The Heart of Healing Poem Farm: Bari & Sean

Vivien Reed
4 minutes ago
4 min read

Picture this: It’s September 7, 2024, in South Wales, NY. On this day, you witness Bari and Sean exchange vows beneath a handmade chuppah. Crafted by Sean’s dad, the traditional Jewish wedding canopy was made from tree limbs gathered around their home. The chuppah is adorned with dried broccoli raab seed pods, cover crop grains, and wildflowers from their farm. Surrounded by loved ones, the couple weds in a ceremony filled with personal touches contributing to an overarching story of nourished connection.

Bari and Sean met in college at SUNY Geneseo, where they fell in love with farming and with each other. Bari says, “We’re partners in life and in farming. We share a love of the land and good food. We both find creativity and inner peace through working with the earth and cooking.”

For several years after college, the couple were long-distance as Bari worked on farms in rural North Carolina and the Catskills. At every farm she worked on, Sean would visit, help out in the field, and they’d cook together with ingredients from the land.

When it came time to find land for a farm of their own, they looked to Western New York, where Sean grew up and where the couple fell in love. Bari says, “Starting a farm together is a labor of love, in service to each other, to Mother Earth, and to our broader community.”

The two founded Healing Poem Farm in East Aurora. The farm’s name is an ode to Bari’s grandmother, Lila, and her legacy of healing through poetry. Lila had a deep passion for food, cooking, and the pursuit of knowledge, and her essence can be felt throughout the farm.

The couple planned an outdoor wedding as an extension of their heart and life’s work in ecological agriculture. “Our view of sustainability is holistic and expansive,” Bari explains, describing how their approach goes beyond ecology to embrace community and solidarity with other small businesses that care for people and the earth.

While their farm couldn’t practically host the celebration, they found unique and resourceful ways to bring its spirit to their big day. In bringing the farm to their wedding, they offered guests the same gifts and values that ground their daily lives. From the venue to their vows, every detail was whimsically placed, casting playful shadows that shaped their special day:

THE CEREMONY

Floral arrangements represent new beginnings, and the pair chose to carefully arrange their own. Bari says, “Our flowers for the centerpieces, bridal bouquet, and groom boutonniere were grown, foraged, and designed by us at the farm. The florals included sunflowers, zinnias, calendula, amaranth, tulsi, flowering coriander and dill, oat and millet cover crop, grasses, and goldenrod. All the plants support pollinators on the farm. The cover crop served several purposes—improving soil, supporting pollinators, providing foliage for floral arrangements, and feeding birds.”

WEDDING ATTIRE

Formal wedding attire reflected eco-conscious choices as well. Bari’s wedding dress was purchased on consignment from Still White, and guests were encouraged to wear thrifted or already-owned clothing.

THE RECEPTION

A big part of Bari and Sean’s reception was offering a banquet that encouraged communal sharing and indulgence, while also minimizing food waste. Bari says, “We love family-style meals for the intimacy of passing and sharing dishes. It creates an opportunity to taste an assortment of foods, resulting in quality conversation.”

Their menu was inspired by seasonal produce from their farm, with a focus on also supporting other local small farms and businesses. A highlight was a grazing table prepared by Pizzeria Florian, who also provided an intricate blue mosaic-tile wood oven. Pizzas topped with farm-grown mushrooms, shishito peppers, tomatoes, and other toppings were served fresh from the oven.

For the family-style dinner, Marble and Rye tended the bar and plated service, including Healing Poem Farm beet carpaccio, Plato Dale Farm grass-fed beef bolognese, and Healing Poem Farm falafel.

Table settings, featuring upcycled wine bottles and vibrant vegetables from Healing Poem Farm, added to the décor, creating a picnic-like backdrop for guests to enjoy the day’s hand-picked selections.

Bari says, “As a couple, one of our shared love languages is hosting friends with produce and protein grown on our and other local farms. Our family and friends filled their bellies with the fruits of our loving labor. Collaborating with chefs dedicated to sourcing ingredients from local farms was easeful and joyful.”

THE UNION

The foundation of their union continues in their daily lives. Since their wedding, Bari and Sean continue to cultivate purposeful relationships through simple living and sharing what they grow. Their farm share feeds more people in the community each season, providing 18 weeks of ecological, human-scale veggies, herbs, and hand-tended produce—all with the fullest flavor and nutrition.

Bari reflects on how their values continue to align in both their relationship and in their farming journey: “Leading up to the wedding, I began to delve into the works of bell hooks and her book All About Love. Through her, I learned that ‘love is a combination of care, commitment, and trust.’ So is farming. Farming grounds us to live and love simply.”

We can all learn a lot from Bari and Sean, who remind us of our shared need for human connection—and how important it is to steward the earthly gifts we’ve been given.