POST-FIRE COMMUNITY AID for FARMER IAN RICHMOND

POST-FIRE COMMUNITY AID for FARMER IAN RICHMOND

A few notes from organizer Ruth Chantry --

 

On February 28, 2022, a fire devastated a building at ShadowBrook Farm & Dutch Girl Creamery near Lincoln, NE. It housed seed storage, an on-farm store, some specialty produce production tools, a rest/break room & cheese plant. Ian Richmond, a dedicated beginning farmer, leases the produce production land & greenhouses at ShadowBrook Farm & operates the vegetable & herb production…the first seeds were just planted for Ian’s fourth season doing so.

 

Ian sustained significant burns, primarily to his hands and face & suffered smoke inhalation. He has a stretch of recuperation time ahead of him. The path of recuperation and healing time is unknown to all as we begin this outreach & support for Ian, but we know that he is so loved & valued in our community for his friendship, his volunteer service on the Board of Directors of the Sunday Farmer’s Market at College View and for his fabulous produce that can be found throughout southeast Nebraska in restaurants, shops and at farmer’s markets, as well as from a breadth of friendships through farming endeavors & adventures across the United States.

 

Ian’s seeds for the 2022 season as well as his computer for documenting field & farm production, some specialty crop tools and his personal items that were with him are a total loss. The cost of the seed alone is around $8000. Medical expenses are also a consideration, and as Ian begins his healing journey, inventory is still happening on what field production, farm related & personal items are gone…AND with that, we also share the ultimate gratefulness for his overall safety! The funds contributed to Ian will go towards replacement of his personal items, lost farm related goods and other items that are being inventoried, as well as towards healing & medical related as those needs arise as well.

 

Updates will be posted on the healing progress and other developments. You can share well wishes, prayers & other sentiments for Ian and he will see it here. He can’t use his hands at this time to make phone calls, email or text right now…but has loving family support and assistance at the hospital.
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***A tiny note about how I (Ruth Chantry, Gofundme organizer) know Ian...we go WAY back. When he was in high school he came to my own organic farm near Raymond, NE a couple of times with a class & they were also required to do a little volunteer work here...then many years later he reached out for some random part-time work, then worked on our place solidly part-time for another season.  We both love growing Napa cabbage among a million other things...and this last winter my kids said his tasted better than mine! It was fun to be slinging produce at the same farmer's market as Ian for many years...usually just a few stalls away from each other.

The other TEAM IAN Gofundme team member is Robin Gilliland, who is Ian's mother. You may know her from helping at Ian's farmer's market booth & helping out his growing farm enterprise in all sorts of capacities, first at Old Cheney Farmers Market and then the Sunday Farmers Market at College View, as well as friends & family near and far know Robin first & foremost as Ian's mom.

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IN-PERSON DONATION OPTION: A donation account has been set up through US BANK in Nebraska. Ask for the IAN RICHMOND DONATION ACCOUNT; donate at any US BANK branch and designate it to Ian's name.

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ADDITIONAL OUTREACH & SUPPORT & EVENTS to provide assistance to KEVIN & CHARUTH LOTH/DUTCHGIRL CREAMERY (co-owners of ShadowBrook Farm & the creamery), as well as additional support for IAN RICHMOND, and work days for hands-on clean up and support will be coordinated separately. You can also find updates on any events through a Facebook page :: search for ShadowBrook Farm Community Aid.

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