57 pounds of cabbage, please

I love my Massachusetts.

Here is a fantastic and innovative program taking place in northern Massachusetts. It's called the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project. Twelve years old now, it trains refugees of war, famine and genocide in modern farming practices and helps them integrate into American life. These new farmers are putting back into use what has been idle for years. Farmland.

John Ogonowski was the first mentor farmer. He let Cambodian and Hmong refugees use his land to establish their newly learned irrigation techniques and would not accept money for use of his land, only fresh vegetables.

John Ogonowski was also the pilot on American Airlines flight 11 to Los Angeles on September 11th, 2001. His wife helped create a farm trust as a memorial to her husband.

Over 150 people have been trained through this program. They supply the region's farmer's markets and ethnic stores with beets, cabbage, eggplant, Asian spices and other produce.

Geeze, I mean geeze, why isn't this kind of stuff on the news? It's good, good, good.

Both of these websites have great info.

www.nesfp.nutrition.tufts.edu
www.nesfp.nutrition.tufts.edu/about/index.html

56

I'm not sure how many of you have followed the Tour De France, but there is something lovely to report. Lance Armstrong, along with Nike have found an unusual way to spread messages of support and love to cancer survivors worldwide. It's this crazy thing called a chalkbot. It was used during the tour which just ended today.

You could go to the Livestrong.org website or the Nike website to enter your message and then they would print it, in yellow paint, on the very road the cyclists were riding. If they printed your message, they would send you a picture of it along with the GPS coordinates.

Some of the messages:

Ride for those who cannot.
We love you Aunt Bev, be strong.
In memory of my beloved Mom C.
One year gone, lifetime missed.
Race hard. Race for Lee.

Wrenching stuff. But wonderful, too. Such love and hope we have for friends and family fighting cancer, fighting any awful disease. The heart opens wide and the caring becomes palpable.

I've never lost a person to cancer. My canine friends, however are a different story.

I picture heaven as I'm sure many pet lovers do. It's a place of perfect weather and perfect health. There is no pain. Just sun, water, toys, favorite foods, joy. And lots of napping.

Here would be my message:

Missing you and loving you still with all my heart forever.

For Kato, Sage, Max, Vaughan, Brenty girl, Otter.

55 tons of dog food?

Oh my dog. I know I'll have to pause (paws) to wipe my tears as I write this. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary has facilitated a HUGE food donation for the Gulf Coast region. I know you remember them from my very first post.

We all know how much the people on that coast are suffering. With so many out of work, they can barely feed themselves, never mind their dogs. And apparently they have Big dogs. Del Monte Foods donated 20 tons of Kibbles 'n Bits to this cause. And Best Friends paid for the transportation there.

They've set up 4 distribution sites and they have created a screening process that is efficient and dignified.

Ellen Gilmore of Best Friends says it so beautifully, "These families have not only lost their livelihoods, but also their way of life practically overnight. They shouldn't have to face losing members of their families, too. It’s just too much to expect anybody to bear,” she says.

Don't you just love her and Best Friends and Del Monte Foods and the brave, brave hearts of the the Gulf Coast residents?

Let's all send them a big cyber hug and a send a big prayer out into the Universe for healing and renewal.