The “Yarnbombed” Poets Shack will be raffled for Vermont chef and poet with cancer.
In a remarkable display of support, over 40 people in Southern Vermont have built a tiny cabin—the Poets Shack— to raise funds for Carol Adinolfi, a Bennington chef, educator, and poet, undergoing treatment for life-threatening lymphoma. Dozens of fiber artists donated brightly colored knit and crochet circles and squares and “yarnbombed” the entire exterior of the tiny house. Also included were poems, in the form of QR codes within the yarnbombed fabric, which can be listened to on a mobile device.
Threshold Collaborative, an oral history project, and the Southern Vermont Bombshells, a fiber art group that includes Amy Anselmo, Trish Weill, Abi Gregorio, and Caroline Schneider, are coordinating the project.
After moving to Vermont in 2006, Adinolfi founded “Blooming Chefs,” a program that teaches public school children how to grow and cook healthy food. This program also incorporates creative writing and visual art to encourage self expression in children. Carol considers it an honor to have worked as an educator in Vermont for many years.
The Poets Shack can be visited by the pond at Clearbrook Farm, an organic farm and farmstand in Shaftsbury, Vermont. The inside of the cozy shack is decorated simply with vintage accessories: an oak writing desk, a yarnbombed chair, a manual typewriter, and books of poetry. Visitors can step into the cabin to write a poem and then tack it on the wall alongside dozens of others—many dedicated to Adinolfi—or create poems with Magnetic Poetry. Classic and current poetry is featured on the exterior of the shack with work by poets and spoken word artists such as: Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, Clara Rose Thornton, Jory Michelson, and Mary Reufle. The shack also features an extensive poetry lending library.
The shack itself was built by Randy Anselmo and Forrest Matthews, mostly of reclaimed 100-year-old barn wood donated by John and Suzanne Ottomanelli. It measures seven feet wide, eight feet deep, and about ten feet tall. A hand-blown glass rondelle window, made by Andrew Weill of Manchester Hot Glass, is installed over the door.
Adinolfi received a stem cell transplant in Julyand the Poetry Shack is being raffled to raise funds for her ongoing treatment and recovery. “It would make a wonderful backyard writing retreat, studio, potting shed, or playhouse,” says Amy Anselmo, who can be contacted directly for raffle tickets at amy@vermontiki.com or 802.447.7959. Raffle tickets are also available at Hawkins House Craftsmarket, the Wallomsac Farmers’ Market, and Spice ’N Nice Natural Foods in Bennington, Vermont; in North Bennington at Whitman’s Feed Store, Powers Market, and Lake Paran; and in Shaftsbury at Clearbrook Farm. Tickets are $30 each or 4 for $100. The winner will be responsible for picking up or covering the transportation cost of the shack. If the winner is local to Southern Vermont, the organizers can help arrange the transportation logistics.
Poet’s Shack raffle tickets can also be purchased by check, made payable to the Bone Marrow Foundation with “Carol Adinolfi – Raffle” in the memo line; or online via Carol Adinolfi’s One-to-One page (http://bonemarrow.org/financial-assistance/one-to-one-funds/participants/carol-adinolfi/) with “Raffle” included in the notes field.
The drawing will be held at “Ciderfest” the annual end of season potluck party at Clearbrook Farm the last Saturday in September. For more information about Clearbrook Farm please visit: www.clearbrookfarm.com
For more information, please contact Amy Anselmo: amy@vermontiki.com, 802.447.7959 or visit www.thresholdcollaborative.org
Hi Kent, Thanks so much, what a wonderful thing to wake up to this morning!
If any East Coasters want to come to a really fun event, Ciderfest is Sept. 28, from 2-8 pm in Shaftsbury VT, with cider pressing, bluegrass, an amazing potluck, some poetry and the shack raffle.
-Amy
I understand fund raisers and this seems like a very worthy cause, but I hope this site doesn’t lose the focus on the tiny house movement and simple living. IMO this post doesn’t really advance the conversation. I have in the past defended the houses without bathrooms etc. especially if the house, shed, shack, tiny trailer, boat, floating home, what ever, was attempting to offer something new or an interesting take on this movement. However, a bold fundraising request like this make me feel like I’m watching PBS during a pledge drive. Does this structure bring anything new to us and is this the correct venue for such a campaign?
I couldn’t feel more differently! When I read this I was excited by the community that built this as well as for the cause of the raffle. As a blog writer who posts pretty much every day about a particular area (unless I’m traveling, then I write about that), I know there is more to my blog than simply the place I write about. There are the people who come there, the why of that and much more. Movements, places and people are gestalts, and to never add that encompassing spirit that makes Tiny House bigger than its obvious parts would be a loss. To most of us.
We all have opinions. There are lots of things I could say in response, I think the most telling would be to point out how many comments this post has generated so far. Three, with the first one from the author of the post. Generally Kent’s blog receives around 20 comments, mostly positive. I think that is a strong indicator of the value of this post to the community that this blog targets.
One of the best points about people I have met that have downsized or are interested in living smaller id their self reliance.
Then there is a growing amount of people that want others to finance their work or travel or interests thru a public appeal for funds.
Everyone has a friend or several friends in need.
I do my best to help those here in my circle or community that have done everything they can to help themselves and that includes working enough to live now and insure I can be self reliant when the unexpected needs for money arises.
It might not be popular to say among those of a certain carefree mindset, but freedom does cost money. Being self reliant involves a lot more than hoping for others to maintain your lifestyle.
I didn’t make the rules, I just try to survive among them. Sorry.
Steve, While Amy made the first comment, I think Kent Griswold authored the post; and I also see it differently. IMO, Yes, to both your questions: 1) the post shows the newness and creativity of offering a tiny house to assist with another human being’s wellness, and 2) any venue that fosters creative living, which it seems to me is central to the tiny house movement, is the correct venue for such a campaign. My question to you is: Are you sure you are not projecting your feelings about a PBS pledge drive onto this situation? Just asking.
But is it machine washable? (insert silly emoticon of choice) One of the things I like about tiny house blogs is the variety of posts. Obviously not all will appeal to everybody but take what you like and leave the rest does work for everybody. Some people are horrified by the slightest whiff of commercialism, something not up to a particular aesthetic standard, lack of/type of amenities, level of “purity” of whatever quality or heck, maybe it’s just grumpiness over their own choice of breakfast that morning. Doesn’t matter, we’re all here to celebrate tiny houses and their builders, owners, designers and dreamers. Limiting posts to the standards of any particular group isn’t what it’s all about. You can always start a blog like that if you want, but as far as I know this is more inclusive than exclusive and I’m pretty sure a lot of people like it that way.
I am crazy about looking at pictures of tiny houses and hope to build one myself one day. I don’t make comments – but was going to here – for a different reason than Steve’s (although I’m behind ya’ 100% with the “PBS Fundraiser” comment brother!) The concern these folks have for their friend is lovely, truly lovely, and they obviously have enormous quantities of creativity to share…however, in a supposedly civilized society, why are we accepting the fact that ANYONE (talented poet or not) must have a fundraiser to receive critical medical care. I mean, WTF, folks?? And what is happening to those of us mere mortals who do not sparkle quite as brightly – as Carol must – and inspire people to create and raise money on our behalf? WE CAN’T DEPEND ON THE HAPPENSTANCE OF KNITTING AND BEAUTIFUL FUNDRAISERS WHEN WE HAVE CANCER. Just sayin.
I’m a bit horrified, just coming upon this, at the hurtful and thoughtless things people have said.
I would never judge anyone, period, and I would never judge anyone in the position I was in.
Never, also, did I ask a single soul for help. I in fact made very sure to set myself up as a single person whom five years of cancer and cancer treatment had put in a financial hole…
in a way where I had to depend on, or be a burden to anyone!
Amy and generous thoughtful people, many who I didn’t even know, did this, spontaneously, without a word from me, out of the goodness of their hearts.
I truly wish people would think twice, or more, when they wrote things about 1) people who going through troubles they did not bring upon themselves b) anyone really, as there’s so much cruelty in the world.
I would hope self sufficiency was thought of in the way that Buddhists think of it: we are all part of a web of inter-dependency.
My motto is “do know harm,” and I feel harmed by this.
typo: I meant “in a way where I Did Not have to depend upon or be a burden to anyone”.
I am so sorry Carol, that others would be bothered by this. My husband as terminal cancer I have been wanting to fund raise as our lives have been just devastated. Now I see why I hesitate, knowing some people are so critical. It is hard to know how and where to fund raise and just putting it out there where ever seems logical. The fact that someone thinks you are asking for a hand out to fund a cool lifestyle is beyond crazy to me. I cant image how it could be interpreted as that. I suppose he feels he has sacrificed… and resents anyone who would ask for help. But he has not been where you are and for some reason is confused about the situation…or lacks empathy…or is self righteous…or thinks all small houses are only about self-sufficiency…even if you have to die for it. You dont have die doing it…That is only his take. I guess he thinks people should have saved $200,000 in case of cancer or before you can post here.. And who cares what he thinks really.
You are an amazing person with amazing friends. OK..maybe this was not the best site to post it, or maybe some people just get irritated too easily. Don’t let it bother you, easier said than done I know. I hope you get all that you need and more.