Living in Greenfield, I am often amazed by how many excellent things exist in one place. We came to this area on a whim about seven years ago, and having been fairly nomadic beforehand, didn’t necessarily expect to stay long. Since then, we have continuously been discovering more and more reasons to stick around! And it seems that is likely to continue for a long time.

Largely, it is the people we have met and gotten to know who have delighted and inspired us, and it is the place itself as well — the forests and streams and rivers and hills, and the more human-cultivated spots which have been created with great care, intention and creativity. So many beautiful visions and dreams are turned/turning into reality in this place.

One group of folks/organization that has delighted and inspired me is Piti Theatre Company, based on Avery Brook Road in Shelburne Falls. We first “met” the creators of Piti Theatre, Jonathan, Godeliève and Ezekiel, by subletting their apartment while they were in Switzerland, and though they basically didn’t know us at all, they granted us the use of their only vehicle while they were away, which got us out of a great pickle (aka, how to get to work 30 miles away).

Upon their return from Switzerland, they introduced me to the world of children’s theater in a rather unbiased way (Oh, you have no experience with children’s theater? No problem.) Because of this open and welcoming attitude, I have been able to do children’s theater with them all over this area, the greater New England area, and even at fringe festivals in Canada.

They have opened my mind to different realms of where creativity can take you, which has percolated into the way I live my life on several levels. Now, Piti Theatre is starting a center for arts and ecology right where they live. Their vision for this has been developing over many years, and is at the point of turning into physical reality.

With the same open and welcoming attitude they have shown to me and many, they are seeking input from all of us in the greater community as to what we would like to see at the center. You can check out their ideas, see what resonates with you, and add your own by letting them know here: ptco.org/vision.

Here’s to bringing our dreams to fruition!

Laura Josephs Lemm lives in Greenfield.

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