Good morning, a very full day at Bedlam Farm. My new writing class, a short story class really, debuts in its new home today at the Pompanuck Farm Institute outside of town. Got a full house, the same group as last time with a few new additions. Pompanuck is a beautiful space for teaching writing, this is a wonderful group of students. I love teaching, I love this class, Pompanuck will be exciting.
We are into Day Three of Joshua Rockwood’s gofundme crowdsourcing project to get his farm ready for winter and to move forward with his plans for improving his farm by adding four tire water tanks and some Greenhouse Shelter for his pigs, cows and cattle. Eco-sensitive stuff, smart stuff. Joshua does his homework.
The progress on his farm – he grows and sells meat and produce locally – was interrupted by the bond-headed authorities in his town, who might support a young and idealistic businessman rather than conspiring to destroy his work and livelihood. He was charged with 13 counts of animal cruelty and abuse, mostly for having a farm in a bitterly cold winter.
Great progress on the project, Joshua is seeking $16,000 for his projects, he has raised about $9,000 already. About $7,000 to go. I am very optimistic, he deserves and needs all the support he can get. He was arrested in March, his case has not yet come to trial and he is burning through many thousands of dollars in legal fees. It costs a lot of money to be falsely accused of a crime in America.
And it is happening to a lot of people, the lunatic fringe of the animal rights movement has been running amok, this is the beginning of the new awakening about the real rights of animals and the real rights of people. The New York Carriage Horses won a great victory this week when the arrogant mayor who has been trying to ban them ducked and ran. Hopefully, Joshua will be the next great victory.
If you can help out and spread the word, that would be great.
Maria is taking her mother to the opera at Hubbard Hall in our town today, it is a two-and-a-half hour performance of Rigoletto. I’ll go and see as much of it as I can, I don’t think I can sit still for that long. I’m excited about today. More later.