Kickstart on kredit if you please?
"P.S. YOU DONT NEED TO HAVE THE PLEDGE MONEY NOW TO PLEDGE! Pledges are not billed until and unless I reach my goal in 13 days! so even if you pledge tonight you will not be billed until you give your consent after the project has reached the goal!"
You are not paying for just a book, but to write it too!
"Few folks realize that Birchthorn is NOT just a book. You are not paying for just a book!Folks who join the pledge get invited to a blog where they read the story as it is written, a chapter at a time. Then there will be discussions, advice, theories, and reader input on what may happen next! It is a book written by a community; a mystery I get to choreograph but not create alone!"
http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/2014/08/28-funded.html?m=1
Pledge, this basically has to happen.
"If the Yellowstone Super Volcano errupts before this is possible, I'm sorry and all bets are off. That's the biggest risk. Short of that, this basically has to happen. I can't not publish book at such a high investment from loyal readers. You will get your story!"
That's the spirit?!
"That advance goes towards the author making a living so a roof remains over her head while she writes about people losing theirs...."
Kickstarter accountability?
http://valleywag.gawker.com/kickstarter-project-canceled-after-dude-spends-all-the-912176282
This is clever on her part. I have no doubt she will meet or exceed the goal.
If doesn't look like a campaigns goal will be met what prevents the individual from filling in the gap with personal funds, borrowing, or a loan? Only reached $8000? Loan for $4,000 "donated" to the campaign. Collect, pay loan back and tada $8000.
I'm awfully tempted to rival her Birchthorn fundraising with a personal crowdfunding site of my own.
Why do I say that?
I can't currently discuss in detail, but I no longer work or live on the farm I started interning at last September. Very unexpectedly I found myself unemployed and 30 days later without a home. Since that time I have been investing my time and energy towards a great and noble cause. If you think the mysterious Birchthorn is dark and scary you should see what I'm up against. Fortunately I have conviction and compassion on my side. They're counting on me.
I'm seriously considering providing an alternative fundraising option for those wanting to fund a project in good faith.
Nothing will stand in the way of my quest!
I need to gather fees for a consultation with a lawyer. legal representation is absolutely necessary at this juncture, after which I look forward to sharing everything I legally can here and through other media.
The good fight isn't easy.
Look into GoFundMe--it's specifically for personal causes, like raising money to cover medical bills, legal bills, etc. I for one would be happy to kick in a bit to your cause--from one young farmer to another.
ReplyDeleteFrom one young farmer to another...thank you for the reminder that I'm still a young farmer regardless of circumstances! I feel like I've lost my identity.
DeleteWow Meredith... hope everything turns out all right. I'm behind you all the way. If not financially (but as much as I can) then for emotional support. Life throws some curve balls. I'm sure you'll come through and hit a homer.
ReplyDeleteI should add... I've been through some very dark & scary times in my 57 years. This too shall pass.
DeleteThank you for the support. Life is a wild ride that I'm just now realizing will never be smooth sailing! Between loosing my house to a fire and within the past 4 months loosing my boyfriend and best friend in a car accident and now loosing my job, house, and health insurance I certainly have learned to be grateful blessings counter!
DeleteOh, Meredith, I am so, so sorry to hear that! Please let us know what we can do to give you a helping hand.
DeleteValerie
Good luck, Meredith. You are smart and talented and I know you will end up someplace great.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I have no idea what I'm going to do next or where but need to make some decisions soon.
DeleteIf you are a like minded farmer consider it very much your fight too. I'm a very little fish about to swim in a very big pond with very corrupt very unethical very big fish. The next few weeks and months will prove to be very interesting. The potential impact of this situation is is huge and I am hopeful to find a lawyer who truly understands what is at stake.
ReplyDeleteFight on, Meredith. I was laid off this spring and while my situation is not quite the same as yours, I understand how losing a job is like a punch to the gut. I would straight up contribute to a GoFundMe for you.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your job. I've always voluntarily left my place of employment, generally with incentives offered to reconsider my decision. For countless reasons this situation has rocked me to the core. It really is a punch to the gut and creates a pit in your stomach that still makes me run to the bathroom thinking I might throw up. Any tips for creating a sense of normalcy or sticking to a schedule during this time? Having been an "intern" and being compensated as such this is a hard spot to be in financially. I am so grateful for the friend that has housed the 3 dogs and me during this time. Life is so unpredictable. Thank you for the support. It is so meaningful.
DeleteMy schedule is that I do my job hunt activity in the afternoons. Per a suggestion from my career counselour, I go to a library or coffee shop to do it - keeps the anxiety out of my house.
DeleteI was given a severance so I'm not in panic mode, but I'm also not buying $8000 horses. ;-) I've talked to my bank and if I get close to running out of severance, I can apply for a 3 month deferral on my mortgage, but I'm determined to not let it get that bad. I'm open to getting a roommate or working part-time to delay that. Jenna is showing me what not to do.
Part of me is still reeling from the shock. They gave me a little notice and had me use up my vacation days first, so they wouldn't have t pay them out. I used my vacation time to go on a couple of road trips with friends, to places I'd never been before.
Good luck with your job hunt!
There are some jobs on offer- at horse and goat and sheep farms near me, some with housing. AND I could use some help at my place... I like your attitude about work and animals. So, contact me via FB, if you are interested :)
ReplyDeleteJulie
Where are you located?
DeleteI've been through hard times too, health problems, losing jobs and housing. It's tough. I never let my animals suffer.
ReplyDeleteA lot of lawyers will take a case on contingency, especially if they think they can win or get you a good settlement.
Thankfully I found a great one who does! Due to the nature of the issues I have to pay for the consultation but am thrilled to find a lawyer that *hopefully* will not result in a huge financial burden. For some of the issues it may be possible to take advantage of nonprofits and pro bono representation.
DeleteSorry about your troubles..now you'll have more time to bash on Jenna. Hey, maybe you could make that your new career.
ReplyDeleteHey, ugly little troll, go back to Jenna's fake acres. Please.. you are smelling up the place, and at Jenna's, you will blend right in.
Deletewhat is the difference between gofundme and kickstarter?
ReplyDeleteWell, well, isn't that the pot calling the kettle black. I'm sure Meredith or her minions troll Jenna's blog as well. I'll admit it, I'm a troll...the ugly part? Naw, just kind of a plain girl. Have a freakin' fantastic night!
ReplyDeleteUh OH I think someone will be hearing from Amazon....
DeleteGet your facts straight, troll. Glad to see you're honest about your intentions, though. Neither Meredith nor the commenters here troll on Jenna's blog. I challenge you to go through the comments on Jenna's blog and find examples of "us" trolling. Good luck with that. Many of us used to comment on Jenna's blog, trying to offer reasonable suggestions and advice for her endless financial and farming problems. We usually got what amounted to a backhand to the face. So we don't waste our time any more.
DeleteI am sad to say that I donated a couple hundred dollars to the CAF cause on more than one occasion. She couldn't even take the time to say thanks. I stopped contributing and reading the blog after she bought Merlin. Hate to see anyone lose their home, but maybe that is what it will finally take for her to act like a responsible adult. Seems like the only advice she takes is from the school of hard knocks.
ReplyDeleteAnon 5:41 - I see you are angered by these comments, yet you do not dispute them. I am truly interested in hearing your side of the story and to know where you are coming from.
ReplyDeleteAre you a friend of Jenna's? Do you give her money? What do you think of her repeated requests for money?
In comment number 364 on the previous thread, the writer states that she gave Jenna a couple hundred dollars towards a down payment on her house. She thought it was a one time thing, but the requests for money kept coming.
I've been following the blog for awhile. First as a fan, then as a skeptic. She lost me when she started begging for money to make payments on her truck when it was about to be repossessed. She would brag about how she would go horseback riding on a Monday or this and that on a Tuesday, and how free she was. Then, when she couldn't pay her bills, she would start begging from her readers. My first thought was, get a job like the rest of us.
So do you think it is reasonable for someone to beg on an ongoing basis? Once Birchthorn is written, you know she will be back again for more.
I am truly serious about these questions. I really do want to understand why you feel the way you do.
I'm a little like you, Anon 9:42. I was impressed by Jenna W's writing and being a horsewoman myself I donated to the Merlin cause. I was a bit disconcerted about the lack of personal thank yous, but let it go...then I contacted her local small bookstore and ordered some books from there since she got some kind of benefit from it (can't remember now), again no thank you at all...here's the dumb part on my account: I sent a little antique book a few Christmases ago as a gift to Jenna W. and never received any sort of acknowledgement - not even a tacky email! That was enough for me. I still read her blog, but will never give any money.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I DO have a farm, complete with lots of livestock and would never ask people for money. Never.
DeleteWhat the newcomers don't realize us that even if this campaign is successful it will only, possibly make JW current on past due bills like the mortgage or truck pmts. It may even but a few code of wood and bales of hay to get her through the winter. But, what about the next payment or a few mo the from now. What about next winter or next spring even when she needs hay.
ReplyDeleteThis kickstarter thing may stave off the collectors for now, but the main issue that remains is JW STILL has no long term plan to sustain her farm except for begging on the Internet.
The cycle will continue in a few months. It always does with her.
Jenn
Someone commented on her 30% funded post saying that he was confused, he already paid money towards Birchthorn months ago and asked if he could get an invite to the new blog about it. She replied no, that this is a new project and he will have to pledge the kickstarter in order to be invited. So at least a few people are onto her schemes!
DeleteI remember that, it's been quite awhile ago, but she wanted people to donate until there was a total of $200 in the kitty for each little installment. I think that worked once. The person writing must have donated to that. Another case of double-dipping.
DeleteI find it rather fascinating to watch her approach to customer service. It's like she still thinks of herself as an individual person rather than a small business owner or brand name. She treats people who have given her money as just some random strangers--sorry, bad luck chum--rather than patrons or customers, so her customer service is positively atrocious. It's a wonder she's made it this long without more public complaints about her treatment. I suspect this Kickstarter is going to blow the lid off of it, though. I don't think she realizes she's digging herself deeper. Interesting to watch.
DeleteHOnestly, I'm surprised that she even allowed those comments.
DeleteThe hubris.. wow. Next thing you know, she will send hate mail if you don't give her money.
ReplyDeleteYesterday Jenna posted this on her blog :you can pledge at the NEW $100 or $250 dollar amount and get free workshop, camp, or Antlerstock tickets.
ReplyDeleteKickstarter rules state: Projects can’t fundraise for charity, offer financial incentives, or involve prohibited items.
Question: Are the tickets Jenna is offering considered financial incentives?
I'm pretty sure that by "financial incentive" they mean an actual exchange of money. I donated to a Kickstarter for my local art house theater, and the incentive bracket I donated within got me five free movie passes, free popcorn, and free sodas. Those things, too, are worth more money than what I donated, so I really don't see the difference.
DeleteOh yes they are. Have just forwarded to kickstarter.
ReplyDeleteHoly crap, she just posted about putting a green rider on Jasper for a trail ride...all that money she's kick-starting to pay for her mortgage will end up being used for hospital bills and lawyers fees!
ReplyDeleteThe tickets are for a $100 contribution, and she values them at $200. Sounds like financial inventive to me........
DeleteYeah, but like all the Kickstarter 'rewards' are usually for something... a picture, a product, something... I'm not sure why tickets would be anything different. Just saying.
DeleteYes - it's one of those grey areas - Kickstarted has the final word on what is considered a financial incentive or not. The tickets might not violate the "letter of the law", but they seem to violate the spirit of it.
DeleteA bonafide trail horse after just three miles!!
ReplyDeleteShe should write a book about training horses for the trail.
No, that girl is NOT a great fit. I wish no one had posted about this, I had to go look and there were SO MANY things wrong with that story, and yet she's so enthusiastic all the Jennafans will say how wonderful she is and the resident troll here will tell me I'm a big meanie because I'm not happy to see a pony misused. THIS is what makes me get all crazy about Jenna. She doesn't know a effing thing about what she's doing, but everyone is supposed to cheer her along anyway, and pay for the ride. 110 pounds is too much weight for a slightly built (not sturdy) pony. She and her novice friend might not be so happy when Jasper comes back from one of their rides lame or with a bad back. And by the way the Fell pony is not the "British powerhouse of draft power." That would be the Shire or the Suffolk. The Fell is a draft PONY, suitable for pulling a small cart or carrying a medium to small person. Sometimes her hyperbole is just too much.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your opinion with us. I hate to see any animal being hurt because of someone's ignorance. I am sure that Jasper will be hurt one of these days...just like so many other poor critters under JW's "care."
DeleteI wouldn't worry too much about the troll. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has suspected for quite some time that it is JW in disguise. I could be wrong, but some of the things that the troll has written remind me too much of things she has said. Just ignore the troll and maybe, if we are lucky, it will go away.
I agree on the troll=JW.
DeleteOne of my good friend's husband is a horse vet, that picture made him sad. Their joints and bones will eventually break down from carrying too much weight. Did you notice that the girl's upper body was approximately the same height as the pony? That's not a good thing for a poor, out of shape, not well fed pony who is trying to balance all that weight. I would also like to know when she last wormed the ponies. Any of the close up shots I've seen of them make me think they have a parasite load. It makes me sick.
Redhorse- thanks so much for that. Again, we seem to be thinking the exact same things.. only you convey them better than I. What is she thinking putting an adult on that pony? And SURE she has well fitting saddle/bridle for him.. She grabbed what ever she had. He will probably have sore corners of his lips and burns in places she will never notice.
DeleteA beginner rider in what I can only imagine was ill filled tack and who knows what size or style bit on a pony always referenced as an unruly handful. Not ridden or schooled in years and doubtfully handled routinely (recall the gate frozen shut?). So irresponsible.
ReplyDeleteBtw, think the girl wore a helmet because she was scared of the wilderness or maybe just maybe had a sense of responsibility and self preservation? Interesting association though.
Helmet = scared of the great outdoors
No helmet = at ease in the great outdoors
Or
Helmet = responsible
No helmet = irresponsible
Beginner rider unschooled pony no experienced rider present lack of knowledge and poor judgement = accident waiting to happen
If something happen to either one, those potential bills would cripple her. One would think the donation well will eventually run dry but through her blog and life experience I've come to believe accountability is a thing of the past. Few people do their research, educate themselves, value truth, or care.
The blind eye is a dangerous thing.
When you open your eyes and really look, is there any part of her life that isn't an accident waiting to happen? I know, that's the kind of stuff that gets us in trouble here, but doggone it, why is she so stupid she has to post this crap in a public place?
DeleteThe line about a helmet equating to a fear of the wilderness really stood out to me too. I don't ride, but isn't it a generally good idea to wear a helmet, especially if you're a beginner?
DeleteKinda funny, isn't it, that she went months learning to ride Merlin, after having horse riding in her past (in college?) and yet she'll pop a inexperienced friend on a green pony without even a try out in a corral, paddock or fenced field? Does anyone see the irony in this? They are so lucky that Jasper didn't pop a cork (like he has in the past) and dump that friend and take off running for the next state. Or worse, end up hurting her, or Merlin or himself in a freak out at any NUMBER of things a trail ride might have spooked him on. I can't believe how unsafe that is and how she talked and talked and talked about her learning experience with Merlin at the riding school and all, and now this, total 180! Honestly. And then to brag about it? She just drives me nuts.
DeleteOn the notes about helmet use... I've always been a little confused by JW's idea of what does and does not constitute responsible behavior: for instance, she insists that it's irresponsible not to travel without three days of food and water in the car (ref: her posts promoting her prepping workshops), but doesn't feel that working towards having 3 months worth of living expenses in a savings account is a necessary step in being a responsible adult. I wonder, in the past 5 years, how many times she's been stuck on the road for 3 consecutive days, and how many time she been late/unable to pay her bills for 3 consecutive months. If I were a gambling woman, I would bet the latter outnumbers the former.
DeleteIt's clear to me that she reads this blog since so many of her posts are addressing topics discussed here just a few days previously. Maybe she will eventually take our advice and get a job.
ReplyDeleteAnd because of her platform, clueless folks will think every word of what she writes about is TRUTH, and will make the same irresponsible decisions she does, and get hurt. Or worse.
ReplyDeleteA very good friend who is looking to replace her aged reining horse and has been riding for more than 25 years always wears a helmet on the trial with a horse she us not familiar with. Just good sense.
ReplyDeleteJenn
I love her crap in the comments...
ReplyDeleteJasper is SUCH an integral part of the farm....
Oh, is that why you don't do anything with him and he's up for sale?
Hmmm....
The trail ride was probably a "test drive" to get her friend to buy Jasper.
ReplyDeleteVirtual postcard. The dog was eating sheep poop, not grass. I've had enough dogs and enough sheep poop to know. But I guess it helps if your readers are naive urbanites.
ReplyDeleteYou said it redhorse - again :) And, did you all notice how reticent he was to come to her? That speaks volumes. Poor Gibson...
DeleteThe video more than even her writing, just screams MEMEMEMEMEMEMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
DeleteTwo things:
DeleteI know "farm dogs" often probably eat all sorts of things. But considering Gibson sleeps in her bed, I'd say he's a pet. Considering he's recovering from an injury and a tick-borne illness (who has the time to pat down a dog for ticks? That's valuable begging time), I would hope she's watching what he's eating like a hawk. Oh let me clarify, a hawk in the wild.
And-shouldn't someone who JUST hosted a workshop on making cider be drinking cider that she made?!
Maybe her next book should be titled, "How to get others to fund your life". Sad to say, but that is an area where she is an expert.
ReplyDeleteTrue and it would no doubt be a bestseller.
DeleteThat really is her expertise... getting money from others under false pretenses that you're an expert in what you teach. I would hire her as a promoter (really). She's self- promoted her way into semi-fame and a free ride at the unfortunate expense of her many lost animals.
DeleteBTW, do you really think she minds if Jasper gets hurt? There's hardly enough food for the animals sometimes, and if it came to food for Merlin or Jasper, well, hmmmm? She's trying to get rid of him. Hasn't used him forever until she finds there are no takers. And why didn't SHE ride him and let the other girl ride Merlin? Some friend.
You might be right that she doesn't care if he gets hurt, but that idea is really alien to me. You don't keep an animal if you don't care more than that. She didn't ride Jasper because she weighs more than her friend, and she knew he couldn't carry her. From what I can see in her photos, and what I know of ponies (and 40 years of owning them) that pony shouldn't carry more than 75-80 pounds including tack. If it was my pony, I would usually err on the side of less weight rather than more, but I make exceptions if the pony gives a little kid a problem, then I'll put a larger, better rider on until he quits it.
DeleteShe was very ecstatic with pride over what she did, and how he "nailed it." But, I can tell you that any horse or pony will be very well behaved if they aren't getting good groceries or have a parasite load. It's a trick that many unscrupulous trainers use, and the owners get a bony horse back, who reverts to poor behavior as soon as he gets fed again. Both of those ponies are so poorly groomed its hard to tell their true condition, but they both look dull, with too many long hairs for this time of year. That's a sign of worms. Our pony is slick and shiny, as are all our horses, and it's not because of special sprays or shampoos, it's called healthy. It's disgusting that she would spend 8K on an animal and treat it so poorly.
Yes redhorse (again). I think you are touching on our problem with Jenna- she is anathema to all that is moral about taking care of animals.
DeleteOh my god. That most recent post. The triteness, the silliness, the astounding hypocrisy...I read that NYT op-ed over the weekend and as a young farmer going through exactly the struggles of the author, cheered it and shared it on facebook. Jenna doesn't have a freaking clue about what she's talking about--she herself has admitted she's a "word farmer," not a real farmer. I want to vomit at her hijacking truly serious, challenging issues that are facing REAL young farmers trying to grow for market, CSAs, and restaurants. Because god knows she ain't one of 'em. Also, she's pretty dense if she thinks the title of that piece was an actual admonishment, rather than the author pointing out the irony of the local food movement celebrating the ideal of the small farmer, but it mostly being lip service. I hate, hate, hate that people will read that post and think she is contributing something meaningful to the conversation--because she isn't. She's just pushing her fake fantasy dreamworld "farming" life.
ReplyDeleteYes, and go read the Amen Charlie comments, it's happening already. It amazes me that people don't see through the BS! And I think some of them might be real small farmers. Why can't they see it?
DeleteOh yes, the responses she's getting on the blog and facebook make me just as ill--particularly the suggestion that she submit her drivel to the NYT as a response to the original op-ed. I cannot overemphasize how intellectually dishonest I find her thoughts on this subject, and how completely divorced from the real world of small farming she is. I spent five years vending at the largest producer-only market in our region, week in and week out for six months every year. Produce, herbs, plants, meat, value-added products. I've sold to chefs, and I even did a trial CSA for some friends (only to find out my personality was not suited to the pressures of that type of production). I've talked to countless other small, sustainable farmers, young and old. I've argued these same points with well-meaning but clueless local food advocates--both for-profit and non-profit--and been rebuffed because magical thinking is rife in the sustainable ag movement. I have been heavily involved in the local food scene. And in this, my sixth season, I finally acknowledged the writing on the wall: that I cannot make a living doing the nickel and dime dance at the market, or selling to fickle chefs who are all talk and no action in their "farm-to-table" restaurants. I cannot make a living selling the best and healthiest, organically grown veg and herb starts in the region--because the consumer support is not there.
DeleteBut here's what I have experienced: most of the other small farmers in my area don't want to acknowledge this. How hard it is to make ends meet, how deflating it is when we leave the market with piles of produce that are now only destined for compost. Meanwhile, market-goers walk up and down the street with coffees and pastries in hand. They don't buy the produce--well, except for maybe a few heirloom tomatoes and a bunch of basil. But they're not shopping the market for groceries. This is endemic. Widespread. Because people don't know how to cook any more. And if they do, they don't have time, between work and home responsibilities. This is a cultural problem--we are addicted to convenience foods. We have squeezed healthy food preparation out of the daily equation, and filled the gaping hole with technology--TV, internet, smart phones. We can't possibly expect people to live without their entertainment! How's a farmer supposed to make it in that kind of environment? That's what I admired so much about the op-ed: it came right out and said, yeah, farmers AREN'T making it. It's happening to all of us, but because local food is such a "thing" right now, most small farmers are afraid to voice these issues because we know the public can't or won't understand it. That we might come across as ungrateful for our local customers. There's also a strange, culturally ingrained idea that farmers are poor, and that's just how it is. Poor, little farmers. Instead of actually valuing our products and paying us for their time, consumers are just looking for a deal, or complain about prices being higher than conventional grocery stores. I had a man SLAP MY HAND at the market one time when I told him how much my fresh-cut, organically grown, pesticide-free basil cost--because he thought I was charging too much. He straight up told me I should be ashamed of myself. Meanwhile, my basil was by far the highest quality in the entire market, and far, far better than the soggy mush they sell in stores. Anyway, the public expects farmers to be poor, so when we actually ask for a fair wage, a living wage, we're viewed as unreasonable or greedy. THAT is the reality of small farming. That's part of why small farmers don't speak up.
(cont...)
(...cont)
DeleteAnd then you get the utter fluff-brained hypocrisy of a "word farmer" who's about to be foreclosed on claiming otherwise?! Her readers WANT to understand farming, or want to be farmers themselves, and she's only feeding them the most irresponsible and unrealistic fantasy you could possibly concoct. And they eat it up with a spoon, because the general public doesn't have a clue--yet--about the REAL state of small farming in America. That op-ed is such a necessary piece, and I'm so glad it's getting the exposure it deserves. Jenna's nonsense, on the other hand, deserves to be relegated to the trash bin.
You make such a good point. I load up at the farmers market and am amazed when I've only spent $40. I often fear that the farmers are barely breaking even. Yet I hear other people scoff at the high prices. I'm proud that I support my farmers market (must be grown in county) and BUY WHAT IS THERE. But I know what I'm doing. I love the challenge of cooking with what I get, and it pushes me to be a better cook.
DeleteI'm always a little put off at how many people view the market as entertainment and not commerce. Last Saturday I actually saw a guy walking around with a coffee mug from his kitchen! Clearly he wasn't planning on carrying much produce.
I read and posted that article on fb last night. Lord knows I can relate. A nationally known voice of livestock welfare recently suggested I offer to work for next to nothing in wages. The reality of young farmers is grim without the encouragement and support of community government landowners friends and family.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't his highness was it, Joel Salatin? Everyone seems to forget he inherited his farm......
DeleteBut at least he knows what he's doing, and he is successfully raising livestock. I don't even care if he does make most of his living by selling books and giving talks and tours. He walks the walk and actually *does* the stuff he is talking about.
DeleteYou know what? Most people are brave. It makes me want to throw my laptop across the room. She has no idea what the florescent light crowd is dealing with individually day to day. Most people are very fucking brave.
ReplyDeleteOh GOOD GOD that latest post on letting your kids be farmers, was the WORST piece of horse shit I have ever read. Yes, let them be farmers and lose their houses, but use kickstarter to beg for money. Jenna, you are a failure, do you understand that? People following you for advice would do better to look at the stars. I am ALL for farming as you can afford, but you really cannot make a living at it. SHUT UP JENNA with your absolutely INANE advice. Next thing we know, you will be telling people how to beg for money for a living- wait! you are doing that right now. GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOne would hardly think a self-professed "word farmer" would be qualified to write about the plight of real small farms and farmers.
ReplyDelete"Let them know what it is like to be free from fluorescent lights and laser-pointer meetings."
But then who would be able to pledge and pay later to support the whims of a word farmer? I'd bet that most of the people who have pledged to the campaign have to "ask another adult for permission to go to the dentist at 2PM on a Thursday."
I guess we're not the only ones put off by the begging and narcissism:
ReplyDeletehttp://getoffmyinternets.net/forums/design-blogs/cold-antler-farm/
Jenna has found the perfect formula for success - sell a product before it is produced. She did it with the wool and webinar csa and now she is doing it with Birchthorn. Now the book doesn't even have to be good! It just has to be written. And I have no doubt it will be, now that there are no expectations for high standards.
ReplyDeleteShe is also good at selling a dream. She appeals to starry eyed, fluorescent light workers who dream of having adventure right outside their front door and who can go to the dentist at 2pm on a Thursday without having to ask a darn soul!
Jenna does not earn her living as a farmer or perhaps not even as a writer. She is a saleswoman and a panhandler. She reminds me of those televangelists who convince people to thrown money at them in hopes that some of their magic might rub off on them.
When I first discovered her books and blogs, I was very impressed by this resourceful young woman. Then I discovered it was nothing but smoke and mirrors.
Besides, if her fans all left their fluorescent light jobs, who would send her money?
Same here. Have you noticed how the comments are all from newer readers? I remember reading the comments used to be so valuable and interesting. It was genuine discussion. Now it's all new readers. I haven't even seen a comment from one of her former most enthusiastic readers/commenters ___ in the Berkshires. (That woman seemed nice, as she answered one of my questions once that JW ignored)
DeleteI stand corrected. Meredith, if you would please delete my comment above, I would appreciate it. Thanks.
DeleteExcept Jenna couldn't afford to go see a dentist if she wanted to. *That* is the problem with the dream of leaving the "fluorescent light and laser pointer meeting" scene. MONEY. Unless your farm is actually supporting itself, leaving a job is foolish. It's not brave, it's foolish.
DeleteI commented on that post of hers, but surprise surprise, it hasn't been posted. I asked what was wrong with working a job? I work a full time job..not my favorite thing to do in the world...but guess what? I can pay my bills on time, every month. I've never even been one single day late with my mortgage or vehicle payment, which is more than she can say.
I'm still not sure how she can talk about wonderful it is to quit your day job, and then beg for money to keep from losing her house.
Surely her knew followers can see this, right? Right?
Oh, and I forgot to add that I can still work my day job *and* care for all of my animals (poultry, rabbits, sheep, dairy goats, husband, and children), and run a small business. It *is* possible to farm and work a full time job.
Delete^^^^^^^^^^ THIS
ReplyDeleteJust read the 'let your children be farmers' post and would like to comment on this quote. "They can achieve the most basic of human needs in a society clueless about how to take care of themselves without a car and a supermarket".
ReplyDeleteIf I recall, she begged for donations for the following: a down payment on her house, a down payment on her horse, help with saving her truck from the repo man, help with saving her house from foreclosure. Her blog is full of requests for donations. Who is self reliant here and who is the one who is not? The donor or recipient?
Well, that's the whole scam, isn't it, and once you see it, you cannot go back. You get to live the life of "self reliance" vicariously THROUGH HER, while you sit in your office at your laser pointer meetings and make money to support her "self-reliance."
DeleteAs for her latest post, I have noticed that she tends to get quite grandiose about herself, her life and her own opinions whenever she's running a scam that's working and the coffers are getting full. This will swing back towards the other extreme -- of paralyzing fear -- when the next crisis hits. It's almost like a manic-depressive cycle.
D.
And, what basic needs is she meeting without the help of A car or supermarket?
DeleteBuying hay and picking up in a truck because she destroyed her pasture? Picking up firewood from a local market because she can't figure out how to store her's properly? Or, perhaps it's stopping by a local store fir crap muffins or Subway for a sandwich?
Self sufficient my ass?
As for the farming post it just shows yet again her complete ignorance about farming for a living, which she can't do no matter how much property she owns. What she thinks is REAL farming is just her childish idolization of farming.
Farming is a business like any other with computers and offices and meetings and sometimes even floresent lights.
They only thing she can teach people us how to go broke...fast.
Jenn
And also that most of her food comes from the local Burger Den, Subway, Stewarts, etc. Since all of her chickens seem to be eaten by predators before reaching laying age, her gardens are generally unsuccessful and her bee hive swarmed, the only thing she manages to produce are a couple pigs a year. And has anyone else noticed that any animal that survives long enough to be harvested is always very underweight for its age?
DeleteKickstarter Birchthorn - Hope you don't mind if I mention the name more than once. You are so spot on. Kickstarter Birchthorn will be like other begging operations not only to put down-payments on houses, and yes, ponies, but to make the obligated payments on them. Can you imagine the nerve to need money for your overdue payments, refusing to buy oil, running out of convenience store wood, then saying you're "scared," begging for more. Then you are constantly running out of feed, needing more money from hard-working saps to pay for the cold and hungry animals you already have, yet buying another pony on credit just to show off. We've all heard of Ponzi schemes. Maybe we can call this new one "Birchthorning" as an abbreviation? She has already taken money for this venture from the suckers that are too stupid (yes, I said it) to understand what she has done for so long. Maybe they're too lazy to read about the repeated requests in the past. Gee, I wonder what will happen in February? Can anyone here guess? Bet you can!
DeleteBirchthorning is like like the previous ventures such as Merlining and Italicizing, only on a grander scale, with new suckers.
Now I'm going to have to take note of those who are promoting this newest carnival game. We should all know and recognize those who would want to be associated with this kind of "farming." I, personally, wouldn't keep company with Birchthorn, or Cold Antler Farm.
Kickstarter should be more careful about who it endorses, too.
BTW, do these donors get any money back if she profits on this book? Or are they simply handing over money just to have an opinion?
I love how condescending she is towards off-farm jobs. They aren't "real work". It doesn't occur to Jenna that not everyone has the ability or desire to have a farm. A modern society can't function without police, hospitals, firemen, manufacturing etc. It never occurs to her that some of these people find their work fulfilling. Meanwhile, Jenna sits at home begging for money from the very people she's judging and insulting. Unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteI'm a hobby farmer, and not ashamed to admit it. All my income comes from a non-farming job. I grew up on a farm, watched my dad work 18 hour days almost until he was 70 trying to make a living farming and paying the pills with an off-farm job, and decided that life just wasn't for me. So I have a large garden, I grow a few novelty crops for friends and family (mostly giant pumpkins for Halloween), keep chickens, and have a few fiber animals. I do these things because I like them, and I never want to have to pressure any of my hobbies to make me a living. As for finding meaning in a non-farming job? I'm a nurse in a pediatric hospital- and yes, we have fluorescent lighting. I feel like the work I do I pretty meaningful, and I bet a lot of other non-full-time farmers probably feel the same.
DeleteI worked at florescent lit jobs for over 35 years. I now have the life she aspires to: retired, living on a farm that actually produces and sells things, growing food in my garden, taking care of and riding horses in my spare time. I didn't get those things by begging, and trust me, I thought I was very brave sometimes. Sometimes the stress of my job was so bad I thought it would kill me. I really like having some wanna-be half my age making fun of what I did to get here. NOT.
ReplyDeleteI am only a moderately experienced rider, but even I can see that a 110 pound individual is too heavy for Jasper to carry. Have any of you who have room for a horse thought of buying Jasper, since he is for sale? Unfortunately, I can't afford a horse, even a pony.
ReplyDeleteFace it, she's trying to make a virtue out of necessity. She couldn't hang onto a job, she was booted out of any property she rented, it seems Storey has dropped her and she can't make enough money to live on with either design work, writing or workshops, so she's reduced to begging. She's trying really hard to make it sound wonderful.
ReplyDeleteBTW, if you're a phony farmer, does that make you a pharmer?
Now that was a good one Anon 12:23!
DeleteTo Anon 11:01: thank you for the really excellent thoughts. And for your work. I've never been on the producer end of the spectrum for anyone other than my own family and friends, but I did start and run a farmer's market for 3 years before it failed.
ReplyDeleteIt failed for the EXACT same reasons you listed: people think that "local food" is trendy and cool, but they will not put their money where their mouth is. Farmers and growers had a rainbow of beautiful seasonal produce, and the throng of shoppers wanted to buy an iced coffee, listen to a live guitarist, and wander around before leaving. The produce went untouched by many. We invested thousands of dollars into the market for advertising, cooking demonstrations, non-profit sponsorship, and more. But after 3 years, it failed, because people wouldn't step up to the plate and buy the food from the farmer. They also wouldn't come to market day when it rained. Many of them happily took selfies with the farmers, checked-in on Facebook with "#Shop Local!" (and so on).... without buying a single damn tomato.
The final kick in the teeth? This year when I run into people around town, they're mad and yell at me for closing the market. Never mind how much money we spent, how many hours invested.... these same people yelling at me are the ones who refused to open their wallets. Somehow it's my fault.
This year we opted to subscribe to a produce CSA (local, organic farm) this year to supplement our large gardens and chickens. It cost us $650 for the season of 20 weeks, which we discussed at length before committing. It's an investment. To date I am so happy with the results, I've been introduced to new flavors and the farmers send a brief note along with the box with recipes, ideas, and general farm updates.
To my dismay, nearly everyone I've tried to promote this program to is appalled by the price. I've been laughed at, mocked, and told that "clearly I have way too much money to spend on lettuce". My husband and I work incredibly hard every week as small business owners, at first I was offended and insulted. Now I'm just sad.
$650 for 20 weeks = $32.50 per week for a giant waxed box of certified organic produce. I don't know how this farm keeps afloat at this price, but somehow they make it work.
Ms. Woginrich does not earn her way in this world by feeding others. We can't all be farmers, just like we can't all be firefighters, teachers, doctors, or even parents. Support your local farmers. You know... the ones who grow FOOD.
- AnnoyedKnitter
Anon 11:01 here--I wish I could give you a big hug, AnnoyedKnitter. You are right on about the rock and a hard place between which many farmers markets find themselves. Over the years, I've observed just how damn hard it is to run a good market--so thank you for putting yourself out there and doing that hard work. I believe it's just as challenging to cultivate a vibrant community market as it is to cultivate crops and the soil. The saddest and most telling part of your story is the customer response--I wish I could say I'm surprised that that's the reaction you got from folks, but I'm not. Keep on fighting that good fight by showing your community what a committed advocate of local food really looks like!
DeleteI'd just like to say it is such a relief to see so many others who have the same concerns about the BS JW is promoting.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way when I found this blog. I thought I was the only one out there that didn't think Jenna was just wonderful. I had noticed that Jenna wasn't always happy with Meredith's comments, or with mine, and was happy to see that there were more than one or two of us that could see her true colours.
Delete~k~
So - is there a chance that any of you could buy Jasper and rescue him?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteIn response to anonymous 2:20 - Jasper does need a new owner, but unless Jenna is willing to give him away I can't see anyone (unless it's one of her gullible amen charlies) paying money for a very green, unhealthy, older pony. The horse world is already utterly saturated with unwanted horses and ponies who ARE ridable and healthy. If she were willing to release him to a rescue (who have long waiting lists as it is) he might have a chance of being adopted out as a pasture pet or companion animal.
DeleteThanks for explaining that. I didn't realize that he was unhealthy as well.
DeleteAgreed! Finding this blog was like finding my people! I have had some one-on-one experiences with Jenna Woginrich and let's just say, it is a relief to know that I am not alone in thinking Jenna Woginrich is not a good farmer or a good person. I have posted about her on the Cold Antler Farm (under DIY bloggers) on GOMI but there isn't much of a farm crowd over there. Thank you for providing this space Meredith. Sometimes one just needs to let it out, "Son". <-- Ugh!
ReplyDeleteMeredith, is there any way we can help you? Keep us informed about what's going on and what the attorney say after you meet with them. I care what happens to you and I wish you the best.
ReplyDeleteIt's so disheartening to read about farmer's markets where no one buys anything. :( I live in a pretty small town (9,000 people), and we have a small farmer's market--but it's so uplifting to go every Saturday and see not only people walking around with coffee and listening to live music, but actually BUYING stuff. Lots of people who just three years ago wouldn't have fathomed buying pasture-raised pork or brussels sprouts are happy to spend their money there. The meat guy regularly runs out of meat (particularly bacon). People are also getting into homebrewing, backyard chickens, beekeeping, etc. Maybe it's just my town. Maybe it's a perfect combination of size and residents and location (though the location would probably surprise you...most people have never heard of it). It could be just that for years and years and years, we had no farmer's market, no organic specialty market (which we now have--and it's doing great!), and really not even any organic food at our chain grocery store. We just assumed no one in our town wanted things like that--until like minded people started finding each other and good things started to happen. I'm so happy to live in a town like that. I wish it could be every town. I'm sorry for those of you dealing with big talkers who won't walk the walk or people who don't realize that paying an extra 25 or 50 cents per pound is getting them so much more than just another cucumber . :( I can't believe a patron berated (and slapped a grower's hand?!) over the price of basil. Jeezus!! Keep fighting the good fight, friends. I'm not a farmer--just someone who works really, really hard every single day while trying to grow as much food for myself as possible--and supporting other growers for the things I can't produce myself. And I'll freely admit that I enjoy the grocery store as well. There's a part of me that admires Jenna for this kickstarter thing--she's really garnered a huge amount of support in a short period of time. And a logical part of me says, "This is no different than getting an advance to write a book. This is no different than getting a contract and signing bonus to complete a job." And really, it's not.
ReplyDeleteBut
As so many have pointed out, she has the gall to write derisively about the VERY SAME PEOPLE who are PAYING HER to write this Kickstarter book. THE VERY SAME. And she can't make claims of self-sufficiency in good conscience. She just can't. There are very, very, very few people in this world who are TRULY self-reliant--who truly grow ALL of their own food, fuel, clothing, etc. Probably none of us here are truly self-reliant in that way...but none of us make money for making claims of self-sufficiency, either. Somehow, Jenna does. I have a lot of kale and chickens, too. And that makes for a damn fine breakfast. But I'm not a farmer. I don't pretend to be. If Jenna just billed herself as a writer and homesteader, that would be one thing. But she gets awfully proud about calling herself a farmer...and it seems like a slap in the face to people who really are out there from sun-up to sun-down, every single day, trying to make it as actual farmers. I know the definition of the word "farmer" is subjective, but "independence" (a word JW freely throws around to describe her life) is NOT. If "independence" is living off money I've managed to beg from other people....then I'd rather be a slave, I guess.
The difference between the Kickstarter project and getting an advance from a publisher or a signing bonus is that those are both legally enforceable contracts with serious consequences for non-fulfillment. This isn't. If she collects the money and then fails to produce or deliver the book what will happen? Basically nothing except that there might be a few more people who will come to THIS blog and complain about how they were ripped off.
DeleteI don't know..this has become such a high profile endeavor by this point (several other blogs and websites are championing her cause, now, and she's garnered a lot of donations for it), I think the repercussions will be rather serious if she doesn't deliver. If she DOES deliver, I will be happy for her--I really will. If she doesn't? I'm thinking that will be the well-earned end of her.
DeleteI'd like to think so too, but I doubt it. Kickstarter doesn't make any promises regarding the projects on their site, and she was careful to use the phrase "up to hundreds of copies printed." That could mean anything (or nothing). Did she even give a firm date for deliverables? My guess is that this will be in blog form ONLY, with no printed copies and no definite deadline for completion. Sigh. She's just getting cannier in her scamming. Even more depressing is that other sites are plugging her scam.
DeleteJenna does not recognize or acknowledge that her income derives from the discretionary income of her supporters. Discretionary income is what we have left over after taking care of our basic necessities: rent/mortgage, utilities, food, health care, transportation, etc. AND, we know that there is tremendous competition for our discretionary income: movies, books, clothes, 401K/retirement accounts, vacations, Red Cross, church, pets, sporting events, rainy day funds, concerts....
ReplyDeleteWho is most likely to have this discretionary income? Us - the people who point lasers and sit under florescent lights. We are the people who design the circuit boards for laptops and smartphones, clean teeth, put out the house fires, work the logistics to get products to the stores, work on the production lines assembling plows and tractors; you know - all those non-trendy jobs that keep America going.
It's our money, and the decision on how to spend it is ours. We're not going to be guilted into giving it to someone who won't even work the midnight shift slinging hash or scrubbing office restrooms to pay off the truck loan.
Our jobs won't be written up in "Hobby Farm Home" or "Mother Earth" magazine, but on the other hand, there won't be a foreclosure notice tacked to our door, and the lights will be on.
Let's drown out the noise of whiny beggars by a celebration of us!
I believe JW would refer to the "us" you refer to (the regular worker bees of the world) as "otherkin." I have also heard other con artists refer to them as "marks," or "targets." Sad to see people sucked in, but PT Barnum was right, there is a sucker born every minute. But at least some of us see through the con and are holding onto our wallets and our discretionary income for better purposes.
DeleteD.
As PT Barnum said, "This way to the egress"!
DeleteKatiegirl - I checked her post, and you are right. Your comment isn't there. Why does she block any opposing viewpoints? There used to be good discussion in her comments section, now it's just the Amen Charlies.
ReplyDeleteIf you remember, she even suspended comments for awhile when it got to be too much. She absolutely hates challenge or criticism -- even if its constructive and trying to help. No opposing viewpoints are welcome anymore,I found that out the hard way about the same time Meredith herself did.
DeleteD.
Lots of great points here. Thanks everyone.
ReplyDeleteReally, I think it all boils down to the way she thinks about herself and her life. She WANTS to be admired as some rouge spirit, that kilt wearing, black horse riding, hawk on her arm, self sufficient ancient spirit of a woman that all admire and such. Problem is, it's all smoke and mirrors and in the end, she's just bilking people and spreading crap about what homesteading/small holding farming really is about. It's hard. It's dirty. It's wonderful, It's a challenge. And it just ticks me off how she writes so poorly about the very people who dream of a life she paints... and have the good sense to know it takes time, money and patience. Not begging, begging and more begging. She annoys me so much. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteOh pishaw you city slicker otherkin poodles! Go grab some cider and sit back with some Braveheart, oooo Mel. Me thinks she will do quite well in the Jim Kuntsler world that she is prepping for - the END of civilization. Of course kickstarter and wifi get lost as the world ends but we has kale, honey and turkey eggs, we's rich! Now stop your naysaying and pony up on measley dollar for the young gal to see there's hope out there. Damn if don't donate 1000 you get to be killed by Birchthorn hisself, lots o blood and gore, me thinks Italics might even get to pick you clean. The antler is mighty cold on this blog, try to kindle some love people, all we need is love (and free money)
ReplyDeleteIntroduce yourself Anon 12:08, I like your style.
DeleteWell, she's really making it now.. Oops Jenna... not good..
ReplyDeleteThat's ALF, a militant vegan animal rights group. They hit our butcher about a year ago, they went in and let all the animals out of the pens, put superglue in all the locks on the building and did the same to the trucks, and they put something in the gas tanks. They really object to killing young animals, like lambs and veal. Because of ALF we have a secret system for delivering our livestock. It used to be that they slaughtered beef on Monday, and you delivered your animals on Sunday. Nothing was locked up. Now the place stays locked up all the time, and you get a phone call telling you a time to bring your steers in, then things are locked up after you leave. It feels like a drug deal. You have to keep it all a big secret.
ReplyDeleteI think some of the posts that Jenna wrote after she stopped being a vegetarian were the things that made many of us like her. If I had to choose between supporting her or ALF, I'd grit my teeth and contribute to Kickstarter.
Interesting....she has 143 backers, but where are all of the friends she talks about on her blog all the time....and her mentor....and her fellow farming people....and the people who helped build the lean-to's, etc....and...
ReplyDeleteDidn't want to name names on here, but I sure don't see any of them on the list.
That abolitionist approach letter (linked a few posts above) had one great paragraph, and it is here:
ReplyDelete"Ms. Woginrich even has a “donate” button on her page. That makes perfect sense. The whole happy exploitation movement is about buying indulgences for engaging in morally unjustifiable behavior. So I don’t blame Ms. Woginrich for cashing in as well."
While I may disagree with the author about what is morally unjustified behaviour ( I am not vegan), I do believe her behaviour is morally unjustified for the following reasons:
1. her treatment of her livestock (chickens which regularly get attacked because they are not safe from predators, pigs that live in a barn and rarely see the light of day or get out to be exercised, and sheep and horses that are going without proper veterinary care)
2. Her treatment of other humans, mainly her failure to deliver goods paid for and/or promised as well as her deliberate manipulation of others for financial gain by making her "farm" look like something it's not and by regularly playing on people's sympathies that they must donate in order to "keep a roof over her head."
The author of the letter and I both seem to agree that she is an exploitative, manipulative and deluded person, just for different reasons.
D.
I'm with redhorse--in the case of the ALF, the enemy of my enemy is definitely not my friend. I've known some awesome and respectful vegans, but the ALF is nothing but a bunch of whackjobs. If you put a gun to my head and made me choose which one to support--ALF or Jenna--I'd have to go with Jenna.
ReplyDeleteJenna just cannot maintain *any* humility, both in her writing and her life. Yes, animals are butchered. Yes, we eat them. The problem with her characterization of all of this, is that she has always had this flippant attitude and outright ignores efforts to help her care for her animals better. Remember how proud she was to hang the pig in the front yard? Or, to invite an audience to watch the steer be killed? Or when she had a guy come over to shoot the pigs in the barn, and left them both together and went to great lengths to describe how when the first one was shot, the other one got blood on it and it freaked out and took a few shots to kill it? Well, I remember all of this very clearly, and it is things like this which have made me believe she should not have ANY animals EVER.
ReplyDeleteThat pig incident disgusted me. What a circus. Animals should be butchered in a quiet, familiar area with no other animals around, and only the person/people absolutely necessarily to carry out the task. Quietly. THAT would be the "respect and gratefulness" she's always crowing about. Actions speak louder than words.
ReplyDeleteWhat's even sicker is that she took the time to describe it in all it's horror. That is sick.
ReplyDeleteThat's why Birchthorn will be easy as pie!
DeleteWe even used to move our horses to the other side of the property when hogs where being butchered, because the horses could smell the blood and would completely freak out about it. It was a process that usually caused "spooky" behavior in the other farm animals for about 24 hours after it happened, even from a distance.
DeleteALF is a hate group, its like the clan, I mean klan
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I would like to be a target of their hate! My gosh.... scary folk!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, just a couple minutes of research and I find another Birchthorn.. remarkably similar to Jenna's. Now, honestly, do we really believe that Jenna would really come up with her own idea for a book? My bet is that she has plagiarized at least loosely, most of this ahem.. novel. I think the other author would love to read of this...
ReplyDeleteLink please? A google search didn't turn up anything for me that wasn't posted by Jenna, and there are no results for "Birchthorn" on Amazon.
DeleteLet us pray
DeleteO thing of power, you have endowed Birchthorn with the creative power of the cold antler, you have brought him not from another author but from Samhain and the pumpkin light. Release us from all doubt as we pledge to go beyond 12K in donations in making you an exalted "ebook", amen
I couldn't find anything, and I'm pretty good at Internet research. The only thing I found was something under "deviant art".
DeleteOMG Anon. 5:33, you are wicked funny.
DeleteKeep looking 5:32, past the first two pages... Google, not Amazon.
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't she think about using any "extra" money from pledges to fulfill other services she has offered and not followed through on? Could she not refund wool CSA members? Refund webinar folks? She could consider taking this bounty and clearing up her karmic debts to her audience, both past and present. Start off on a fresh foot, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteBecause you know when she is done writing this so called novel, it's going to be something along the lines of: "I needed to use the Kickstarter money to pay my bills and now I don't have enough to hire to and editor or pay for printing and shipping." No way is she going to be able to keep that money separate and pay for what she has promised. It'll be too tempting to use it and the process of writing the book will take too long.
I am glad to see no names from Storey that I recognize on her list of supporters. I know many of them helped her with the down payment of her property.
http://warriorshortstories.wordpress.com/about/
ReplyDeleteA cat...what a twist! ;)
Wonder if she'll kill off the Meredith character?
Ah. Thanks for posting the link, Meredith. If that's what the above commenter was referring to, I don't see any connection between it and Jenna's Birchthorn aside from the name. I wouldn't be surprised if the Birchthorn in that story was an RP character that Jenna once came across back in her "Oakpaw" days and the name just stuck in her brain, though. But having a name in common with somebody's role-playing character is different than plagiarizing a story. As overwrought and poorly written as it is, Jenna's Birchthorn story and words seems to be her own creation.
DeleteAnon 9:16 - I can think of a couple of possible scenarios. One is that her friends and family are sitting on the sidelines and if she does not reach her goal, they may kick in enough until she reaches it.
ReplyDeleteThe other possibility is that they have financed her in the past, and now she needs to find other ore to mine.
Well, I noticed about a week ago her brother was listed as a contributor.
DeleteMaybe they've gone the way of John Katz...I'll give you my friendship, I'll give you my advice, but I'm not giving you my money.
ReplyDeleteIf she alienates everyone who doesn't buy into her fantasy and turns her back on people who don't agree with her she'll turn herself into the hermit farmer.
There's no basis for your suggestion that Jenna stole the name "Birchthorn" from the wordpress entry you found on the internet. The writer did not give their name. Perhaps she wrote it herself at some time in the past. This is the kind of malicious, baseless mudslinging that makes the rest of your complaints appear spurious. It certainly makes the reader question your motives.
ReplyDeleteWhom are you speaking to 4:55? You certainly are very verbose on this topic.. more so than just a casual commenter I would say.. Me thinks thou doth protest too much... Spurious? Jenna is the very definition of spurious. Specious, that's another word I would use to describe her life of falsehoods.
DeleteAnon 455 *cough* jenna *cough* people are cranky because your animals died needless deaths and you didn't deliver on your wool CSA. And a bunch of other things. You've tried to write Birchthorn twice before and failed. Money isn't going to work to get you to deliver, although I think you actually think it will. While I agree that there isn't evidence of plagiarism, the anger you read here is a direct result of your own actions. People who feel like you ripped them off may be angry because they are afraid you are doing it to others with the Kickstarter thing. Please stop begging for money, not delivering and the whole vicious cycle. It is dragging you down. If you can't step out of the cycle, get help with it. Real help, to understand why people are so angry. Insight is a wonderful thing, and having the grace to seek help, get insight, and recover will help get Birchthorn written far more than 12,000 dollars. You are just cycling at this point.
DeleteThis Anon is referring to Anon of "August 14, 2014 at 5:22 PM" that implied Jenna may be plagiarizing. Not trying to White Knight for Jenna.
DeleteI get why many people post anonymously here but could you start using code names or something in your comments so we can tell all the Anons apart besides time and date of comment? Pretty please? :-D
OK let's face it people the Kickstarter is a done deal, crap, she's probably faxing baby pictures to every Woginrich in the phonebook just asking for 5 buck pledges. She will make it over the hump, I predict a final tally of $14,256 and I've never been wrong before. We will all have to live knowing that all our negative energy basically propelled a karmic inversion event whereby someone will be screwed again and then come here to bitch and moan about it. Meredith, I hope you can put together a kick of your own, think big, start the pig farm of your dreams
ReplyDeleteSince Jenna launched her Kickstarter campaign, she's backed FIVE other campaigns. Now, she may have kicked in for a really low tier like $5 or $10, but regardless, I find it an interesting contrast between her ominous words about foreclosure and how contributing to her campaign means more than you could know, while at the same time she's spending money on non-essentials like games, comics, and dice.
ReplyDeleteNow that I'm thinking about it, what if this whole thing is a racket? Can she be that slick? That every time she comes around begging, she's not actually teetering on the precipice of disaster, she's just spinning tales for her next paycheck? It would certainly explain why she doesn't get a job--because she actually doesn't need to.
DeleteI have been noticing that very same thing. Of course it's pledge now, pay later so by the time she has to pay up she'll have an extra $12,000.
DeleteShe's just doing it to show how good a Kickstarter gal she is. It's cheap PR compared to the 12 grand she'll get in a week or so. Honestly, when she started, I thought it was kinda crappy that she hadn't backed anyone yet and was on there asking for money. Now she looks even more legit. Just my take. Too, she can ask those she backs to spread the gospel of Birchthorning...
ReplyDeleteHere landing on GOMI is big. Several personalities have lost it all via that sort of PR.
ReplyDeleteO M G She put up a video called "Ride a Ton", oh yes, Jenna, we know you come here every day.. Did you all SEE her trying to ride this horse? Did you see her body position, her arms, and her legs kicking like a jack rabbit? Seriously? Are you kidding? Good LORD you are an embarrassment... That horse just about threw you. Keep it up and he will.
ReplyDeleteWhere is that at? I just looked and it wasn't there. Or maybe she took it down already?
DeleteI learned about people like her a long time ago. You can fake your way through a lot of things in life, but you can't fake your way with a horse.
Thanks for the link. They have a driving bit on him. I wouldn't allow her to ride any horse in a bit. Her hands are atrocious. Did you see how she shook the reins at him when she wanted him to go forward? That's not good horsemanship. But hey, she didn't fall off, and no one died.
ReplyDeleteGod..that was painful to watch. I get all cringe-y watching westerns and such where the riders saw on their poor horses' mouths, but this was even worse than that. I'm not a dressage champion or anything, but I'd like to think I'm good at keeping my hands "quiet". And letting your legs feebly flop around is pretty bad form, too. I know riding a draft horse is a fairly inelegant process...but...this made me twitch.
DeleteDid you notice that her knees match the horse's?
ReplyDeleteCan we please stay away from comments on her physical appearance? She displays more than enough fraudulent behavior, unwarranted braggadocio, shady business practices, and terrible livestock and farming practices to discuss until the end of time, and bodysnarking is a really slippery slope.
DeleteDo you think that maybe Anon 7:43 meant they both had dirty knees, not anything about her body in general?
DeleteThey both had dirty knees, but there's a really fine line between the above statement being a simple observation and a snarky observation. That line is extremely subjective, but when you start snarking about physical appearances it can go downhill fast. There's so much other stuff about Jenna and her life that are absolutely worthy of discussion and even snark. I don't think Anon 7:43 made the comment to attack Jenna, I just think it would be better to avoid the bodysnarking line entirely instead of trying to toe it. If nothing else, it will give the trolls who come over here to harass us less ammunition. YMMV. I don't want to come across as the comment police or anything, I just felt concerned and wanted to bring it up.
DeleteI understand what you are trying to say...this time. I must admit the first comment you made did sound like "comment police" to me and that is why I said what I did at 12:31. I did get the impression that you meant Anon 7:43 was attacking Jenna - whether that was your intent or not. I think the majority of us have to take a step back, and think hard about the words we are contemplating posting before we actually post them. That includes you and me. I think some of the comments on this blog are being misconstrued for more than what they were intended to be.
DeleteWhat do you mean by YMMV?
DeleteI hear ya, Anon 2:17, and appreciate your perspective. But if I had to do it over again, I would make the same caution again in a heartbeat. As a physically imperfect person myself, I don't think Jenna deserves comments on her personal appearance when there is plenty to say about her character instead.
DeleteAnon 2:46, YMMV = your mileage may vary. Internet shorthand for "this is just my opinion and you may have a different experience or opinion about the same thing."
True 8:06, I just thought it was funny, good point.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenna - I noticed that the spectre of the Wool and Webinar CSA keeps coming back to haunt you. I wanted to offer this suggestion - it is something I would tell my own daughter if she were in a similar situation, so I am saying it out of a place of kindness.
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt you will meet or exceed your Kickstarter goal. So pay back the wool and webinar people in full. Do that and no one will ever be able to come back and say you didn't.
You say your "offered" refunds but you don't say you returned the money, which means there are debts outstanding. Just pay it back. And yes, I know you offered monthly payments and some people wanted lump sums (just like you said you do), but if you need to pay them monthly, just do it. Don't wait for them to ask, just send the payments. If you do that, NO ONE, will ever be able to say you didn't make good on that promise.
Until the debts are paid, this issue will not go away. Yes, I know you mentioned it was four years ago, but that does not mean the debts are absolved. So pay it back and it will go away. Remember, a Lannister always pays his debts.
Continuation of my comment: You say that you are attacking her on the internet to save her animals. That doesn't make sense. You admit that none of you live nearby and that you are powerless to help her animals. You say that you have contacted animal control in her area, to no avail. Obviously, you believe that you have exhausted all available avenues to protect/save her animals. Why not turn your attention to saving other animals closer to home? If you don't, I again question your motives.
ReplyDeleteYou say that her method of butchering pigs is cruel because one pig was traumatized by the slaughter of the other before it was also killed. I'm a vegetarian, so I think that any slaughter of animals for human food is cruel. I also think that eating meat and animal products in general is unhealthy (see, for example, www.nutritionfacts.org). I agree that some methods of slaughter are less cruel than others, and I agree that Jenna's method of killing her pigs was more cruel than that described by Hotflash. However, the method that Hotflash wrote about is obviously cruel at least to her other farm animals, because she admits that they were traumatized by it. Let's face it: animals have more highly developed sense of smell and hearing (and in some cases, sight) than humans, and they are aware of minute changes in their environment. I'm sure that they smell chemicals emitted by people who are about to kill them or other animals and by the intended victim. I consider anyone who slaughters an animal for food to be cruel, but it's not my business to tell anyone else not to eat meat. Instead, I support the work of people like Temple Grandin, who is trying to make the practice of killing more humane. If I ate meat, though, I'd feel obligated to kill it myself. Suggesting that Jenna change to more humane methods is a legitimate comment. Saying that she is "sick" because she described the process in gory detail is not. At least she is being honest about what she did, how she did it and why. People can judge for themselves whether they agree or disagree with her motives and methods. (continued)
Continuation of my comment: In summary, since you can't change her behavior or business practices, can't get authorities in her community to take action about her allegedly poor animal care and can't effectively warn others that you believe she is an unethical business person, I don't understand why you keep writing about her here. I guess you just enjoy gossip. I have also seen many cruel personal comment made about here on this blog. That kind of behavior is repulsive, hurtful and may have effects that you don't forsee. I would never, never ridicule someone because of their appearance. Anon at 7:43 AM, your rudeness towards Jenna is offensive, and you're not the only one here who has made such remarks. And Anon at 8:05 PM, you might be right about karma, though perhaps not in the way you think.
ReplyDeleteThe horse had dirty knees. Jenna had dirty knees. I noticed that immediately. Seriously, mine are dirty right now from digging in the front flower bed. Does pointing it out make someone cruel. Nope. Just observant. Get off Anon 7:43's case until you know for sure what they meant. I certainly didn't read a snip about her body. Maybe I am wrong, maybe you are wrong. Maybe you should be the one to look into yourself to see why you immediately thought someone was attacking her body. That line of thinking didn't cross my mind at all until you pointed it out.
Delete~ V
Looks like the first part of my three part comment didn't get posted. I began by pointing out that: 1) I figured out on my own last winter, without your help, that Jenna is not farming. Others will, too. 2) The market will decide whether her business model is sustainable and people who attend her workshops, etc. will decide whether or not they got something of value. 3) She offered to refund the money for the wool. If you didn't e-mail her and set up a payment plan, you have no right to complain.
ReplyDeleteI emailed her for a payment plan over a year ago. She said she would start it the next month, and guess what: she never followed through. My many subsequent emails asking where my $10 a month payback money was and I never did get a response. So what do you have to say to that? Am I angry? Yes. Do I have every right to be? Absolutely.
Delete-C.
Ugh.... I'm sorry, C.
DeleteI sincerely wish I had invested my $200 into a different farmer or young person, one who appreciated my hard earned money and honestly delivered on what was promised.
If she were to refund our money, or mail the wool, we could all move on. I'm sort of embarrassed to admit that I briefly considered contributing to Birchthorn, because if the entire farm goes belly-up none of us stand to recover anything. However, I regained my senses.
AnnoyedKnitter
I'm getting tired of these trolls--what say we all just ignore this one and not respond to any of his/her above comments?
ReplyDeleteAgree.
DeleteYes, think that is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree.
ReplyDeleteSorry, but I can't let the last comment go: "She offered to refund the money for the wool. If you didn't e-mail her and set up a payment plan, you have no right to complain."
ReplyDeleteExcuse me, but legally people DO have a right to complain; and sue.
“Some people believe that collectors and creditors cannot legally refuse your payment or payment offer. Others believe that as soon as collectors and creditors refuse your “tender of payment” they forfeit the right to collect on the account and the debt is discharged.”
(See U.C.C. – ARTICLE 3 – NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS , PART 6. DISCHARGE AND PAYMENT, § 3-603. TENDER OF PAYMENT.)
From Legal Aid:
“Creditors can accept or reject payments, and still sue. It’s a myth that rejecting your payment cancels your debt.”
“Rejecting your payments does not cancel the debt. It’s not some kind of jubilee. A creditor who refuses your money can still sue you.”
Yes, ^ this. The last offer was $10 per month, which would take 20 months (?!?!) to complete the reimbursement.
DeleteHad the sheep been sucked up by a tornado, or some other calamity, people would understand. That's the risk you take with a CSA.
But, as stated before, the sheep are in the field, they've been shorn, Jenna is hosting wool workshops to other paying customers, yet none of us have had fulfilled orders.
AnnoyedKnitter
I am sorry guys, but those of you who paid in advance for anything from Jenna, I guarantee you won't get it. There is no reason. She has had no consequences of her actions. And, now look, she's being a fraud on an even grander level a la kickstarter. People like this never learn. I feel badly, but Jenna took you for a ride, and she has enjoyed herself..
ReplyDeleteI should say people, meaning Jenna- I am sure you guys have learned :(
ReplyDeleteMaybe a little small claims court action would get her attention...
ReplyDeleteKickstarter project Birchthorn is funded. I really can't even believe it.
ReplyDeleteFunded and then some, and wonder of wonders, someone in the comments, who is a professional editor, just offered to do the editing for some future pay. So, whatever she had budgeted for that is now hers too.
ReplyDeletePhew, glad that is over. I just can't get that video of her on the horse out of my mind.. She's just well...shudder....
ReplyDeleteI have created a blog as a place to report money owed you and taken by JW under false pretences. Please visit the blog. http://coldantlersham.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeletePlease cut and paste into your browser. Please spread the word. This is not a site to complain, but rather a repository (via comments) to list what you paid for and did not get, and for now, do it anonymously.
Gosh, she's even pulled the wool over the Polyface folks...
ReplyDeletehttp://polyfacehenhouse.com/2014/08/cold-antler-farm/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook
I cannot wait for her house of cards to come tumbling down, but, sadly, it will be by official means... and it will be ugly.
ReplyDeleteJenna recently had a post about going over to her friend Patty's farm to ride her horse Steele. After they were done, they put Steele in the barn because a storm was about to start. The fact that Patty cares enough about her horses to have a warm barn to put them in during storms, and Jenna doesn't, probably went over Jenna's head. Interesting, that Jenna takes better care of other people's horses than her own. Anon-123
ReplyDeleteI just checked out Patty's page... she is 100% over the moon for Jenna.. there is nothing that Jenna can do wrong in her eyes.. MY GOD we are a nation of idiots (no offense Patty).
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure Patty is one of our trolls. I would let Jenna ride my horse, but it would be on a lunge line with no reins.
DeleteThe driving bits, like the one in Steele's mouth in that video have sharp grooves that lay on the bars of the horses's mouth, you can cut their mouth very easily. So if you have a sloppy rider, it hurts. If she rode my horse that way, his butt would launch her into the air and over his head.
PS: Given how Patty lets Jenna handle Steele, I have to wonder if she really cares about him that much... If I saw a rider kicking and jerking my horse like that, they would be getting off, and I would not be taping.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I was wondering the same thing.
DeleteGood god, watching her ride Steele was painful for ME, I can't imagine how frustrating it was for him. I saw he tried to buck, at least as much as a draft can buck. She was yanking all over his poor mouth. And Patty just stood there and watched?
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt Jenna or her friends/family "pledged" that much money just so she can reach the goal. They'll get paid back, and she'll keep the rest. What a sham!
ReplyDeleteUnfu*king believable. I suppose more power to her.
ReplyDeleteJenna, let me tell you something about windfalls: this money is enough to get you into trouble, but not enough to get you out. And the IRS will not accept an indie day as payment.
I am quite positive the IRS will not see their share...
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, that video is awful... Poor horse, he's not having a fit, he's hating the rider. What a dreadful rider....
ReplyDeleteYes, that poor Merlin.. Good Lord. Hey, I wonder if she will pay Merlin off first... my bet is that she pays him off, maybe the truck and leaves the rest of the bills for her monthly beg sessions. Ain't no way she is going to use it for a book. SHAZAM! Sorry to those who donated...
DeleteWe'll, I guess one can hope that she pays off the horse, pays off the truck, pays off the yarn and other defaulted folks and gets the dang mortgage straight and then gets her crap together and stays frugal. Maybe she can make it work if she doesn't taken on any more dent.
ReplyDeleteI believe she already paid Merlin off. She begged for donations to pay him off earlier this year.
ReplyDeleteI just checked out http://getoffmyinternets.net/forums/design-blogs/cold-antler-farm/page-2/ where there is a similar discussion. Someone who lives in her community said she is known there as a serious mooch.
Well, now that her kickstarter project is fully funded, she has NO EXCUSE not to pay the wool and webinar CSA subscribers they money she owes them.
And as long as there are people who are willing fund her, she will continue to beg.
There is an old saying that a fool and his money are soon parted. That goes for people who donate money sometimes to different causes, as well as those who receive it and spend it away. Let's hope and pray some wisdom happens and that money is SAVED and not spent. Mine is tucked safely away in my bank account, so thankfully I don't have a financial dog in this fight either way..
ReplyDeleteD.
The truly sad and unfortunate thing is that this project will embolden her even more, but it wont solve the substantive problem, which as we all know is her inability to manage her finances and make good decisions.
ReplyDeleteShe may pay off Merlin, the truck, get the mortgage current, but what about when this little windfall runs out? That mortgage is due every month of every year...for years. What about when the truck needs tires or repairs? Houses need constant attention and upkeep. Animals need to be fed, cared for, replaced or medical attention.
She may be feeling at the top of the world right now because that amount of money is HUGH to her, but she has no idea how fast it will disappear paying ALL her debt that is in arrears.
My guess is it will be long gone by spring and she'll be in the same boat she's always been in. Then where will she put her begging bowl out?
But, as my sister says all the time...they need to continue doing what they do, so we can continue doing what we do, which basically translates into you run with the 98% so I can run with the 2%. And, at the end of the day, this Kickstarter thing might be her golden goose, but I honestly had to sit back and chuckle because I have that amount of cash on hand ALL THE TIME.
The story will continue...it always does with people like her because they never learn. They're too busy being the victim of their own circumstances.
Jenn
"but what about when this little windfall runs out?"
DeleteBirchthorn II, the sequel.
I read somewhere that one method a confidence man uses is to get the victim to think he is being given something.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't help but notice similarities in her blog. Her donors are given a chance to be heros (save the farm!). They are given a chance to be characters in a story. They are given a chance to help write a book. And, they are given the chance to pass a legacy to their grandchildren when they read to them stories they helped to write!
Another aspect of a confidence game is that there is a clock in the deal. You must act now. There is also scarcity - only a limited few left. Get in on the deal before it's too late.
Sadly, the only one who wins here is JW. She gets the money, she pays off her bills and next year she will probably be back asking for more so she can write the sequel. Now THAT is scary!