kristenbritain

In the early hours of Monday, May 7th, my friends awoke to every farmer's nightmare: their barn, full of livestock, was engulfed in fire. The fire was too far gone to save the animals--pigs, cattle, horses, sheep and lambs, ducks, chickens and chicks. Only two animals survived the blaze by some miracle: a chick now named Lucky, and the barn cat.

Darthia Farm is a small family farm on the coast of Maine, and an institution on the Schoodic Peninsula. It is where I attend writing group every week, led by novelist Cynthia Thayer, author of the books Strong for Potatoes, A Certain Slant of Light, and A Brief Lunacy. The fire has been a shock to many in the community.

This is a picture of me with Sally, one of the Fjord draft ponies that perished in the fire. One was a 29 year old Haflinger named Gus who had been nurtured by Bill Thayer through many years of Cushing's Disease. (Do I have to even mention the bonds between people and animals?) I learned to drive and harness Tim, the other Fjord who also died. I and many others have ridden in a wagon and sleigh drawn behind them either at the farm itself or the Common Ground Fair. The horses helped Bill with the haying in the summer and working in the woods during the winter, and brought delight to many of us in between.

The barn itself was an old New England timber frame style built in 1859. The house, just 30 feet away, built in 1854, was spared only because my friends woke up in time. Insurance will not cover the entire loss of barn, equipment and tools, and livestock, However, Cynthia and Bill plan to rebuild, and once again the fields of Darthia Farm will be filled with sheep and cattle and horses, and will be the link to farmlife that so many families lack in this modern world. I want to help, and I'd like to ask you to help as well, to help raise a new barn.

How can we help? Well, there has been a fund set up: The Darthia Farm Phoenix Fund

I would like to add a few incentives to my readers to contribute. Here is how: First of all, contribute and save your receipt, or some proof that you contributed. Then, embed your receipt/proof of contribution in an email to helpraisethebarn@yahoo.com (no attachments please). Then, on Saturday, June 2nd, noon Eastern Time, I will do a lottery style drawing. In other words, no more entries after noon! I am afraid I can only offer this to entrants in North America at this time. Make sure your email and/or snailmail address are included with your entry.

Here is what I'm offering up:
1. For a minimum $10 donation, I will put you in the hat for a drawing for a complete set (Green Rider, First Rider's Call, The High King's Tomb, and Blackveil) of the British edition paperbacks of the Green Rider Series from my personal collection, with the covers that have been admired by so many. Autographed, of course.

2. For a minimum $25 donation, I will put you in the hat for a drawing for a complete set of US edition hardcovers of the Green Rider Series from my personal collection, also autographed, including the very difficult to find in hardcover, Green Rider. You will also be in the running for incentive #1, as well.

3. There will be two of this incentive offered. For a minimum $100 donation, I will put you in the hat for a drawing to buy you and a friend a cup of coffee (or tea or whatever) and chat with you in a public cafe type place for an hour or two. Caveats, you must be able to meet me within an hour's drive of (1) Bar Harbor, ME, or (2) Las Cruces, NM. For the Maine location, this must occur before the month of June is out. For the New Mexico location, this can occur in the fall or winter. Also, just so you know ahead of time, you can ask me about the fifth Green Rider book, but there is not much I'll be able to tell you ;-) You will also be in the hat for incentives #1 and #2.

Remember, if you just want to make a donation period, just use the link above. Thank you for your consideration and help.