Farm Animals as Gifts

David K Spencer just pointed out on Twitter that it's Blog Action Day 08 - thanks Dave.

On October 15th participating bloggers can write something about the topic of poverty.

My wife and I have an end-of-year tradition we've been keeping for several years now. We've been giving our families, friends, and neighbors a unique present.

We've been giving them farm animals.

The Heifer Project is an organization whose mission is to "bring an end to world hunger through unimaginable blessings". What are these blessings?  Heifer's approach, which they've been proving for sixty years, is to provide a sustainable source of food and income in the form of farm animals.

That's right. Donate a farm animal to a family in poverty, train them on sustainable uses of these animals, and make sure they "pass on the gift".

I first heard about this organization because I live about an hour away from Overlook Farm in Rutland, MA.  Overlook Farm is a Heifer Learning Center, and during Christmas time they put on a "Live Nativity" celebration with outstanding acting performances by local farm animals.

The Opportunity

The Heifer Project sends me a gift catalog each year which they term "The Most Important Gift Catalog in the World". As I browse through the catalog I am not looking for clothes, gadgets, books, movies, or other traditional gifts. I am looking at cows, pigs, and rabbits. You will never have so much fun shopping for someone.

Last year I sent my parents an ox. They were thrilled. They called me up and said "Thank you for the ox. It is awesome".

I have a friend in Idaho. One year I sent him some rabbits. I'm sure he was surprised to get a gift card from me in the mail. I am also sure that nobody has ever given him rabbits before. He sent me a personal note of thanks. "Thank you for the rabbits."

We enjoy this gift-giving so much that we try and save up to by an "ark" at the end of the year. If you are reading this and have never bought an ark full of animals before you should look into this. When buying an ark, Heifer will send you a stack of gift cards that you can send to your friends and family. This allows you to customize the animals on the ark by telling your friends what animals you have chosen for them. One year our ark had a large population of honeybees and chicks, the next year we chose llamas and geese.

Noah did not have the chance to customize his ark in this fashion. Not only that, but he only got to do it once.

I get to do it every year. It's an opportunity of biblical importance.

It's only October. Consider buying farm animals before the end of the year. Check it out here.

Farm animals as Gifts.  Now that's innovation!

Steve

Comments

[Jeff Darcy]

Thanks, Steve. I had been unaware of this campaign until now.

BTW, since I spend enough time trashing your coworkers, I'd like to offer my compliments on your blog. Your posts are consistently informative, fun, and above all authentic, reflecting who you are rather than who you work for. Keep up the good work.

[Steve Todd]

Jeff,
Thanks for the note, and thanks for re-connecting. Come back to EMC and let's all trash each other behind the firewall ;>)
Steve

[Polly Pearson]

Steve, my husband and I have been getting the Heifer Project catalog for a couple of years ... it always looks interesting but I've yet to act on it. You've inspired me to consider this for gifts throughout the year.
Thanks. Polly