Karen Day and McCabe Coolidge, with animals for as long as she can re-
Activists for Feeding the Hungry member. Her motivation for rescuing
While the recession whittles away at
them, however, arrived unexpectedly.
household budgets, Karen Day and
First, an unforgettable, scrawny kitten
McCabe Coolidge work to expand
was dropped off at a farm she was
the ancient tradition of gleaning in
renting in Kentucky; then, she made
their Floyd, Virginia community. They
friends with a wolf-hybrid dog that led
explain that in biblical times, the edge
her to Jean Simpson, a wild-animal
of a farmer’s crop was left unharvested
trainer who shares her deep connec-
to provide food for the poor. Through
tion with animals.
McCabe Coolidge
their Portable Produce project, begun
Together, the two women estab-
two years ago, overplanted crops, as
lished Earthfire Institute, a 40-acre
problem and address it.” That’s evi-
well as bruised or marked produce
wildlife sanctuary and retreat center
dent in Day and McCabe’s initiation
that can’t be sold, find new purpose.
on the western slope of Grand Teton
of three more local projects underway
During growing season, the quali-
National Park, near Driggs, Idaho.
in the past five years to help feed the
fying produce picked and donated by
“Earthfire was built to expand our
hungry of all ages: Healthy Snacks for
local farmers graciously appears on
sense of connection with all living be-
Hungry Kids, Souper Douper Soup
the doorsteps of Coolidge’s Wildfire
ings,” says Eirich, “and to contribute to
Circles and a local chapter of Empty
Pots pottery studio. There, volunteers
what we believe is the unfolding story
Bowls, a national initiative. “We’re all
separate and deliver it, along with
of the transformation in humanity’s
about addressing problems when they
donated freshly baked breads, to indi-
relationship to the community of life.”
are small, so that only small, manage-
viduals and families who are without
Grounded by her daily interac-
able solutions are necessary.”
transportation. Surplus fruits and
tion with foxes, bears, wolves, lynx,
McCabe cites Dorothy Day
vegetables are canned or frozen. The
bobcats, cougars, coyotes, buffalo,
(1897-1980), who started a soup
project has already doubled in size,
badgers and other animals cared for at
kitchen in New York City in the 1930s
now regularly serving 60 recipients.
the Institute, Eirich seeks to help her
as his inspiration, as well as Catholic
Impressed by the enthusiasm of
Workers Communities, where he was
the 100 community volunteers who
active in the 1980s. Day’s activism
have eagerly joined the effort, the
began with an internship at Faithful
duo explains their modus operandi in
Fools Street Ministry in San Francisco,
simple terms: “We pay attention to a
inspired and co-founded by Rev. Kay
Jorgensen, a Unitarian minister.
Contact Portable Produce, Wildfire
Pots, Winter Sun-302, S. Locust St.,
Floyd, VA; 540-357-5657;
PlentyLocal.org.
Susan Eirich, Animal-Human
Interaction Activist
Karen Day
Susan Eirich, Ph.D., has been in love Susan Eirich
Pr i n t e d o n re c y c l e d Pa P e r t o Pr o t e c t t h e en v i r o n m e n t
March 2010 25
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