Luke
Luke arrived at Camphill Kimberton in the summer of 2023. After a year and a half of volunteering, and as he prepares for the next adventure, he shared with us the lessons he has learned.
One of Luke’s favorite spots by the creek
Originally from Tennessee, Luke moved to Pennsylvania five years ago to attend college. After graduating, and feeling uncertain about his future, he looked for opportunities to explore his interests. While searching for local farm internships, he discovered Camphill through a college Facebook group.
“The first time I visited Camphill Kimberton was in the summertime. Everything was blooming, green, and wonderful. I thought, 'This place is magical,' and it seemed like you could be away from all the distractions of regular life. As time went on, I discovered that there were plenty of distractions there, but fewer than in the regular world. For instance, constantly being on the phone is something that we don’t do here when we are with people.”
Luke with his housemates Noah and Heenam in Sankanac House
Luke formed a special bond with Noah upon his arrival at Kerria House. "Noah was my closest friend in the community—the person I spent the most time with, laughed the most with, and grew the most with." Noah is a lively young man with a contagious laughter, who sometimes faces challenges in expressing his feelings. Luke learned that being supportive and calm during difficult moments was crucial for Noah's well-being. When Noah moved to Sankanac, another house within the community, Luke chose to move with him. "I wanted to help him thrive in his new house, but I did it also for myself because he’s someone who helped me grow a lot, and he was bringing me a lot of joy." Noah taught him the true meaning of patience. "I thought I was patient before, but I was not. In Camphill, I learned patience more than anything else.”
Luke, Erin and Em harvesting greens in the CSA garden
Outside of house life, Luke had chosen to volunteer in the CSA garden. “The thing I liked the most in the garden was to be so close to the food that we eat all the time at home. When I see vegetables in the dishes that people have made, I remembered harvesting or planting this thing in the garden. It is really rewarding and feels like I’m helping to feed both myself and the community.”
Luke admits that people grow quickly at Camphill because it feels like a family. “Overall, I've learned to communicate more clearly, establish stronger boundaries, and express myself when I'm upset without blaming others. It was an opportunity to relearn how to deal with relationships”.