Amazing how folks from all over are stepping up to see the Lost Sea Expedition series make its way to public television. Recently, we received a donation from someone in a remote Newfoundland community.
I’m honored Newfoundlanders remembered the half year Polly and I spent rambling their rocky island.
After mule Polly pulled her wagon across the USA for the Lost Sea Expedition, she and I took a voyage across Newfoundland. We followed the coast through some stunning scenery- maritime forest, ocean cliffs, fishing villages.
Trouble was, there weren’t any feed stores where we went. The first month out, all I could find was one sack of oats.
As an island people, Newfoundlanders have traditionally relied on fishing for food and income. What I didn’t realize was how many amazing gardens they grew. This is how I ended up feeding Polly for much of the trip.
Turns out, carrots and beets grow really well in Newfoundland. So when folks heard Polly needed food, buckets of carrots, beets, even apples, showed up.
Polly, of course, was thrilled at this unexpected windfall. She was less thrilled when she saw me dipping in to her food stash for snacks.
The Newfoundlanders had one look at me eating “Polly’s” food – carrots, beats and applies – and figured that wouldn’t do. They plied me with ‘lassie bread – short for molasses bread. A traditional Newfie snack, that was just a slice of white bread with black strap molasses on it. Talk about generous folks, feeding not only the man but the mule!
Turns out Polly loved lassie bread even more than fresh carrots. In fact, she loved it so much that when she saw me go in to someones house, she would stand under the window. Looking hungry. You know, begging.
So that’s how Polly and I found enough food to make our way across Newfoundland.
That donation from Newfoundland? It came from a person I met in a remote Newfoundland community on my journey with Polly. It means so much to me that even up in Newfoundland, folks are pulling with Polly and me to bring the Lost Sea Expedition to public television.
Thanks for your donation Grace! I sure look forward to showing you and all Newfoundlanders the series.
To everyone else who donated, please know that your contribution is hard at work bringing the Lost Sea Expedition series forward. Here’s how. More about Polly’s Newfoundland trip at the riverearth.com travel site. Here is a good place to start.