This morning, among all the amazing writing which has emerged from the ashes of the past week, I have to add one small page. It is not my choice to write, as I really have nothing to report of any dramatic nature, since, by sheer luck of the wind Healdsburg and Alexander Valley coughed a bit but didn’t burn. However, deadlines are deadlines, and it is Country Roads time.
Two items will be covered this morning: Sonoma/Napa Fires Livestock Evac and “The Little Cell Phone That Could.”
As scary as the fires on the ridge were to view from our farm, later known as the Pocket Fire, the most worrisome aspect was, if we had to leave, what do we do with my two sheep, Posey and Patrick, and the 80 chickens? The cats and dogs were all house pets and their departure would coincide with ours. No problem there.
It remained a muddled issue which is too muddled to relate — suffice it to write that we had a number of plans for the sheep but none had to be mobilized; and only one for the chickens — open up their coop and yard and hope for the best.
The better story came from Lee James of Tierra Vegetable, who we were with at Wednesday’s Santa Rosa Original Farmers’ Market, held at Tierra’s Airport Boulevard farm stand while LBC repairs.
Lee owns and cares for the flock of sheep that contains all of my sheep’s relatives. It is located amongst oak trees and brush on Chalk Hill Road. When Lee received her warning of the fire danger, she immediately called the Sonoma/Napa Fires Livestock Evac folks and ASAP the correct number of trailers and help arrived.
Her 15 Shetland sheep, were brought to the Sonoma County Fairgrounds and safely housed until Lee went down to bring them home.
“There was a person at the fairgrounds with a huge binder full of the names of the folks that had livestock that had arrived. But they weren’t sure in which corral or pen the animals were placed.”
One can only imagine the organizing of the chaos at the fairgrounds.
Lee continued, “I just looked and looked at all the animals housed and I found my band of sheep all together in one pen, just fine.”
Today I checked the Livestock Evac page and read through many posts. If you have time, it is heartening to read them. For instance, here is S.H. on October 14, driving from the South Bay who posts: “2,000 + lbs. hay cubes and pellets, 27 bales of hay, 15 bags of shavings, dry dog and cat food, buckets, halters…..who needs?”
And, from D.L.C. who writes: “When it comes time to move animals back to properties…we can help. Also, if you need animals fed and watered we have a 300 gallon water tank on a truck. Please call.”
When trauma and drama enfolded Columbus Day Monday morning, the two other families sharing life on this farm were struck electronically mute, carrying marvelous, costly iPhones in their pockets with no service.
When I went to call my sister on my land line, it was obviously not going to function, along with our “bundled” Comcast providing internet and television.
So, I went to my little simple Tracfone which is useful at market when I need to call home. I don’t even know how to retrieve messages, until now.
“Hello, Marty? When you need to call, here is my cell phone number. It works.”
Right then, my incredulous children arrived and I overheard, “Mom’s cell phone works? Mom’s cell phone works!”
Watching the ridge fire we prepared to protect our farm and the animals on it. The sump pump and long hose was submerged to the bottom of the swimming pool. The necessary extension cord to work the sump lay next to a generator in case the electricity failed. We will never know if our preparations would have been adequate, and for that we are so grateful for mere luck of the draw.
Through the negatives of the fire there are related positives that march in lock step through life. Trees and flowers return, the Monarch butterfly flutters, birds sing and feed on sunflower seeds. Renee learns to listen to her messages.
Renee Kiff weeds and writes at her family farm in Alexander Valley.
