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
McCabe Coolidge
546-2670;
ReciprocityFoundation.org.
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
to thoughts and ideas that come from
While the recession whittles away at
cal chapter of Empty Bowls, a national
a deep inner place. “The directive that
household budgets, Karen Day and
initiative. “We’re all about addressing
comes from the silence within is differ-
McCabe Coolidge work to expand the
problems when they are small, so that
ent and evolves in a way that I wouldn’t
ancient tradition of gleaning in their
only small, manageable solutions are
plan for if I was only working from the
Floyd, Virginia community. They ex-
necessary.”
intellect,” she explains.
plain that in biblical times, the edge of
McCabe cites Dorothy Day (1897-
One of the best stories that poign-
a farmer’s crop was left unharvested to
1980), who started a soup kitchen
antly conveys the sacred animal/human
provide food for the poor. Through their
in New York City in the 1930s as his
interaction experienced at Earthfire
Portable Produce project, begun two
inspiration, as well as Catholic Workers
involves Thunder, a 17-year-old wolf
years ago, overplanted crops, as well as
Communities, where he was active in
that laid for several days unconscious
bruised or marked produce that can’t
the 1980s. Day’s activism began with
in the wildlife garden, beyond the sight
be sold, find new purpose.
an internship at Faithful Fools Street
Ministry in San Francisco, inspired and
of other wolves, ready to slip away to
co-founded by Rev. Kay Jorgensen, a
the spirit world. The vet knelt beside
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,
his soul passed from his body, all 30
VA; 540-357-5657;
PlentyLocal.org.
wolves at Earthfire gave up their griev-
ing howl.
“The vet was shocked to feel the
Susan Eirich, Animal-Human
sound resonate within his body,” recalls
Interaction Activist
Eirich. “Even though Thunder’s pack
Karen Day
was nowhere near the garden, they felt
Susan Eirich, Ph.D., has been in love
his passing and wanted to say goodbye
During growing season, the quali-
with animals for as long as she can
and wish him well on his passage. This
fying produce picked and donated by remember. Her motivation for rescuing
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
natural awakenings March 2010 25
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