To draw an illustration from nature, Spring Forest in its entirety is like a forest of trees connected through mycelium, the hidden fungal network that branches, grows, and when it fruits, produces mushrooms. In the natural world, mycelium networks connect trees to each other underground, making it possible for the trees to support each other, provide nutrients, protection, and more. Spring Forest in its entirety is a forest of diverse kinds of “trees” (companioning refugees, farming, teaching people contemplative practices, offering summer camps to kids, etc.) all of which are interwoven by the “mycelium” of our common set of spiritual and grounding practices: prayer, work, table, neighbor, and rest. Because we are a practice-based community, we are able to participate and revel in not only the diversity of “trees” but also human diversity, which we believe creates a fruitful community that is good for the world.