Journal Dec 2

A man I've only met once has driven over from Minnesota to help out. We spend the afternoon shoveling ash and picking through the rubble, talk about pigs, farming in the old days and what the future might hold. He's been farming nearly all of his 60 years and has a lot of proof that adversity can be overcome. Thank you Doug.

The electricians are here again, trying to get us power in the places we need it most. Without the main barn, we've had to set up temporary poles with outlet boxes in order to accommodate the tank heaters. Winter is surely here, and were are sorely in need of more shelter, waterers and feed.

Many Slow Food Chapters are planning dinners and fund raising events featuring pork from our rare breeds. Check with your local chapter to see what they are planning, or feel free to organize an event of your own. You can check them out at SlowfoodUSA.org.

My friends at Chef's Collaborative have been spreading the word about the fire and the work that we do with the pigs. Thank you Robin & crew!

Help is coming from many places, whether it be a touching letter from the UK, a $10 donation from a retired person, encouraging phone calls and people just showing up to lighten the burden of the cleanup. A touching letter from the Bishop of the Sioux Falls Catholic Diocese made our day. I am so thankful, it takes my breath away, and brings tears to my eyes.

What an incredible journey this is for us. I am amazed at people's kindness and creative ways to be of help, if only we ask. We are not alone, all we need to do is reach out. This is a good lesson for us. Living so rural, we often do feel alone. But, we have discovered that 30 or even 300 miles is not a big distance to travel to help a farmer in need.

We feel like we have gained an enormous number of friends through this tragedy.

The pigs are doing much better, and we have not lost any more since Monday. I hope we are done with the loss. My grief continues over my horse and cats, as they were such good companions and friends. I struggle with the purpose of events like this, but am holding faith that this tragedy will help others in the future.