a barn on fire
Friends, readers, future farmers, and current homesteaders:
When the Amish suffer the loss of a barn or home, it is tragic but understood. All members of the community know that even in their hardest times there is the insurance and care of their community. If they lose a barn they know the community will raise up their shovels and hammers and help them rebuild. It's a good system, this looking out for each other.
We are not Amish. We still look after our own.
The community of this blog is large and kind. When I was facing eviction, and scared out of my mind how I would ever land on my feet: the support and donations from this blog lifted me to a place where I could find home. Sometimes you have to realize when you need help, ask for it, and be very grateful. One of our friends has arrived to this time.
I recently found out one of CAF's readers is losing her home. The bank sent the notice. She's scared. She's not alone in this either, her husband is just home from Irag having served his 400 days. She wrote me, "Grateful we are that he's here, hearty and hale. One of the many reasons it's hard to ask for help since we've been so blessed with that alone and others have not." and together they raise five children. All of them are facing foreclosure next month.
She did not ask me to do this. I somewhat demanded. I understood her reservations but thought we could help. I knew we could help. Like us they are hopeful farmers, working towards the dream of homesteading. They have some land they bought and it hosts a storage unit, but no house. So they need to find a way to convert the land they have into livable quarters and start living off it. Through circumstance and hard times they are being forced onto their land and are going to start working it for their income. But they can't do this alone. They'll need some help.
I'm asking if you have a dollar to spare, please send a donation via paypal to this address:
HeartSongFarmFamily@gmail.com
The cash will go towards getting our friends back on their feet, starting their farm, and give them the help they need.
Their barn burnt down. Pick up a shovel. It's what we do.
When the Amish suffer the loss of a barn or home, it is tragic but understood. All members of the community know that even in their hardest times there is the insurance and care of their community. If they lose a barn they know the community will raise up their shovels and hammers and help them rebuild. It's a good system, this looking out for each other.
We are not Amish. We still look after our own.
The community of this blog is large and kind. When I was facing eviction, and scared out of my mind how I would ever land on my feet: the support and donations from this blog lifted me to a place where I could find home. Sometimes you have to realize when you need help, ask for it, and be very grateful. One of our friends has arrived to this time.
I recently found out one of CAF's readers is losing her home. The bank sent the notice. She's scared. She's not alone in this either, her husband is just home from Irag having served his 400 days. She wrote me, "Grateful we are that he's here, hearty and hale. One of the many reasons it's hard to ask for help since we've been so blessed with that alone and others have not." and together they raise five children. All of them are facing foreclosure next month.
She did not ask me to do this. I somewhat demanded. I understood her reservations but thought we could help. I knew we could help. Like us they are hopeful farmers, working towards the dream of homesteading. They have some land they bought and it hosts a storage unit, but no house. So they need to find a way to convert the land they have into livable quarters and start living off it. Through circumstance and hard times they are being forced onto their land and are going to start working it for their income. But they can't do this alone. They'll need some help.
I'm asking if you have a dollar to spare, please send a donation via paypal to this address:
HeartSongFarmFamily@gmail.com
The cash will go towards getting our friends back on their feet, starting their farm, and give them the help they need.
Their barn burnt down. Pick up a shovel. It's what we do.
posted by Jenna at 6:14 AM
57 Comments:
MATCH CHALLENGE - if you have ever served in the military or had a family member who served, I challenge you to match my $25 donation.
$25.00 Matched here in Middlebury. Granddad was in Korea. Com'n people, the whole damn country is going down the tubes and its obvious Washington is not going to fix this. We need to fix this ourselves. The only way we make it through the current sh*t storm is to stick together.
Lets pass the hat for the cause.....
I will happily donate 25!!
My family has been on the verge of foreclosure before. So I understand the feeling. Oh, yeah, my uncle was in the military.
$25 from me....
I have $0 until Friday but as soon as I get paid I will match that $25. Both my grandpas and my dad served. I agree with Jeremy, we need to start taking care of each other and ourselves because no one else will do it and you never know when you will be the one needing a helping hand.
Hey Jenna, it's your sister! As many of you know - I do not farm...not even a pot of tomatoes on the porch. However, Dad was a military man, so Mike and I will match the $25.00!!
$25 on it way! I know how hard it can be when money is low, every little bit helps! My thoughts and prayers go out to the family! Just know, somehow it will all work out!
Wow!
$175.00 in 1.5 hours, Jerry Lewis move over. Jenna you need Ed Mcmahon doing announcements, and a giant tote board.
Plus posts on facebook and emails here at the office. i'll be mailing her a package of gifts from Orvis co workers!
please repost this link to your friends, blogs, and facebook accounts.
I'll match $25 you over here too...we've got to help each other out.
Is their land local to VT? I know of a trailer that they could use.
they are in Tampa, FL
ah, too far, I don't think it would make the trip.
The money has been sent. Hoping they find their dream.
$25 matched in Montrose, MN. My father, grandfather and 12 uncles all served this country in every major war between WW1 and Vietnam. This donation is in their honor.
$25 matched from Raleigh, NC.
$25 more from Portland, OR. We're pulling for them!
over $125.00 was mailed from orvis coworkers today. And one of our marketting guys is ex marine: he is getting word out to his entire American legion group.
help is on the way!
Also: i just heard they have enough now to set up electricity and put an AC unit in the cabin/storage unit. This is Florida afterall. Let's get them some groceries!!
I'm officially upping the ante. If you have it to spare, please match my $50 donation. (This is NOT a judgment against anyone who can't, but if you can, please consider it.)
Poor college student over here, but I sent $10 her way!
Glad to help out a community member in my own small way.
barely keeping my head afloat myself, but thinking of them.
$25 donated in the name of Marty - friend, mentor, veteran.
- K.
Our donation will be sent...it is so true what Jeremy said...we have to help our own as there is no bailout for the us and it's a shame how our military is treated in many instances...NO matter what your opinion is of the war...there is NO excuse for treating our military like second class citizens! They fight so we can "be".
This is a great thing Jenna!
I just found your book and your blog. Wow. Really that is all I can say. My heart and soul that grew up on farm land and amongst farmers, and my dreams as an adult grew a bit.
We are surviving here in the suburbs and are so blessed to not know the kind of fear you write of in this post. I was just browsing the internet to purchase a new backpack for my pre-schooler and found on at a retailer for $20. I figured I'd look through our closets, second-hand stores, and ask around first before spending the cash on a new one. (She is only 2 1/2 years old. She will not care what it looks like.) So the cash goes to this family in need. May be blessed with the grace, hope and strength they need during this time of need.
Done. 25 bucks towards the shovel. Gratitude towards the birth of a new family farm, even in adversity.
I wish I could help, still trying to make my July mortgage. But they are in my prayers and as soon as I'm out of the doghouse I'll be sending some, too.
I'm here because I'm a friend of Chance's. And when a friend of a friend is in need, well, we help.
In the words of Manny the Mastodon, "That's what you do in a herd."
Money sent.
So this is the quiet side to our soldiers coming home.Many military families face financial hardship or ruin when one of the family bread winners goes away to war.These folks are not alone.
Thanks for putting out the call.And like others I am with Jeremy, we the little people need to take care of ourselves and others cause Washington dose not care.
Payday is Friday and I will see to it that something is sent.
My husband has been unemployed since January and we're not able to spare anything right now, barely breathing ourselves. But we'll send lots of prayers and positive energy their way.
My nephew is currently serving in Afghanistan and sure wish he could come home.
This is a great thing to put together, Jenna. Loving the paying it forward aspect of it all :^) ~Vonnie, NH
I got the privilege of naming their farm! $25 is on it's way from ME!
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Sent my $25. My brother is in the air force and has done several over seas tours in the last 10 years. Best of luck to our neighbors in need.
25 matched here. My husband is a veteran, I'm teary-eyed just reading this. As a fellow military wife I can't even imagine her pain and fear right now, but my heart goes out to her.
No matter what your feelings are on the war/government, remember there are real human beings with family that serve this country, and if we don't stand up for them, then I don't know who will.
I sent a few dollars their way. Good luck to them. This really says something about the CAF community. We stick together and help each other out.
Jenna,
I am a new follower, sent here by my daughter who has followed you for some time now. May God Bless you ,your farm, your efforts to help this family, and last, but not least, this new family farm.
My husband ,2 brothrs,various nephews & friends, my pastor, my S-I-L, M-I-L & F-I-L all served & came home. This $25.00 is in Memory, and Honor of Josh, who did not.
I have never nor do I wish to be in the position of this family. My heart, prayers and thoughts go their way. My Grandfather served in WWII. I get paid on Thursday, so I hope some Canadian money is welcomed. Best of luck!
Thank you all. I'll keep you posted on the family as I learn more. I did get an email this morning talking about how she couldn't sleep and felt ill and then saw this post, and the facebook reposts, and checked her account and felt a rush of hope knowing that help was on the way.
God bless our Troops.
$25 headed to FL with gratitude for his 400 days in Iraq. My father, WWII.
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Matched the $50. My grandfather, all of his brothers, and my uncle served in the military. This family is clearly hardworking, and I commend them not only for their service to this great land, but also for their journey into working the land. Can I recommend Earthbag building if they need an inexpensive, solidly-constructed, no-need-for-AC- in Florida home?
Thinking about all of the frivolous things that I was planning on buying with my paycheck this week and realizing that life is bigger than fancy clothes. Thanks for this, Jenna, and all the best toward this family. May they be lifted up by this community!
I live close to Tampa. If there's anything I can help them with, please let me know. daisy
Here's another $25....i may well foreclose this year myself, but it will not be the end of the world.
i am grateful for this lovely blog which offers perspective again an again....
$25 coming from up here in Vancouver Canada :)
I wish I could match, but I'm hoping every little bit helps and the $5 I can spare right now will help fill up the pot...we gave up our farm in Vermont two winters ago because we could no longer pay our mortgage. It is rented right now, thankfully, and so we haven't lost it entirely. We are hoping to move back to it soon and create the farm we've always wanted there. Many blessings to you and your friends in need.
$30 sent (to cover the match & the fees) in honor or my Papaw who served in many a war as well as those who have fought & died in the "hard times" army.
$30 sent (to cover the match & the fees) in honor or my Papaw who served in many a war as well as those who have fought & died in the "hard times" army.
Jenna: Because you have shared so much and I trust your heart, I have sent $25. Let us know they survive.
$25.00 matched. I hope this wave of positivity continues and helps to carry them to a new life.
couldnt send $25 ... dealing with too many medical bills here and not enough money .... but I sent the little bit I could and can only hope that together we are able to help them escape foreclosure
Blessings
Jia
bladeandcauldron.com/blog
also send a link to this post on my Twitter and facebook accounts
Jia
http://bladeandcauldron.com/blog
$50 has been sent. Please keep us posted. Thanks.
$25 matched from this old Navy gal, heading to my farm in about a year myself. This is EXACTLY how we make ourselves into a community that can rally resources for those in need as the Amish do. Happy to help!
I feel the love on this blog. I added up all the amounts that were disclosed in the comments. $942 have been donated. Can we get to $1,000?
my donation hitting on Thursday when I get paid. All 3 of my kids are veterans as myself and they all have had to fight for benefits once they came home disabled from injuries. Short story is they lost their house and both cars. I gave them my new truck and I went back to driving my 1979 F250. We have to take care of our veteran families better.
Have been away for a while so I am late in seeing this post. Will donate Friday when payday comes. Matching the $25. Thanks Jenna for creating a community that really does care and helps others in true need.
Help is on the way from Healdsburg, CA. Also reposting everywhere.
Thank you, Jenna, for the call to care and allow us to be a part, however small, of this family's success story.
Laura
$25 from Maine heading your way...
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