Aviva & Ari
Down on The Farm -
So what’s going on Down at The Levine Farm?
I don’t know about you, but even years ago, when I planned a vacation, I never wanted one of those vacations where you get more of the same. Another Hotel, Resort, or AirB&B …. not for me! I didn’t want to lay around viewing the world from a sofa or reclining chair. I wanted to get out there and meet real people do real things. Things that I could identify with, things that I would love to be doing myself if I had the chance. I wanted to spend a day, maybe two with people who lived differently. To see the world through their eyes, to learn from them and to come away with new ideas, some of which I could incorporate into my own life back home. Then one day it struck me…..I’m going to learn to live MY LIFE differently and then share what I’ve learned with others.
That’s how DOWN ON THE FARM got started! Along with my husband, Ari, we began creating as sane and as sustainable of an environment as we know how to: based on our own mix of social, environmental, Jewish and Israeli ideals. Hi-tech and Low-tech, Soil and Spirit, Past and Future. In other words: seeking the possibilities of Simplicity in a Complex world. So that’s who we are and we offer to open up our home, hearts and minds to similar minded people. So if you’re like us in any way shape or form, you are personally invited to visit, learn and grow.
Shalom! I’m Aviva, mother of eight and as for grandchildren, who’s counting? Came from England as a child and later earned an
M.Sc. in microbiology. I’ve taught High School Biology and Directed Jewish Studies in the Public Schools. An artist in various materials. Presently I’m focused and practical decorative gourd art with Jewish themes and art using recyclable materials. I run a set of 3 cozy guest houses and tend our organic vegetable patches. I’ve developed my own brand of a sane and healthy cuisine and often write articles on matters of healthy food and living.
My husband Ari, is the joint raiser-upper of our children and grandchildren. Aliyah from the US at age 24 and a Ph.D. in Brain Science. He’s also an accredited Speech Therapist, Psychotherapist and Scribe (sofer stam) as well as a long time Tai Chi practitioner and Poet. Now learning Chinese. Always on the move building and banging and hacking around the house and farm.
Ari and I both love a life full of variety. We also love meeting all kinds of interesting people who we can learn from. We also enjoy sharing our own Life’s lessons and showing how some of these can passed on to others who chose to.
Welcome - Shalom!
And so this is how a day, month and year of our lives looks like (more or less)…as we Live the Dream
Good Morning!
Rise and Shine, it’s time to feed the farm animals and pets: the chickens the sheep and the dogs. Then a quick once over to say good morning to the vegetable garden, the hothouse and the adjacent fields, just to make sure nothing needs critical attention. While on our rounds we stop off to pick a few veggies and fruits as well as some freshly layed eggs for breakfast. Then there’s plenty of time to practice our various arts forms, and to chew the fat on everything from Torah studies, to ecology and from current world events to what to do with our bumper crop of tomatoes. Then it’s off for a little hike along one of the many local trails before treating ourselves a snooze, sluf stunde, cat nap or whatever you call it.
Year round we plant things in season, weed, eat what we can and distribute the rest to our friends. We take time to host our friends, children a grandchildren as well as striking up lively conversations with visitors to our guesthouses (those who show interest). There’s also time for exercise classes, study groups, and then back again to the endless cycle of maintaining the property: composting and tilling, painting and rebuilding, watering and pruning and chipping the branches for mulch. And, though we always feel on holiday, we go on “official” holidays as well both in Israel and abroad.
Go to the garden and pick your own breakfast
Alef, Bet – Back to basics
Ever dream to farm – Dig in!
Be a Queen for the Day
Staying for more than just the day? – Bunk with us
And what do You make out of nylon bags?
Is there something you’ve yet to do?
The Farm is a stage to rescript your life upon
See how Mind and Matter can meet
OUR WONDERFUL WORLD OF GOURDS – UNLIMITED SHAPES AND VARIETY
DINOSAUR EGG GOURD
DEVIL’S CROWN GOURD
RATTLE GOURD
GOURD ART - IT’S UP TO YOU: TO APPRECIATE, TO CREATE YOUR OWN OR TO BUY
THE SWAN GOURD WILL FIRE YOU IMAGINATION
NO SHORTAGE OF GOURDS, AND CREATING IS SUCH FUN
CANNONBALL GOURDS WITH SURPRISE INSIDE
There you have it…imagine a vacation that’s like a movie except that you are not watching it, you are BEING it. You are both the script writer, director and actor. You determine how long to stay, which activities to participate in, what you want to eat (if at all), where you’d like to lodge, and whether to spend time with us on the farm or trek off to some nearby natural or archeological attraction and come back later that day……it’s all open for you to choose, our program, our farm and are hearts are all open wide.
ONE MORE THING BEFORE YOU GO – A BIT OF THE GOLAN TO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
Photo: Liat Gordon
Entrance fees
| Type | Fee - Workshops 1.Seasonal agricultural activities 2. Gourds 3.Tai Chi 4. Biblical Calligraphy | Fee -Guided tour of The Farm |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Child Adult in group Child in group Student Israeli senior citizen | 120.00 ₪ 60.00 ₪ 100.00 ₪ 50.00 ₪ 100.00 ₪ 80.00 ₪ | 35.00 ₪ 25.00 ₪ 30.00 ₪ 25.00 ₪ 30.00 ₪ 20.00 ₪ |
STILL HAVING TROUBLE MAKING UP YOUR MIND?
DO WHAT I DO ..
LET YOUR HEART DECIDE AND ALL THE REST WILL FOLLOW!
HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS?
ARI AND I ARE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR EVERY QUESTION
AT YOUR SERVICE
CELLPHONE - +972-52-4425578
EMAIL - arilevin@zahav.net.il
AVAILABLE HOURS ISRAEL TIME
09:00 – 18:00 SUNDAYS THRU THURSDAYS