The Wandering Farmer (an feirmeoir fánach)

Hey all! Time for an update!
I know that this blog is the first one I’m writing after my customers from my garlic farm days have heard of my big changes in life plans. I want to address you guys first.
First, as expressed in the farm newsletter, I am really grateful for the virtual community we were able to build. I’m grateful for every year you guys voted with your dollars, for better garlic from a unique farm. I’m also grateful for all of you who give Tim and company your support as they take over the farm operations. I wanted to pass it on to a worthy successor and did so. I’m happy some of you have chosen to follow along and stay in touch as I do the next thing.
As for that “next thing,” well, it is somewhat up in the air. Until the plans are finalized, I am volunteering on a “gap year” of undetermined length. I was in Poland from November 2022 to April 2023, volunteering near the Poland/Ukraine border with All Hands and Hearts- an organization that largely does construction/renovation work but also is involved in food and non food aid distribution and community engagement work. I spent April and half of May in Turkey, and then half of July and all of August as well, also with All Hands and Hearts, as part of the earthquake response. In between that I visited family in the States. I returned to Poland for September with All Hands (now in Krakow, 3 hours away from the border), and by October 2nd I’ll be joining an international organization located in western Ukraine, That’s the short version. The story up til August has been covered in the blog already. I haven’t spoken about September yet, nor about what comes.
I’m in the third of four weeks back with All Hands as they’ve followed the demographic flow of refugees from the border areas to life in Poland’s larger cities. Many of the young folks have leveraged language skills to integrate smoothly into Krakow life, but the war has forced many elderly and disabled folks, women with children, et cetera, who struggle more to integrate in temporary shelter in Poland, putting many in dire economic situations. Food pantries and soup kitchens are relied on to supplement the basic financial aid they may get. Many of these organizations (almost entirely Polish- and Ukrainian-led) have been working non-stop since the war started, putting in Herculean efforts in operating as many days of the week as they could, in whatever available spaces could be found. All Hands and Hearts has been able to come into Krakow and offer help renovating these spaces- building shelving, renovating and expanding kitchens, adding handicap-friendly bathrooms, amongst many other things. We have also helped with sorting food and clothing donations, with English classes, art classes, and other things to help the mental wellbeing of Ukrainians here. All told, it has been an impressive effort by valiant Polish people, and the able-bodied or available Ukrainians who volunteer, to take care of the rest of the people who aren’t as able to, due to physical or time constraints. It truly is a team effort and inspiring to be around.
While it has been amazing to rejoin these efforts, I’ve also been communicating with a Spanish organization in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, in need of volunteers, so I’ll be redirecting efforts there by October. I won’t rehash my prior explanations- but quite simply, I think I am in a position to make a difference there and will do so. I think that society, humanity, moves forward by each person taking their place as far forward as they can in response to darkness. That is not to say- far beyond their own comfort zones or skill levels. Going beyond that, you are likely to be at best, useless- and at worst, a burden. I feel that I’m carefully testing where I’m most useful and where my TESOL-bachelor degree bearing, farm-having self can go and still be useful.
A big part of these humanitarian responses is simply being there, and being useful. Polish organizations feel supported and appreciated when we come to help them expand capacity. Ukrainian folks feel solidarity and love when we show up for them. The 40 ish hours a week of labor are one thing, but we are relying on those ripple effects on morale and motivation to have real impact. My plan is to have that same impact in Chernivtsi.
Anyone interested in supporting this, I do in fact find it helpful to hear from folks, and also to be financially supported as I’m out here, but I approach this carefully as there are so many critical things that need money as well. With financial support, and with savings, and some remote work, I am fuelling these travels, and hope to be out there for as long as it’s helpful. I hedge to say “plan” because I want to remain a person of my word. I believe I have enough fuel in the tank to continue in humanitarian response for a minimum of another three months, likely five, and from there I’ll see. I want to remain effective and cannot predict what things will feel like five months from now – will I be burnt out? On fire with energy and conviction to continue? That’s what I have to see, along with the sense that I have personal impact and agency in the roles I find.
Again, thanks to those who follow and I’ll look forward to writing more! In this week I may send some essays I’d written earlier as well.