Coming 'round a country road bend in the Berkshire foothills outside Amherst, Mass., you might catch sight of a farmer or two, an organic gardener or three, but what's that black hatted guy doing here? Are there Amish in these parts?

...No, it's one of them Chabad rabbis! But what's he doin' out here, seein' if the cows want to eat kosher?

Ain't that the same guy givin' out matzah on the U-Mass campus? Maybe he's tryin' to get away from it all and get some peace and quiet!

Well, Rabbi Chaim Adelman is no stranger to students and faculty of the U. Mass and area colleges in Amherst, the Jewish townsfolk of this bucolic college town two hours west of Boston, or to the area's organic-living crowd. The easy-going, humorous fellow has been the Chabad Rabbi on campus since 1988. His mission of developing a community and synagogue for the mostly professional Jewish residents has evolved into an organic farming based community called Eretz Ha'Chaim – the Living Land.

No pitchfork or farmer's jeans in his genes, Chaim originates from Montreal, Canada. His mother is of Sephardic origin, while his father was involved in the early fighting for independence in Israel. Chaim's home was not observant, but had a traditional Jewish flavor. Attending Jewish elementary school familiarized him with Hebrew language and prayers, but before his Bar Mitzvah, Chaim's family moved to Toronto, where he went to public school.

A buddy schlepped Chaim to a Chabad music concert. Chaim wasn't on a quest for Truth to change his life, but the warmth, friendship and sense of unity moved him. The strong family life impressed him. Chaim traveled to Israel after high school to check out yeshiva life, and after a year in Jerusalem, Chaim returned and studied in Seattle and then in Crown Heights, New York.

A dynamic force entered Chaim's life, his lovely wife Yocheved. Hailing from across the pond in Manchester, England, Yocheved's British lilt adds that over-the-top touch of charm to her famous story telling abilities. The dynamic couple set off to work in Jewish education in Richmond, Va., Providence, R.I., then settling in Amherst.

Campus outreach presented opportunities and challenges. The Adelmans' warm and open personalities were a good fit. Cooking for a rowdy crowd each Shabbos, spontaneous parties and raising young kids in the midst of it all is not for the staid. It takes free-spirited creativity and guts to compete with the many campus activities vying for a student’s attention- frats, beer blasts and football, in addition to serious pursuits. Sitting at a rabbi's table on Friday night eating gefilte fish just doesn't sound that happening!

The warmth and joy that the Adelmans emanate earned Chabad happenings a prominent place in students' schedules. Yocheved and Chaim persevered, with Chaim doing kashus supervision, and Yocheved teaching in Springfield’s day school in addition to their campus work. Thousands of students have passed through their classes, meals or parties. Reactions range from, “Hey, Judaism is cool,“ to “maybe I'll marry a Jew“, to “ I'd like to light Shabbos candles,“ to, “Maybe after I my degree I'll check out yeshiva.“ Many happy young Jewish couples and families took their first Jewish steps at the Adelman table. Hip Greenwich Village now sports a Chabad House, run by a dance therapy major who first connected with Chaim when he gave out menorahs in her dorm late one snowy Chanukah night.

So where do the cows come in?

Chaim's work in kosher supervision left him wanting to develop a higher standard. Less commercial food without additives and complex ingredients could be better supervised. Amherst is a crunchy-granola-Birkenstock type town, with high interest in organic food for health and ecological reasons. Yocheved characterizes her environmental awareness as she describes her 40 minute drive from Springfield to Amherst, from manicured suburban greens to the natural, overgrown, un-Chemlawn look.

The idea of an impeccable local source of organic kosher food developed into a vision of an observant farm-cooperative community. A group of people not just preaching and studying but living out the highest principles would bring these lofty concepts down to earth and into the world.

Possibilities arose. A farm, a school, a shul and mikvah, a hostel for visiting groups. An educational program to demonstrate the environmental imperative and agricultural laws of the Torah that much of Shabbos observance and tzedaka are based on. Many don't realize, for example, that the Torah mandates that the corner of the field is reserved for the poor to harvest. Local public and religious schools could come learn and experience Biblical agriculture. College students could participate with in fieldwork and research.

Inquiries came from around the world and a core group developed. A 70-acre property became available four miles from town. It seemed perfect, and a plan to build 30 homes and leave the rest for farming was drawn. One problem: lack of the green stuff. Not grass. Not alfalfa sprouts. Cold cash. The down payment was made, but then what?

“Like a miracle, like an angel from heaven,“ Chaim exclaims, “a developer came on the scene in 1992 and bought the land, together with a portion from our groups' funds. He liked our plan. We've done some farming, and held three farm festivals with booths, Jewish art, and our farm products. The first drew 100 people, the second 200, and the third 400, so it's growing exponentionally. The vegetables have been bountiful and delicious, with a Community Share Association buying and enjoying, and helping with the weeding.

The concept attracted much interest locally and made it into the New York Times. But it is now at a crucial juncture. With nine committed families ready to build, the clock is running out. The developer must have a core of 15 to keep his investment in the land and not subdivide and develop. Having experienced, “too many miracles to count“ says Chaim, the group is hopeful, but pragmatically continuing to expand their Amherst synagogue, pre-school and functions. Any hard-working, spiritually minded, fun-loving folks out there looking for an invigorating change among delightful people? See a bird's-eye view of the community at thelivingland.org.

Whichever way plays out, Chaim will continue his farmer role. Growth is a way of life for the Adelmans. Growing their beautiful family of 12 children, ranging from a married daughter of 22 in Melbourne with her husband and child, to their youngest at 3. Growing their students and community. Constantly growing in their own spirituality. And maybe, G-d willing, growing some organic edibles down at Eretz Ha'Chaim.