Helene's arrival

a brief status update in the wake of an epic storm

We’ve just re-stabilized operations at Magpie Hollow in the wake of hurricane Helene’s chaos inflicted across our region. Our farm’s calamity is maybe a fraction of a percent of what many western NC mountain communities have experienced in the past week - so we’re blessed in that regard and grateful to all the friends and family who have reached out to inquire about our well-being. We’re fine, and we’re turning our attention to how we can help others.

We’re on top of a mountain instead of down in a mountain valley so the risk of catastrophic flash flooding here is minimal. High winds and trees knocked over are our main vulnerabilities. And we did have a few trees brought down over pasture fences. Most of these have been cleaned up and repaired by now.

The biggest of the downed trees took out a pasture fence as well as our power lines. This happened on Thursday evening before Helene arrived in full force. The lines shorted, causing a violently arcing fireball that sent the goats into PTSD. Eventually the power line melted and snapped, cutting off our electricity.

Luckily we have plenty of rainwater storage and a backup generator we used for a few hours a day for household tasks and to keep the meat freezers at adequate low temperature.

As the storm passed we surveyed the damage and began restoration activities. A wise friend once told me, “When you put up a fence, there’s a tree waiting to fall on it.” True to form, we had an array of (thankfully minor) fence damages.

The storm’s fervor triggered a couple of sheep to go into labor. So overnight, in the onslaught of wind and rain, we wrangled mamas and babies from pasture to safety and dry quarters in the barn.

Baby Helene, born as the storm intensified and bore down on our farm.

Baby Hugo, born as the storm subsided.

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We’re doing fine - thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Now that our operations are mostly re-stabilized we’re looking at how we can help others in our region. It will be a long process of recovery and rebuilding for southern Appalachian communities. Keep in touch, come visit, volunteer to help out. All are welcome.

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