Bucks County Herald – September 3, 2009

Dear Friends,

Mighty Betsy Meredith and our daughter, Catherine, are knitters. One of their favorite haunts is a shop in Bethlehem called “Tangled Yarns.” They told me that Barbara Stabile, the owner, is encouraging her friends and customers to participate in a United Nations project called “Keep the Fleece.”

In a most ingenious way, the U N is raising $250,000 to purchase livestock for farmers in third world countries. “Keep the Fleece” is an international effort, which asks knitters to create nine inch by 60-inch scarves. Knitters pay one dollar per row and the proceeds buy sheep, cows, and goats for farmers in countries like those in Africa, South America, and Asia.

The UN works with Heifer International, which supplies the livestock. You can learn more about Heifer International via the Internet…www.heifer.org. Heifer International not only donates the animals but also provides the necessary training so that the families can nurture and grow their herds and become self-sufficient.

“Keep the Fleece” has a website too. www.keepthefleece.org

A donation of $120 is enough to buy one sheep. At $10 per inch, a five-foot scarf represents five sheep. “Just think how many sheep, llamas, cows or goats a 40 foot scarf would represent,” the UN promotion piece asks? Cows cost more…$500 a piece. You can purchase a water buffalo for $250; $60 for a trio of rabbits; $30 for honeybees.

Intrigued, I paid a visit to Stabile and looked at the journal that she’s keeping. There must be 70 people who’ve signed up to knit at one dollar per row. Most of the names were women but I found a few men too. I’ll bet that she’s raised several thousand dollars for the UN project.

Stabile told me that knitters from around the world are knitting nine inch by 60-inch scarves, which will be joined together at the New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck (NY) on October 17, and 18. It will become the longest scarf on earth.

“We hope that the scarf will travel to the White House and the United Nations,” Stabile continued.

But you’ll have to act fast. This project ends October 1 so the scarves can make their way to Rhinebeck. Stabile will be happy for your help. Call her at 610-867-0318 Tuesday through Saturday.

Eventually, the scarf will be disassembled with the individual scarves being donated to people in need.

I don’t know how many Barbara Stabiles there are in the Lehigh Valley. I hope there are plenty. “Come in and knit a row or more,” she says. “Or make a donation…or people in my store will knit for you.

“Peace [in the world] begins when hunger ends,” Stabile added.

In my next life, I’ll be a knitter.

Sincerely,

Charles Meredith