Western Mass Residents Help Iraqis One Ewe at a Time

Western Massachusetts Thanks to the efforts of western Mass farmers and their friends who supported the Harvest Aid Fund, ten Iraqi war widows near Abu Graib now have ewes and lambs to help feed their families. The women who lost their family breadwinners due to the war in Iraq, will use the sheep for milk, meat and a source of income. The Knowledge for the Iraqi Women Society (K4IWS), an Iraqi organization with a branch in Abu Graib, chose the women and arranged for the purchase of the sheep. Former western Mass residents Mary Trotochaud and Rick McDowell who have worked for the American Friends Service Committee in Baghdad helped make the link between western Mass and Iraq. Iraqi women receiving sheep completes a project that has also helped feed families of Pioneer Valley National Guardsmen and Reservists.

The lives of Pioneer Valley families and widows in Abu Graib, Iraq seem worlds apart, but some share at least one thing in common ­ they've had a hard time feeding themselves. The Harvest Aid Fund has helped share the abundance of Pioneer Valley agriculture with neighborsboth near and far hurt by the war in Iraq by providing funds for the Pioneer Valley USO Food Pantry and the Knowledge for the Iraqi Women Society that gave the sheep to the widows.

The Harvest Aid Fund is a people to people, farmer to farmer effort that grew out of a letter of apology to farmers of Dhuluaya, Iraq who lost their livelihoods in the fall of 2003 when US soldiers bulldozed citrus and date groves as "punishment" for the farmers not revealing the identities of resistance fighters allegedly hiding in their groves. Without their groves, they had no way to support their families. Conway residents Ann Gibson and Mary McClintock initiated the letter of apology in the spring of 2004. The letter was signed by 150 residents of Western Massachusetts and, with the help of Trotochaud and McDowell and a young Iraqi man named Salaam, was delivered to the farmers in Dhuluaya in November 2004.

During the 2004 Pioneer Valley growing season, local farmstands, famers' markets, festivals, and community-supported agriculture (CSA) farms collected donations for Harvest Aid. Half of the funds raised went to support the Pioneer Valley USO Food Pantry at Westover Air Reserve Base which saw a three-fold increase in demand for their services after the beginning of the war in Iraq.

The other half of the funds was held in escrow for an agricultural project in Iraq that could be completed when the funds could be transferred. After it became clear that it was not possible to fund a project in Dhuluaya, last fall, Trotochaud and McDowell were able to make arrangements with the Knowledge for Iraqi Women Society who, in turn, were able in March to make the gift of the sheep.

In their report to Trotochaud about the ewe project, the Knowledge for Iraqi Women Society said, "During the coming months the ewe will continue having milk to feed the lamb. The families can get benefit also from the milk to make yogurt & cheese. After that, if the lamb has reached suitable size, the women can sell it and get benefit from the money. The ewe will be kept for a new pregnancy. The important point is that the widows start helping each other to take care of the animals. The spirit of social helping starts again after all the suffering & pain. Hoping we can continue for other widows."

Initiated by Gibson and McClintock along with Jo Comerford of the Western Mass office of the AFSC office in Florence, the Harvest Aid Fund is co-sponsored by Commonwealth CSA, the Environmental Task Force of the Hampshire Interfaith Council, the Food Bank Farm in Hadley, Grace Church Episcopal Peace Fellowship, Natural Roots CSA Farm in Conway, Northeast Organic Farmers Association, Mass board, Red Fire Farm in Granby, Riverland Farm in Sunderland, Seeds of Solidarity Farm in Orange, Traprock Peace Center, the Western Massachusetts Interfaith Coalition for Peace and Justice, and Wilder Brook Farm of Charlemont.

Riverland Farm co-owner and Harvest Aid Fund co-sponsor Scott Reed said, "I can't imagine what it would be like if my fields were bulldozed. I know this is only a token gesture to support the Iraqis and the local military families, but I hope it conveys our concern. I am grateful for the opportunity to share our harvest with those who are in need."

Contributions to the Harvest Aid Fund are still welcome, and will be shared by the Pioneer Valley USO for their Food Pantry and the Knowledge for Iraqi Women Society for purchase of more sheep. Make checks payable to AFSC, put Harvest Aid in the memo line, and mail to Western Mass AFSC, 140 Pine Street, Florence, MA 01062.