The last two years were as hard as I’ve seen. The Tubbs fire almost took us down and on October 23rd, almost exactly two years later, we settled that last of the financial mess that it caused. Four days later on October 27th the Kincade fire burned us down again.
At about 4:00 the flames crested the Bald Hills. This was on the Preserve at 9pm.
The fire is behind us but as I learned two years ago the work is just beginning. We were fortunate to get access to some rested land next door but we still have to relocate the herd for a few months. Expenses are building with infrastructure costs, moving costs and lost outside income.
The herd on the 40 acres next door. Kincade burned 80% of our winter pasture.
It sucks to ask for help but help is what we need. The easiest most economical way to contribute to the cause (and our continued work) is to purchase beef on the website. We’ve also included some straight donation links if that works for you.
If you want to make a tax deductible donation you can do so indirectly by supporting our summer project Julia Adam Dance.
You can also make a tax deductible donation through our land partner Pepperwood Preserve. Make sure you designate the donation in honor of Holistic Ag so it is earmarked for the grazing program.
Looking forward to a much speedier recovery this time. Don’t worry we will persevere.
When I started this business 2 1/2 years ago I had no idea how much solitude lay before me. I’ve flirted with potential helpers. Flung the door wide open to little or no avail. The last time I sat with Joel Salatin I told him I didn’t think his “Fields of Farmers” existed. There were plenty of “lookee loo wanna doos” (can’t keep from making up Joelisms when in his company) but I hadn’t met any keepers. Don’t get me wrong, I have a whole tribe of the most competent young agriculturists half my age who are already well tenured in their respective and literal fields but humble young folk who have a clear desire to learn first hand what this cattle as an ecological tool thing is all about are damn hard to find. That was then. I humbly sit here typing in between spoonful after spoonful of my own words. Meet new addition to the Holistic Ag team, Ariel Greenwood. The perfect combination of intelligence, self esteem, perseverance, competence and humility. If I was the praying type she would be the answer.
Well worth the wait.
