Help My Mom Keep The Ark Afloat
Donation protected
I am raising donations for my 60 year old mom, Lauren Mejia, who was just recently and for the first time let go from her job. She doesn't know how to ask for help so I'm asking for her. The donations are so she can focus on her real life goal of growing organic food, teaching others about sustainable living and following the path she feels God wants her to follow, a path which has in fact already helped so many.
So here's the story of the Ark, in writing, as lived by us. About eight years ago Mom had a house in Florida and something told her it was time to move on so she sold it and bought 3 acres in the middle of the Cherokee National Forest. She began building what is now Poplar Creek Farm. It was hard saying goodbye.
For all these years she has been commuting an hour away through the mountains to her sales job to pay the bills, sometimes in heaps of snow. The stories she would tell about "following the tracks" and "straightening out the road" would leave any atheist praying for her safety.
She put in a large garden, woodshed, and built a cute little barn house. This is when she became drawn to Noah's Ark. It kept popping up everywhere. "God said, there won't be another flood," she would say. Years later we moved in and a little while after we were established she had another calling to build yet another home. She designed it to be a "Safe Haven" for all who needed peace and refuge and it had to be able to, if necessary, accomodate ten people.
"Safe Haven" is a reality. It's not quite 100% but definately a working, breathing, reality. She built it to be two stories. Mom lives on the top floor and the bottom floor can be lived in or used independently. We really rely on help from friends, family, woofers, and other sources of free or work trade help to complete the job.
I would like to write a book about all the people we have had come through here. This past year, since we've had Mom's new place, we've been able to host so many people from all over the world. Some folks come to learn about organic farming, others are traveling the country or even the world by way of work trade.
A guest staying with us once pointed out the now obvious similarities that the house Mom built has to a ship. The bottom, or basement, sleeps most of our helpers or family that come to visit. The top is open and full of windows much like the deck of a ship. It's where operations and planning happen, too.
Once, during a family emergency, we had eight people staying at Mom's house and five at mine. The eight at Mom's happened to all pair up perfectly, just like the Ark. My six did too if I think about it. When you look out Mom's dining room window the tall forest trees happen to arch, much like staring at an archway.
When we've needed things they arrive, like the helpers. We once recieved huge piles of mulch for the garden, free, courtesy of the power company trimming the trees. Just recently massive piles of beautiful blue slate for building retaining walls came courtesy of Mitchell County, NC and a land slide that covered the road down the street. We use what we have because the nearest stores are 30 mintutes away.
My mom has worked every minute of every waking hour since the day I was born. In her "spare" time she reads gardening, self help, financial, and Christian books. She worked very hard to raise me well, all on her own. Mom has never asked for help or recieved handouts. She has taught me the value of a dollar how to stretch it. I want her to be able to, for once, take a small breather, take care of herself, and focus on how she can continue to achieve her goals doing what she loves. At the end of the day all she wants to do is be happy doing something she loves, to contribute to society, teach others how to become more self sufficient and be at peace with yourself.
Twelve-thousand dollars would cover the costs of keeping the Ark afloat for 6 months so Mom doesnt have to go right back to another sales job an hour away in the city at 60 years old. This would allow her time to begin earning an income from the beautiful plant starters she grows in our greenhouse and continue working toward her goals of earning a living from the land.
Any little bit as soon as possible would help. Mom has been denied unemployment and is living on little savings and has to cover the mortgage, utilities, and all expenses. It would mean so much to me if for once my mom could catch a break. At this point she says she's willing to try anything.
So here's the story of the Ark, in writing, as lived by us. About eight years ago Mom had a house in Florida and something told her it was time to move on so she sold it and bought 3 acres in the middle of the Cherokee National Forest. She began building what is now Poplar Creek Farm. It was hard saying goodbye.
For all these years she has been commuting an hour away through the mountains to her sales job to pay the bills, sometimes in heaps of snow. The stories she would tell about "following the tracks" and "straightening out the road" would leave any atheist praying for her safety.
She put in a large garden, woodshed, and built a cute little barn house. This is when she became drawn to Noah's Ark. It kept popping up everywhere. "God said, there won't be another flood," she would say. Years later we moved in and a little while after we were established she had another calling to build yet another home. She designed it to be a "Safe Haven" for all who needed peace and refuge and it had to be able to, if necessary, accomodate ten people.
"Safe Haven" is a reality. It's not quite 100% but definately a working, breathing, reality. She built it to be two stories. Mom lives on the top floor and the bottom floor can be lived in or used independently. We really rely on help from friends, family, woofers, and other sources of free or work trade help to complete the job.
I would like to write a book about all the people we have had come through here. This past year, since we've had Mom's new place, we've been able to host so many people from all over the world. Some folks come to learn about organic farming, others are traveling the country or even the world by way of work trade.
A guest staying with us once pointed out the now obvious similarities that the house Mom built has to a ship. The bottom, or basement, sleeps most of our helpers or family that come to visit. The top is open and full of windows much like the deck of a ship. It's where operations and planning happen, too.
Once, during a family emergency, we had eight people staying at Mom's house and five at mine. The eight at Mom's happened to all pair up perfectly, just like the Ark. My six did too if I think about it. When you look out Mom's dining room window the tall forest trees happen to arch, much like staring at an archway.
When we've needed things they arrive, like the helpers. We once recieved huge piles of mulch for the garden, free, courtesy of the power company trimming the trees. Just recently massive piles of beautiful blue slate for building retaining walls came courtesy of Mitchell County, NC and a land slide that covered the road down the street. We use what we have because the nearest stores are 30 mintutes away.
My mom has worked every minute of every waking hour since the day I was born. In her "spare" time she reads gardening, self help, financial, and Christian books. She worked very hard to raise me well, all on her own. Mom has never asked for help or recieved handouts. She has taught me the value of a dollar how to stretch it. I want her to be able to, for once, take a small breather, take care of herself, and focus on how she can continue to achieve her goals doing what she loves. At the end of the day all she wants to do is be happy doing something she loves, to contribute to society, teach others how to become more self sufficient and be at peace with yourself.
Twelve-thousand dollars would cover the costs of keeping the Ark afloat for 6 months so Mom doesnt have to go right back to another sales job an hour away in the city at 60 years old. This would allow her time to begin earning an income from the beautiful plant starters she grows in our greenhouse and continue working toward her goals of earning a living from the land.
Any little bit as soon as possible would help. Mom has been denied unemployment and is living on little savings and has to cover the mortgage, utilities, and all expenses. It would mean so much to me if for once my mom could catch a break. At this point she says she's willing to try anything.
Organizer
Michelle Mejia
Organizer
Bailey, NC