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Did you guys miss me last week?
We had no internet because of the storm and so I spent an evening without technology. I have to tell you it was a little uncomfortable at first. It wasn't long though before Chloe found a pen on the counter and then watched what gravity would do with it. Then she spun it around. Then she batted it under the couch.
Turns out there was more than the pen under the couch. There was an earring, a grape, two screws, a dust bunny (not sure if that was from Chloe), and a packet of seeds.
I think I may have a klepto on my hands.
So last week Mary brought me on an errand that I was not exactly excited about. As I tell this story, you may note that my lack of enthusiasm will not paint me in a positive light.
Surprise, I can be a crab ball.
This will come as no surprise to my team.
Anyway, last year Mary took the Master Gardener class sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. She loved the classes and as a part of the certification, she must volunteer at least 40 hours in a variety of ways that benefit the community around agriculture. For instance, she tended the Children's Garden in Brewer at the beginning of the year. She brought me along to weed and spread mulch in July.
Grrr.....
So last weekend she asked me to go along to get some vegetables from the Farmer's Market in Orono to bring to the homeless shelter in Bangor. Turns out, the cooperative extension is part of a national program of volunteers to bring food to those who need it the most. In Maine its called Maine Harvest for Hunger.
Mary had been several times, so she knew the Farms that were generously giving and others that were not interested. Honestly, I thought its a great idea, but these farmers planted their crops (mostly organically), tended them and then brought them to market. I was thinking our donations would be relatively scarce.
OK, so not the first time I was wrong. Some of these farmers were amazing. Peacemeal Farms filled two bags with beautiful autumnal vegetables. Chicken John (Mary's nickname for the poultry guy) gave 25 lbs of organic free range chicken. Ripley Farm gave a 22 lb bag of a colorful variety of leafy greens and root veggies. Smith Farm filled a paper grocery bag with their harvest.
But the person that inspired me the most was Tom at Snakeroot Farm. Tom is tall and thin, has a long gray beard and his clothes fit on him very loosely. He wore a tattered MOGFA hat covering his long gray hair. Mary had told me that he was always particularly generous. So I introduced myself as Mr Jude (Mary loves that part) and asked if he had anything to give this week. I had the requisite paper bag and he brought me to the section he had put aside for us. There were boxes of organic vegetables. Some of them were seconds, but many were his prime organic vegetables. He looked at me with a smile and said simply...that little bag won't be enough. Help yourself to these bags.
As I was filling the bags with fresh organic produce he told me that he had heard that the program was ending this week. Part of the program is collecting and weighing the produce, and reporting it to the cooperative extension to help reach their goal of 200,000 lbs of fresh garden produce. He wanted to let me know that even if the program ended we were welcome to come pick from him whenever we wanted. He said very matter-of-factly that he figured it was the right thing to do. I looked at his eyes, distorted through bifocals and reached out to shake his hand. I felt the weathered skin and saw his crooked teeth with many missing as he gave me an earnest smile.
I came back to the van with Mary waiting for me with the scale to weigh the veggies, my tail between my legs.
I almost missed this opportunity for one of those humbling moments.
We brought the food back to the Bangor Homeless shelter and we got to feel like Santa Claus. But the real thanks should be for Tom and the rest of the kind hearted farmers that gave so freely.
I've been ruminating on this experience all week and its given me an idea to help with a problem that I am facing in the practice. It struck me that this program to feed the hungry required people to ask for help, and for people to cooperate to get food to the hungry. It took a chain of people to make it happen.
We have three cats up for adoption for the same reason...they did not get along with dogs or other cats in the house. Two you may recognize as cats that were previously placed. They need to be in a home with no other animals. Optimally a senior in a nice quiet home.
I need you each to bring vegetables to feed the senior who takes these cats.
Ok, I'm kidding again. What I need is a home for each of them, and I don't know how its going to happen. But the first part if faith that it could.
These cats are sweet and just can't be with other animals. So although most of you reading this will not be eligible because our relationship was probably started by a pet or pets that you already have, I'm betting three of you know of someone who wants a sweet, mature cat that wants to live alone with its human(s).
If so, email Christina at
Christina@kindredvet.com
To sweeten the pot, 20% off of food/services if provided through Kindred Spirits for life, and we will place the cat in a new home if the person can no longer care for them (Ida is 2 and Mitties and Marcel are 6).
and a big bag of cat food
and some treats.
and a bag of organic vegetables purchased from Tom at Snakeroot or one of the other awesome Organic food growers.
Tonight I made a Butternut Squash Soup from a squash I went back and bought at Peacemeal farm. I realized half way through that I was missing the Nutmeg grinder.
Guess where it was....
yup, under the couch. | 
