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George's eulogy: a copy for the Little Farm

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George (FatChance) Couts George told me one time that just after he arrived to live in Albuqurgue, he could walk down the street and folks would slow down in their cars and ask, “Oye, gordo, usted necesita un paseo?” He said they were a friendly bunch in Albuqurgue, but after a while he figured out “gordo” meant “fatso.” If a man's measure is known by the weight of his friends, then George faired very well. I am obvious testimony to that. I'm one of his friends. Life would be great if we all and everything about us was large and mellow. Such is not the case, but remember that the little nasty things make the large and mellow things more desirable.

It was Halloween many years ago when I first met George. Herb, Frank, and Wayne threw a masquerade party and George was the largest mousecateer I had ever encountered. He had the black skullcap with round ears and a Mickey shirt, probably a medium. George wore it as a midriff. I thought,”Well, by God, if you got it, flaunt it.” Let us all revel in our ampleness. We all stood around in circles back then. I was new to most of the folks there, but it turned into a circle of friends—friends I see often and try to take care, friends I see once in a while, friends rarely seen these days, and friends I'll never see in this old world again.
Another time, I was throwing the party, a dinner party. I had beef teriaki, wild rice, an avocado gelatin mold, and ample amounts of cold gazpacho. I'd gotten lucky on the gazpacho; it was a good blend of tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, garlic, cayenne, vinegar, olive, and wine. George praised the gazpacho, bowl after bowl. Decades later, he would bring up the joy of eating that gazpacho—the coldness and the heat, the sweetness and the tannin tartness. A person's in danger of thinking they can cook when they hear such. It says more about George though. He never let go of what was good. He kept close to his heart the harmonies—sweetness and tart, cold and fiery, small nastiness, and large benevolence—and never let go of the beauty of this world whether it was found in a bowl of gazpacho, a set in a bracelet, a well tempered chord, a smile from a woman, a cloud in the sky.

We are blessed in this world, if we know it or not. I'm fortunate to have taken a road trip with George, and Herb, and Chaz, and Frank, and Mary to Colorado to see Bob Dylan on Dylan's 34th or 35th birthday. I know now that this is what epics are make from. We were all packed into a 72 Duster headed west. Chaz remembers well; he rode most of the trip between George and I. We spent Dylan's birthday with him and thousands of others in the rain in a football stadium. But the predominant spice of the trip was that George was not coming back with us. He was going on to make a new life in Albuqurque. I told George upon leaving Maryville that it was similar to leaving the Emerald City—a passing thought from me that George grasped and took to heart and made into a moment of analogous beauty. On the day we took him to the Denver bus station, we all ate at a Mom and Pop Mexican restaurant in downtown Denver. The green chilis were mind-blowing hot, but in the end they soothed and sustained. We left him standing in front of the station, waving. We all said, “ Goodbye, goodbye, George.” It felt just exactly right.

I hold life dearly. We all have this thing in common: we all have a life to live on this earth and eventually it gets over. We can think about the “over” part in different ways. Has George left us, or have we left George? Of course, I like the second. It's like leaving George at the station in Denver saying, “Goodbye, goodbye, George.” We didn't know if we would see the George at the station again, and when the world leaves me behind, who knows? Not me. The point is all of our lives are dear. When they are complete, they are gems. You are remembered and cherished by your loved ones and friends who are continuing on in this world. George was my friend. I'm grateful of that. I am grateful for all the folks who will remember well of him. I thank the loving ones who took care of him in this world. You helped make George's life harmonize. We have left with the world, and we need to continue making everyone's life beautiful, happy, and whole. May you stay blessed.

- Al Juhl

 

Labor Day Week-End Music Fest Honoring FatChance

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We recently celebrated the life of George Franklin Couts, who passed away June 28, 2010. 

George was a talented artist, musician and recording engineer, whose passing has brought tributes from across the globe. Way to go, George. Love and Peace Your friends in Alanthus Grove, Missouri.

 

Fat Geos Blues by FatChance
 

2010 Rainbow Gathering Pennsylvania

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Little Farm Fair Trade set up our coffee kitchen again at this year's Rainbow Gathering. Herb and Geoffrey met up in Pennsylvania along with Audrey and Lichen. We were soon met by Bill (of RAGBRAI fame) at Welcome Home. Bill had been working the gate along with Turtle (Kim). We had a great welcoming home when we arrived. We unloaded our gear and grabbed what we would need to brew up coffee in the morning and headed in to look for Musical Veggie.

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No RAGBRAI this year?

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It is with sadness that we must share Little Farm Fair Trade will not be serving fair trade organic coffee on this year's RAGBRAI ride. We are sad that we will not be able to see all of our friends of the last 4 years, but with greater disappointment,  we will not be sharing the message of family farmers growing the coffee beans that we have been serving to the riders.

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Little Farm Says Farewell to Three Good Friends

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People come and people go, for some we must wait longer to see again. We are missing three good friends who live on through their memories. 

Bill Talley (1936-2009)  - Bill is the reason we have the little farm. He was a generous soul who was always good to us. Though Bill had many offers to sell the farm, he was always willing to wait, for many time an overdue payment, because he liked his friends at little farm. A Marine Veteran, and three time Golden Glove boxing champion, he was a mentor for kids and adults alike. 

Kaleb Juhl (1979-2009)  - Kaleb lived an epic life. He loved music, mountains and "raging it" with his friends and family. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. His parents Al and Beth have always been a part of the little farm family. They lived at little farm from the beginning and moved to Stanberry where Kaleb was born.

Michael ClayMichael Clay (1997-2010) - Our neighbor and our friend, Michael loved the little farmers and we learned as much from this 13 year old as he learned from us. Always willing to help, is energy and spirit kept us all feeling young and free. Michael loved little farm and did not want to be left out of anything.

One thing is true of all three of our friends, they lived their lives thinking of others. Try to live every moment in ways that give your life and spirit to those around you. Join us keeping the spirit of these three mentors alive by sharing your time, talent and love with all those around you.

 

What is Fair Trade

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Somebody posted a link on the RAGBRAI forum in response to a question about what is fair trade. Here is a quick synopsis as it is understood and practiced by those of us associated with Little Farm...

In the world of coffee, fair trade means the farmers are receiving much more for their coffee (sometimes as much as 4 times more) than they would selling it through the traditional means available in their country. Ideally it is a price that is determined to be enough for the farm family to not only survive, but improve their living conditions.

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Little Farm Fair Trade on RAGBRAI   

Little Farm News

Little Farm Fair Trade finished serving coffee at RAGBRAI '09. Herb and Geoffrey brewed up over 500 gallons of coffee while Kristin and Jeh served it up in about 3,700 cups.

It makes us very happy that so many people stopped by to support Fair Trade. We know people stopped for many reasons including the great music that happened each day thanks to Irene and Joe of the Mad River Band, and our own friend Phil Bear who were joined at many times by others, including a few riders. Others stopped by because they thought we had the best coffee on RAGBRAI, but we hope that many continued to stop by because they would like to do their part to support the family farmers that grew the coffee we served.

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Order Coffee

Fair Trade Organic CoffeeCafé Campesino has a special arrangement with Little Farm. Please considering purchasing your coffee from Café Campesino and a 10% commission will be given to Little Farm. You will be supporting family coffee farms and Little farm while drinking great coffee, roasted to order and shipped to your door.

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Remembering George (fatchance)

by iCWeekly and fatchance
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