A new chapter opens.

You may have seen that we've parted ways with Chay and Crops Not Shops.

They've spoken publicly about this, and I wanted to address it with you directly rather than let silence do the talking.

I'll say clearly: we both deeply care. We're both working, in our own ways, toward a better relationship between land, food and community. I have genuine respect for the work Chay is doing and the people Crops Not Shops draws.

Some of you found your way here through that connection. I want you to know, that path was real, and so is your place here. This community is yours as much as anyone's. Nothing about this changes that.

The truth is, our visions of what community looks like are different. Crops Not Shops holds a beautiful and intimate vision; shared meals, daily prayer, close communal living. That model means a great deal to the people it calls to. It just isn't ours.

Our vision of the Sovereign Village has always been quieter. Families, couples or individuals living private lives on beautiful land. Connected to meaningful community as and when they want it, not because the structure demands it. A place where solitude and togetherness sit equally honoured.

When two communities with different rhythms come together, friction isn't anyone's fault. It's just physics. And I think the friction we experienced was exactly that. Not malice. Not failure. Just two genuine visions pulling in different directions.

Last summer's Sovereign Village gathering was still one of the most beautiful days I've spent on this land. I wasn't sure what to expect with our two communities and different worlds, coming together for the first time.

What I found was something I'd rarely experienced before. People of every background and age, sharing space, sharing food, united by something fundamental rather than by surface similarity. That felt like real community to me. And it still does.

I hope our paths cross again when the timing is right.

For now, we move forward. And honestly? Something has shifted.

A door has opened.

Since stepping back from that partnership, something has shifted. Not in a vague way, but in a real, felt way.

A new farm has come to our attention. One hundred acres in Sussex. Rolling hills with long views. Ancient woodland. A lake with a small fishing house. Beautiful existing homes. Excellent road access and substantial farming infrastructure already in place.

A few of us walked it this week. I'm not sure I can fully explain it, but it felt like coming home. Something about the land, the light, the quiet. It simply fits.

This isn't secured. We have a proposal for the owners and we're hopeful they'll be receptive. But the timing, the qualities of the place, the way it appeared, it all feels like alignment rather than coincidence.

I'll be sharing more with Founding Members on our progress call this Thursday at 6pm. If you're a Founding Member, keep that evening free.