began long before we acquired the land that is now known as Gathered Waters in 2022. It started when we chose each other as life partners, embarking on a journey to live authentically and lead meaningful lives.

Authentically Joe & Mickey

Joe had a dream of retiring early and living off-the-grid in Montana. Meanwhile, Mickey's dream was to establish a school that catered to the needs of Black children. Coming from less privileged backgrounds, we both prioritized financial security. Joe pursued a successful career in computer programming, specializing in front-end development and user experience, while Mickey obtained multiple degrees, including an Accounting degree from The Ohio State University, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a Master's in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She ventured into nonprofit management to make a positive impact on her community.

Although we reached middle-class and what society labels as the "American Dream," there was a sense of bittersweetness. We are grateful for our good luck and the results of our efforts, but we felt disconnected from our true dreams. Success within a system that didn't align with our values felt incomplete and fragile.

Mickey faced challenges in breaking through the anti-blackness prevalent in the nonprofit sector to make the desired impact. Joe, while appreciative of his job, yearned for fulfillment and purpose beyond the confines of his daily routine.

Moreover, the weight of reality loomed over us, with issues like the climate crisis, income inequality, and the rise of fascism impacting our lives and the world around us.

With the arrival of our child and the onset of the pandemic, we began to envision a different path for our lives—a path centered around our child and future generations of our family. A path where we can live our values and find our most authentic selves.

A Vision is Born

To create a holistic and forward-looking path, we established Gathered Waters. Our aim is to build a foundation that can sustain us economically, enhance our climate resilience, fortify our property against natural disasters, foster a supportive local village, and enable our children to grow into compassionate individuals equipped to confront the challenges of our time.

We envision a few key projects and businesses that align with our goals. We strive to pursue these ventures with like-minded community members, friends, and family.

The Farm at Gathered Waters & Midori's Garden: This endeavor serves as the economic backbone of our vision. The earnings generated from selling honey, medicinal herbs, cannabis, and related value-added products will provide our family and workers a sustainable livelihood.

Adaptability projects: Our current project involves installing a solar panel array to cover our electricity usage. Joe envisions future projects aimed at self-sufficiency and enhancing our resilience to the changing climate.

Elementary Homeschool Cooperative for our child: Drawing upon Mickey's education sector and DEI experience, we are eager to design and host a nurturing homeschool program that is well-suited for Generation Alpha. Our approach to education aims to impart traditional academic skills, prioritize holistic development, center racial diversity and inclusivity, and build community with other parents also grappling with how to prepare our kids for the climate crisis whilst ensuring they have a joyful, magical childhood.

Our Name

During our first year on the land, we discovered that this land was historically inhabited by tribes belonging to the Algonquian language group, including the Mahican and the Schaghticoke. The Mahican people were known as the "people of the waters that are never still," while the Schaghticoke referred to the area as the "mingling of waters." Inspired by the deep connection of these tribes to the waters, we adopted the name "Gathered Waters" to honor the rich natural resources present on this land.