We did it!!
In case you missed it, we asked for something in our last email. It was a hard thing to do. Farmers seem to be reticent and self-sufficient by nature and in tough times we just keep working and hoping. I don't know if that makes us optimists or fools. Maybe it's a little bit of both.
What I do know is that our friends and customers recently taught us a valuable lesson; you taught us that it's okay to ask for help when it's really needed. We needed to fund a farm project and you placed orders and signed up for CSA shares and it was all enough to make something really important happen. You all have floored me with your generosity and encouragement.
It took almost a year to find a bonded pair of working sheep dogs for whom our farm was a good fit. Then it took about 30 phone calls with their previous farm, a long drive to Massachusetts, and an outpouring of support from our community to bring them home. It may sound silly to be this serious about dogs, but for small farm in coyote country, a good pair of working dogs is essential.
Guess what? We were able to bring home our new guardians on Monday and they are perfect. The Italians are here! Welcome to the farm, Cosmo and Bella! They traveled like champs and are getting to know their flock now. They are settling in beautifully and I included some pictures below.
So thank you from the bottom of our farmer hearts for standing by us. I can't talk about it or think about it without choking up. Thank you for helping us give two working dogs a chance to keep doing what they know. Thank you for helping us keep our livestock safe. And most of all, thank you for the reminder that we don't walk this path alone.
With love and gratitude and on behalf of Cosmo and Bella, Grazie!
Kelly
