Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz

My Spiritual Life
7 May

Tuesday Morning, May 7, 2024. Dogs, People, Poppies: Fixed Points In A Spinning World. Love Makes Me Happy…

by Jon Katz

I’ve learned in recent years that love makes me happy. I came to see that the problem with the suffering people who sent hateful notes online is that they seem humorless to me, devoid of love or empathy.

Once I realized this, I stopped answering them and trying to talk to them or be hurt by them.  I just deleted them, and they have all gone away. There were lots of lessons for me in that.

The tendency to run away from suffering is intense, but that was just another form of suffering, I came to realize. Imagine doing that all day?

The Internet has made hatred easier,  more open and possible.  But it has also opened my eyes to many things, including the idea that they are suffering, too.

(Zip is in the middle of everything we do. He has assimilated and acclimated; it seems he’s been there for years.)

I am happy, and that is because I am learning to love the things in my life – Maria, my writing, my photography, the dogs and Zip, the donkeys and sheep, my farm, and my efforts to do good. Think about it: can people who write nasty messages to strangers be happy?

I don’t think so. The prophets say that compassion always makes people happy on both ends,  giving and receiving, and so does making other people’s lives a little bit better. I looked at the news this morning and saw some angry politicians insulting one another.

Happiness is a choice; I just had to learn to work at it a bit.

Can there be any joy in that? From the looks on their faces, it seems unlikely. Can they be happy? It seems silly to say it, but hatred doesn’t make people happy. They suffer. It seems obvious, but it is one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in a long time.  I depend on fixed points—Maria, Zinnia, Zip, and nature—to keep me content in a spinning world. My photography has opened my eyes to life—and flowers, too—especially lately, flowers and the gift of Spring.

Spring comes on suddenly here; the pasture looks lush and beautiful.

I bought a Hydrangea flower today at the Cambridge Flower Shop. Sue Lamberti is up to her neck in orders for proms and weddings. This florist shop is really catching on. Good for her; it’s much deserved.

Zinnia is a happy creature; she does not change, get depressed, watch the news, or listen to politicians. There is much to learn.

My poppies are popping in my garden bed. Here we go.

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Flower Art
6 May

Flower Art With A Vengeance! Tulips, Roses, Violets, And More, A Tribute To Color And Light And Beauty.

by Jon Katz

I was out in the sun doing a light of fiddling with my 205 MM leica lens. It left me happy but tired, so I’ll say good night and see you in the morning. I was thrilled to be alive today; there is so much beauty in the world; it wraps me in a cocoon and envelops me sometimes.

I’m happy to share this beauty with you; it is uplifting and humbling. We got wonderful news – see below – the Army Of Good total donation for April was 3, 828 pounds of food and products. That was 800 pounds more than last month, and we are just getting rolling.

I’m going to the food pantry tomorrow to see when the food comes in. I might bring the monochrome, which is my atmosphere camera.

 

I’m much enjoying watching these tulips unfold, red and pink and yellow, beautiful and emotional all over. Meditation flowers for sure, or just nice to sit and look at.

I didn’t know how much pink would emerge from the tulips. I’m going to watch closely every day.

Miniature roses, but quite striking.

 

African violets

 

This beautiful white rose is preparing to depart; I give her thanks and appreciation; she gave me a lot of beauty.

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GOOD NEWS!
6 May

Wonderful News, The Army Of Good Sent The Cambridge Pantry 3,828 Pounds Of Food In April, 800 More Than In March. Wow

by Jon Katz

Sarah Harrington, the director of the Cambridge Food Pantry, texted me at 5:35 p.m. Monday with this message: “The Army of Good total donation for April,” she wrote, “was 3,828 lbs of food and products.” I asked her if that was good—I’m new to this—and the answer came back quickly:”That is almost 800 lbs over last month! It’s a crazy amount.“

It’s a beautiful amount, and there are no words to thank you all enough. The Army of Good is not just a dream but a reality. You always come through.

I’ve never had the privilege to meet most of you; the Army of Good is a powerful army scattered all over the country, gathering to do good rather than arguing about what good is. I wish you could see and hear the gratitude from the Pantry volunteers and the 144 families that came to the pantry one day a week ago and another 173 backpack children.

I hope this news fills your hearts with as much joy as it does mine and, more importantly, the hearts of the struggling families who are desperate to feed their loved ones. Your actions are a beacon of hope, especially during these tense times. We started the Army of Good because we wanted to do good rather than fear or hate one another. It worked. People are eager to do good when given the chance.

(above the food back packs for children, we are stuffing the bags to the hilt.)

 

This is the correct political statement—we are showing the world our hearts and what they can mean for others. This is the America I know and love, the biggest-hearted country on earth. Here, we are all coming together, all kinds of people with all sorts of ideas and opinions, but we share one thing. We are here to show our love and care for one another in need.

I need to say how much I admire Sarah Harrington. She invited me to advocate for the pantry and has given me the encouragement and freedom to be myself. She gets me, and she gets you. I appreciate that. I’m going to the pantry tomorrow when the weekly food truck arrives.

I’ll have my camera.   I’m learning a lot, but I want to learn more about how a food pantry works. This is the triumph not of money or power or politics but of something much deeper: love and compassion.

I will keep this going for as long as possible, and I hope you can join me for as long as possible. Much love and gratitude to you; I almost grabbed some tissues.

Oh yes, don’t forget today’s need food: Maruchan Ramen Pork Flavor Noodles, pack of 24, $9.36. We can feed many families and their children with those noodles for $9.36. Bless all of you.

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Bedlam Farm Journal
6 May

Photo Journal, First Days Of Spring, Monday, May 6, Bedlam Farm

by Jon Katz

Winter makes Spring especially beautiful, one of the reasons I love where I love. I would like to be warm, just like many other people, but this is the right thing for me.

Without Winter, Spring would not be nearly as magical for Maria and me. I understand that people love warmth, but it’s not for us.

 

Maria: Greeting her flock,, which is always beautiful to see.

Using my new wildlife lens, my first bird photo after the feeders came down is of a Red Wings Blackbird sitting on the fence. I tried using a Tripod, but it didn’t work.

Bud in the yard, watching me in the pasture. When his ears go up, he’s onto something.

The Peaceable Kingdom, nibbling on grass.

Zinnia loves the brook and is a faithful retriever. The water is always warm for her, even in winter.

She was leading the flock out to grass in the North pasture.

 

Zip keeps me company while I take pictures.

Fate is worn out from chasing sheep but not herding them. She is complex and different, like her human.

 

 

 

 

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The Cambridge Food Pantry
6 May

Sarah’s Pantry Picks, Monday, May 4, Rice-A-Roni, Ramen Noodles

by Jon Katz

Sarah has two picks for today’s Cambridge Pantry. These items are hard to find and harder to keep, so any help would be appreciated. One is for Rice-a-Roni Dinners, and the other is for Ramen Beef and Ramen Pork Flavor.

Your help is not just invaluable; it’s personal.

Thanks to your generosity, Tide, a pantry favorite, reappeared on our shelves after a long absence, thanks. Your contributions, big or small, make a real difference in the lives of struggling families.

Rice-a-Roni Dinners and Ramen are on today’s Amazon Cambridge Food Pantry Wish List, and we hope you can help us put some on the shelves.

First, the Rice-A-Roni,

Rice-A-Roni Dinner Classics Variety Pick, 10 Piece Assortment, $12.48.

Then Ramen Beef, 3 Ounce, Pack of 24, $16.73.

And Manuchean Ramen Pork Flavor Noodles, 3.0 Pack of 24, $9.36.

I’m donating the Rice-A-Roni and the more affordable Ramen, the Flavored Noodles, for $9.36. Your contributions, no matter the size, have made and will make an enormous difference.

Ramem is a simple, filling meal to cook at dinnertime.

For me, this is what America is really about.

Thanks to you, Tide made a brief but enthusiastic return to the pantry. It will appear again on Sarah’s lists, as it is in demand.

Several students at the local high school have volunteered to transfer our kid’s backpacks to the children of the families that come to the Cambridge Pantry every week seeking food support.

It always lifts my heart to see them; they are always eager and smiling.

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