veteran homeless youth program co-
humanity’s relationship to the commu-
ordinator, says the foundation aims to
nity of life.”
build a national network of programs.
Grounded by her daily interac-
Expanding from its current base in New
tion with foxes, bears, wolves, lynx,
York City, he has his sights set on cities
bobcats, cougars, coyotes, buffalo,
such as Los Angeles, Boston, San Fran-
badgers and other animals cared for at
cisco, Seattle and Austin, Texas.
the Institute, Eirich seeks to help her
own species share in the indescribable
Contact The Reciprocity Foundation,
beauty of the human/animal eye-to-
100 Church St., Ste. 1604, NY, NY; 347-
eye and heart-to-heart connection that
546-2670;
ReciprocityFoundation.org.
McCabe Coolidge
she and her small staff experience. A
local projects underway in the past
moment-to-moment spiritual practice
five years to help feed the hungry of all
of communing with nature and listen-
Karen Day and McCabe Coolidge,
ages: Healthy Snacks for Hungry Kids,
ing in the silence for something larger
Activists for Feeding the Hungry
Souper Douper Soup Circles and a lo-
gifts Eirich with an ability to give words
While the recession whittles away at
cal chapter of Empty Bowls, a national
to thoughts and ideas that come from
household budgets, Karen Day and
initiative. “We’re all about addressing
a deep inner place. “The directive that
McCabe Coolidge work to expand the
problems when they are small, so that
comes from the silence within is differ-
ancient tradition of gleaning in their
only small, manageable solutions are
ent and evolves in a way that I wouldn’t
Floyd, Virginia community. They ex-
necessary.”
plan for if I was only working from the
plain that in biblical times, the edge of
McCabe cites Dorothy Day (1897-
intellect,” she explains.
a farmer’s crop was left unharvested to
1980), who started a soup kitchen
One of the best stories that poign-
provide food for the poor. Through their
in New York City in the 1930s as his
antly conveys the sacred animal/human
Portable Produce project, begun two
inspiration, as well as Catholic Work-
interaction experienced at Earthfire
years ago, overplanted crops, as well as
ers Communities, where he was active
involves Thunder, a 17-year-old wolf
bruised or marked produce that can’t
in the 1980s. Karen Day’s activism
that lay for several days unconscious in
be sold, find new purpose.
began with an internship at Faithful
the wildlife garden, beyond the sight
Fools Street Ministry in San Francisco,
of other wolves, ready to slip away to
inspired and co-founded by Rev. Kay
the spirit world. The vet knelt beside
Jorgensen, a Unitarian minister.
Thunder and stroked his fur as he gave
a merciful injection. In the second that
Contact Portable Produce, Wildfire Pots,
the once strong and regal wolf died, as
Winter Sun-302, S. Locust St., Floyd, VA;
his soul passed from his body, all 30
540-357-5657;
PlentyLocal.org.
wolves at Earthfire gave up their griev-
ing howl.
“The vet was shocked to feel the
sound resonate within his body,” recalls
Susan Eirich, Animal-Human
Eirich. “Even though Thunder’s pack
Interaction Activist
Karen Day
Susan Eirich, Ph.D., has been in love
was nowhere near the garden, they felt
During growing season, the quali-
with animals for as long as she can
his passing and wanted to say goodbye
fying produce picked and donated by
remember. Her motivation for rescuing
and wish him well on his passage. This
local farmers graciously appears on the
them, however, arrived unexpectedly.
doorsteps of Coolidge’s Wildfire Pots
First, an unforgettable, scrawny kitten
pottery studio. There, volunteers sepa-
was dropped off at a farm she was rent-
rate and deliver it, along with donated
ing in Kentucky; then, she made friends
freshly baked breads, to individuals
with a wolf-hybrid dog that led her to
and families who are without transpor-
Jean Simpson, a wild-animal trainer
tation. Surplus fruits and vegetables
who shares her deep connection with
are canned or frozen. The project has
animals.
already doubled in size, now regularly
Together, the two women estab-
serving 60 recipients.
lished Earthfire Institute, a 40-acre wild-
Impressed by the enthusiasm of the
life sanctuary and retreat center on the
100 community volunteers who have
western slope of Grand Teton National
eagerly joined the effort, the duo ex-
Park, near Driggs, Idaho. “Earthfire was
plains their modus operandi in simple
built to expand our sense of connection
terms: “We pay attention to a problem
with all living beings,” says Eirich, “and
and address it.” That’s evident in Day
to contribute to what we believe is the
and McCabe’s initiation of three more
unfolding story of the transformation in
Susan Eirich
www.naturalawakenings-houston.com March 2010 23
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