Stand with Greg and Pokey Creek Farm

To everyone who so graciously and generously sent so much love and support…we are so touched…words cannot thank you enough. We have been advised to extend the go fund me further to cover what is to come.Thank you all for this gift of giving.

46 years ago Greg and I bought a very remote piece of ground in Northern Idaho. Slowly we homesteaded, built a simple road, and started a life. In the beginning, we often packed in and out with horses and rarely left. Over the years, we built a log cabin home, greenhouses, and two small cabins for farm helpers as we built an organic farming business.

Four years ago, the state of Idaho told us that they owned the land we had farmed for 46 years. They told us we had to vacate the land and move everything – all our farming equipment, our little cabins, and even the large greenhouses. For the last year, we have been fighting the state in court. This has been a significant drain on our resources. We still have a multi-day trial in the future. The State wants damages of over $100,000 for using land we have lived on for 46 years.

A week ago, we received an even bigger challenge when we learned that Greg has throat cancer. He faces a long road ahead. Over the next 6 months, he needs major surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy. On top of that, for the next six months, we will need to stay in Seattle, away from our home to make sure Greg gets the best treatment. I will also have to fly back-and-forth between Seattle and Idaho to keep the farm from falling into ruin.

This sudden news has shaken our world. But it has also made us evaluate what is most meaningful in our lives. Greg will not have his voice box anymore, but we hope you will still feel the love in his heart and his great fierce spirit. Our family is humbled by this news but hold hands together as we face these new challenges. The great love of our life has been each other, our children and grandchildren, Pokey Creek, and growing food for people. The earth has nourished us all these years. May the love of farming continue in some way moving forward.

We are reaching out for support as we navigate this difficult journey ahead. We know all of us as people have our own unique challenges, and we would never want to think that ours is greater than yours. If we could give each of you a sack of potatoes and a sack of onions, we would. But we could use some help now as we face these big financial hurdles. May all of us feel the light moving forward in this journey of life. Thank you from the depth of our hearts.