From Linda: Jon – I would gladly contribute to the blog merge! It sounds like a wonderful and practical idea. I’ve been following (and donating to) the Bedlam Farm blog for many, many years; checking in daily to see what’s going on is a ritual, often at bedtime, to soothe my spirit after a full day of responsibilities, challenges, and (ick) political noise. And I love to pop over and see what Maria’s up to; alas, usually not fast enough to buy some of her wonderful fabric art. I truly hope you can make this work!

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When I began Bedlam Farm.Com some years ago, I promised to be honest, open, and direct. I think I have mostly kept the promise. Here is something new from Maria and me.  Life is full of change and mystery. I’ve launched or supported scores of Wish Lists, Fund Requests, and Support for farmers, the Mansion Medicaid facility, new immigrant children, school art programs, and food support groups. Maria did most of this work with me.

It’s our turn to ask for support. I loved Linda’s message; it lifted my heart.

It’s odd to seek funding and support for Maria and me. Many of you have been following our wish and plan to merge our two blogs, Bedlam Farm

and Full Moon Fiber Art, into one blog, gathering our writing, art, photography, and life on the farm together, as it is and should be. This is where our hearts and our lives are.

Your responses to the idea have been wonderful; thank you.

Our blogs are the centers of our writing and photography, and our work, art, farm, and lives together. We are no longer two things but one, with two distinct passions and identities. They go together and ought to.

This is America, and, not surprisingly, we approached our internet provider, whom I love and trust and who has designed my blog since day one, nearly 20 years ago. We were shocked by the cost.

There was no one else I would rather ask for help than Mannix Marketing.  We have worked together for years; they designed my website and Maria’s. They reviewed the request and came up with a perfect plan, but our blogs are big and complex, and it would cost $7,000.

We gulped, turned white, and then started thinking. If it’s okay to raise money for others, then it’s okay to raise money for ourselves.

We don’t have $7,000 lying around, so I suggested the GoFundMe option before we move forward with this new plan, something we both want. As soon as we have this money or something close to it, we will go ahead with the fusion.

I’d only done this once before, years ago, to ask for help buying my first good camera. That launched my embrace of photography and my awareness of myself as an artist. Maria was already there. We decided to live together, and this was the best move in both of our lives.

So it’s time for Maria and me to ask for help together. On Sunday, October 18, we are posting a GoFundMe request. We are seeking $7,000, less than the camera that changed my life.

I can’t speak for Maria, but I don’t apologize for it or excuse the request. There is no shame. We are not rich, nor are most of our readers. We believe in helping people in need when we can.  Many people who read my blog take doing good seriously; they have shown that again and again.

I know everybody on earth is asking for money, but we are people too. If you value this, please consider the request.

Maria’s blog is wonderful and would add a great deal to mine. She writes about her art, the animals, her life, nature, and other things, and she does all of them brilliantly. What can I say? I think we’re quite wonderful. My blog is my life story, my digital memoir.

I admit, in the back of my mind, I like the idea of Maria taking over our blogging when I leave the world, which won’t be for a while, but when it happens, I don’t want to leave her with a mess. I am notorious for making messes; I want to do better as I enter this next and final chapter of my life. But I realized it was just a good idea, period.

I’m not into pleading, but if you think our blogs have meaning or value, and the request makes sense to you, please go to GoFundMe on Sunday or later and help if you can. Small payments are as good as big ones.

Maria will be writing about this on her blog, fullmoonfiberart.com.

If you prefer another way, you can send a written donation to Jon Katz at P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y. 12816.

Or via PayPal: [email protected] or, if you wish, [email protected]. You can also donate via Venmo: @Jon-Katz-13. Or Maria’s Venmo: @Maria-Wulf.

And either way, thank you.