What a week it’s been! The news last night of the elimination of Bin Laden spread wildly, along with speculation it wasn’t real. It’s what so many of our soldiers were determined to do, and an odd comfort but doesn’t bring back those we lost. Any death is not taken lightly – even one who had no qualms about taking others lives. It’s one less evil thinking person in the world – one who would take action to end the lives of others without regard. Indeed, in the last moments he used a woman as a shield.

Still it doesn’t take away from reality here. The media doesn’t capture everything here. Yesterday I made a trip in for a few supplies – poultry feed, rabbit pellets, dog food, a few groceries. Ordinary things we don’t usually think too much about.

There were signs on the door – which I did take a picture of but am still having issues with the computer so can’t get them off the disk. No milk. No meat. No eggs. No frozen foods. Cash only, no cards. Stores, too, lost much in the shutdown and all supplies of these were wiped out until trucks came again. It meant instead of replacing meats we make do one more week, and are grateful for it.

It also brings up thoughts of the ag community, which has taken a hit here. It’s estimated five million chickens were killed in the storms with some barns badly damaged. Animal rights supporters commented in cheers because those birds wouldn’t go for slaughter. Odd…they’re still dead.

Thousands of people need food. They’re beyond the scope of just Tuscaloosa, where the President and celebrities and organizations are going. The rural small town areas are reeling. Dead cattle and horses, one report of 50 head of horses in a field, litter the farmscape. There are people hungry.

As I scanned the shelves yesterday for making do the food/ag arguments came to mind. It’s not ‘fresh food’. It’s processed…what if it’s GMO. What if the no bean chili came from bits from a steer fed in a feedlot? The wheat in the pasta isn’t labeled organic. And you know what? For people who haven’t eaten in days it doesn’t matter! It’s FOOD! You can call it “food product” or other degrading names all you want but truckloads of it are needed folks! Industry organizations that bring beef burgers or pork chops or other foods to these hard hit rural communities are needed.

There are orphaned children from these storms. There are families killed. Saturday cadaver dogs found a six year old boy alive – broken bones and shaken but alive. Emergency supplies are needed. Anyone who wants to help these rural communities the need is desperate.

It’s affected our little operation here too. The several hundred dollars that would have been generated from sales of the chicks that died, as well as the lost bunnies, aren’t an insurance covered thing. It’s farmin’ as a friend says – loss is a part of it. But it sure means tightening another notch and scrambling for the summer. A property tax bill, some planned shelters, and preparing for some chicks mid month are urgent. If you are interested in giving our photographs for graduation or wedding gifts or other occasions, we’d sure appreciate greatly the support. It can be paid for via PayPal, uploaded and mailed to your home or in some cases picked up at your local Walgreens store. Contact us if this is an interest.

On the other hand popcorn is up, so maybe we’ll get a crop this year. This weekend is the Kentucky Derby, and like the perpetual hope this year we’ll see a “big horse” – a superstar – we keep thinking next week will be better. Farmers in the midwest still haven’t had a chance to get in the field to plant. There are many in Alabama hurting, but many farmers who are too. We appreciate any support, and encourage supporting farmers with direct purchase more than ever before. It’s needed to get our country moving forward. It’s needed for food choices. It’s needed.