Video of Introduction

So excited about this introductory video!! Deepest appreciation to Ed and the Public Broadcast affiliate, Nashville Public Television for creating this welcome video for the Moore Farm! Click the link below to see the video. 

Video Media Release ~ Moore Farm Introduction

It's A Family Affair

 As you gather with family and friends this holiday season, share this song from the iconic Sly and the Family Stone to set the mood for the event. Click the link below to hear this song. Enjoy!!

https://youtu.be/MbT_ask1Cco?si=wcff_Nhf37J8irWO

Ground Penetrating Radar Survey Release

 

The Moore Chapel Cemetery survey is now complete and available for your reading pleasure. Click this link to navigate to the report - Moore Media | Moore Family Farm (visitmoorefarm.org)

Power In the Word

Baby boy with dreads (BBWD) struck up a conversation as he was completing my transaction.

BBWD: How you doing today?

ME: I’m exceptional; how you holding up?

BBWD: I’m good, school starts tomorrow. (Deep sigh)

ME: Where do you go to school?

BBWD: (Names high school) it’s way out in the country in the middle of nowhere; nothing to do but go to school.

ME: That way you can focus on your studies yeah?

BBWD: Yeah I guess so, where do you go to school?

ME: (I giggle) Aren’t you sweet, I finished school a bit ago baby

BBWD: (In astonishment) You look like you could still be in school, for real for real.  You look good, I mean it!

ME: You are just precious; thank you. I’m glad to be on this side of the dirt my love

BBWD: (He laughs) Good one. See you next time.

I adore the spontaneous divine messages that show up to remind you of your blessings.  

Moore Chapel Cemetery Needs Your Help

 

I am reaching out to SHARE an update about the restoration of the Moore Chapel Cemetery maintained by the descendants of John Henry and Inez Moore and to ASK for your help in contacting any unknown family members who may still be alive who are related to the loved ones buried in the cemetery.

We received a match grant from THC for some of the cost to survey and preserve the cemetery. The grant will locate unmarked graves and publish a booklet about the cemetery survey. The project will also install a sign about the history of the cemetery and the names of the loved ones buried in unmarked graves in the cemetery.  A small pavilion will be installed to mark the location of the former Moore Chapel building.

We have found 37 unmarked graves that will receive a flat round marker, 3 historic headstones will be repaired, and 6 historic temporary markers will be replaced this summer.

We also plan to host an annual Homecoming: Ancestor Day at the cemetery to honor our ancestors.

WE NEED YOUR HELP. Do you know any members still alive in the following family groups? We have identified numerous family names buried in the cemetery. We know some families and need help connecting with the other families.

The known families include: Boggs, Browning, Camp, Donloe, Dunn, Green, Harrell, Harris, Hayes, Hooper, Jennings, Moore, Menzies, and Murphy, Parsons, Rudd, Turner, Woods.

The families we need HELP connecting with include: Barnett, Gossett, Hart, McHaney, Matlock, North, Parker, Pervatt, Pettigrew, Shurley, Stanley, Tatum, Williams, Andrews, Frazier, Medlock, Metlock, Mosley, Patterson.  

If you know any people related to these families, please have them contact me by call or text - 731.415.2588.

Thank you!

Cemetery Preservation

The preservation efforts are in full swing at the Moore Chapel Cemetery. We are honored to be a part of this important work as we gather, compile, and analyze information to memorialize the ancestors resting in this special place.

                    

Caring for the Caregivers

Caregiving can affect the health and well-being of the caregiver(s). The signs of caregiver stress and burnout include:

1) Feeling burdened or worrying all the time.

2) Feeling tired often.

3) Sleeping too much or not enough.

4) Gaining or losing weight.

5) Becoming easily irked or angry.

6) Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy.

7) Feeling sad.

8) Having frequent headaches or other pains or health problems.

9) Misusing alcohol or drugs, including prescription medicines.

10) Missing your own medical appointments.

Your body can combat stress through a counter-stress system called the "relaxation response," regulated by the parasympathetic nervous system. This system is activated through mind-body practices.  See the diagram above for tools that can help you navigate the emotional and physical demands of caregiving.

Source: mayoclinic.org and health.harvard.edu

Historic Newscast

Gratifying to appear on ABC + CBS television affiliate WBBJ-TV to speak about the impact of one of our projects on Black history in Tennessee. Click on this link to see the video: Grant-funded project breathes life into Tennessee's African American heritage - WBBJ TV

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