June Newsletter
New farms are being built and older ones are growing!
Jason and Brenda Sommer, along with two FFC volunteers, set out for Thailand 2 weeks ago to add additional grow beds to the farm we established there in the Fall of 2014. This farm is serving 170 kids in three safe-homes nearby. Once the new beds are completed they will construct a smaller, new style farm, that will serve as a model to teach others from outside rural areas, how to create a sustainable food and income source in their own villages.
Though the process of expansion is undoubtably tedious, the rewards are being felt already. The team has already been able to install the drain system over the new grow beds and recently completed the plumbing for the grow beds. The next step in the process is to plant seeds so that they can start cultivating produce. It’s remarkable and exciting for us to see the fruits the of ingenuity and dedication being taught by the team all so they can hand the reigns to these 3 homes with treasured children to yield the rewards of the farms for years to come.
As the undertaking continues, the whole team at FFC is perpetually reminded that this process could not be done without you, the collaborator! Our story is ultimately about the children who are being accelerated into a hopeful future. Jason and Brenda and the team are being propelled by the laughter and joy of the children and are blessed by them knowing their diligence is making a lasting impact.
FFC Welcomes Tayler Wells
At the core of every fly fisherman is a chase. A chase for solitude, peace, revival and sometimes an encounter with the fish we never expected. When we combine our passion for fly fishing with our desire to leave this world improved from our presence in it, our appetite can ultimately be met with something greater than just self. This encapsulates Tayler Wells of TailWalker Fly Fishing.
An Oregon native, Tayler has been fly fishing for 13 years and most good things in his life have happened directly or indirectly as a result of an overwhelming passion for being on the water. As one of our most recent collaborators, Tayler too, grasps the vision of offering up who we are individually and using that to empower the powerless.
In addition to his love for spending countless hours on the water, Tayler has a degree in environmental science. He also spent four seasons guiding in Western Alaska followed by three seasons guiding on the Klamath. Tayler then moved back to his home turf in Oregon in late 2015 to pursue a career in environmental consulting without leaving his guiding completely. Spring through fall, Tayler is captivated with his “real job”, trout fishing and bow hunting. However, when the weather turns harsh the lure of of winter steelhead proves to be irresistible and he has a tunnel vision set on the Oregon coast. Tayler also boasts about having one of the best fishing dogs on the river and a wife who shares his passion to chase fish.
Like many of you collaborators who share stories and contribute to our efforts, we are appreciative and ecstatic about the creation of new opportunities to be given over to hundreds of precious children. Tayler has graciously donated a once in a lifetime experience to chase steelhead on the Oregon coast during the winter months. Our gratitude cannot be expressed enough as you are furnishing us with new possibilities to establish more new farms in 2016.
Want to view or purchase Tayler’s donated guided trip in support of kids? Or if you want to collaborate along with him and many others to donate to this year’s fundraising needs, please accept our invitation to visit flyfishingcollaborative.org today and email bucky@flyfishingcollaborative.org and let us know how you desire to collaborate using your own unique passions.
Get your copy of Swing The Fly Magazine
Be on the lookout for the latest edition of Swing The Fly Magazine at your local newsstand or fly shop and spend a minute or two reading what Swing the Fly had to say regarding FFC!
Fresh from the press, Bryan Crumpler wrote a delightful piece on Fly Fishing Collaborative. In it, he intricately wove a story telling of how our purpose in life can extend far beyond the banks of our rivers when we marry a passion for fishing with our compassion for others.
In just their second printed edition, released for the Spring of 2016, Swing The Fly hasalready made waves in the Fly Fishing community. Be sure to subscribe to Swing the Fly to receive your own quarterly issue, the team over there is doing some fantastic work and we greatly value the content being poured out by their whole team! Hats off to them for sharing our story.