Ghost of Midnight
… about neighbors, community and Front Porch Forum
Here’s Some Good News…
Neighbors love helping each other! See for yourself in the recent stories below that started as postings to local Front Porch Forums. What’s going on in your community that you can post on your Forum?
• Goldfish Crackers for Classrooms from Meredith in Burlington – “Recently I posted asking for Goldfish crackers for our classrooms. Today, 12 cartons of bulk Goldfish crackers arrived on my front porch. Unfortunately, there was no paperwork so I don’t know whom to thank. Whoever was so gracious, please know that the sight of all those boxes of Goldfish made many students and teachers smile and say thank you as I dropped them off in each classroom. Our students really appreciate your generous donation!”
• Thank You for the Coop Cleaning Offers from Felicia in Rural Essex – “Thank you to everyone who reached out offering to clean my chicken coop while I am postpartum! I received so many kind messages from people offering to do it for FREE, and it’s not even the Christmas season! Thank you especially to Sonya and her son for going above and beyond and making my hens very happy. Not many teens I know would spend their Sunday cleaning a neighbor’s gross coop with such a good-natured attitude, let alone refuse the $50 that’s offered. This was a reminder for me that there are still MANY good people in the world, especially here in our little corner of it.”
• A Baking Club to Help Others from Ali in Underhill – “Hi everyone! Recently, my 7-year-old met an older and more isolated community member and that interaction stuck with her. She (we) would like to offer a monthly act of service to a few neighbors who need some sweetness in their lives: The Happy Harts Baking Club!
Each month, together, we’ll pick a sweet treat to bake, pack and deliver along with a piece of art created by her (or other school-aged friends who may volunteer to help!). This is ideal for senior citizens, folks who are isolated, or individuals dealing with an illness or special circumstance. If you or someone you know would benefit from a little extra goodness in your month, please email me and we’ll coordinate with you. Please note this is a free service, and, at this time, we can’t manage any allergies or food sensitivities.
For now, we’re going to commit to doing this once a month for the next three months for up to 5 households. If there’s greater interest, we’ll have a small waiting list and rotate through. We’ll hope to continue it into 2024 assuming there’s continued interest (on both sides)!”
Hummingbird Migration in the Mad River Valley
Members love reporting wildlife sightings on Front Porch Forum. Recently, hummingbirds took over the Mad River Valley Forum after one member shared a project tracking the August-September migration through Vermont. Dozens of responses came in (and counting!) over the last four days. Here are just a few…
- “2-3 females and several juveniles are still stocking up for their trip, but the males packed their bags and left days ago. Thanks to Carol for providing the link!”
- “A male hummingbird visited our feeder this morning on White Pine Drive.”
- “Just saw a hummer at my potted flower urns.”
- “Still hanging around Lois Lane this morning.”
- “Hey, Hummingbird lovers, We saw one today at our coneflowers. Looked like a female. I think traveling thru.”
Further, these hummingbird sightings have spawned an interest in Monarch butterflies too…
- “Several hummingbirds are still active on Cider Hill, up at about 1600 feet. They spend much of their time at the Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia) right now – which should keep blooming until a frost. Our trumpet honeysuckle is still blooming for them, too. Oh, and the Monarchs are loving the Echinacea!”
- “Now that we’ve learned what’s happening with the hummingbirds, what has happened to the Monarchs? Usually I’d be seeing them about now and haven’t seen any. Did all the rain do them in?”
Neighbors (with Backpacking Tents) Stepped Forward!
Thousands of Vermonters get assistance and advice from neighbors through Front Porch Forum every week all across Vermont. Calais Forum member, Ginny, found exactly what she was looking for:
“Hello FPF world, I am planning my first ever backpack hiking trip for 3 days and 2 nights later this month. Does anyone have a very lightweight, one person backpacking tent I could borrow? Or, if need be, purchase? Did I mention lightweight?”
2 days later…
“Once again, what an amazing tool Front Porch Forum is, giving all of us a way to receive and give to our neighbors! Multiple people stepped forward with backpack tent options for me, and I am so grateful! Yay!!”
Garden Produce Overload
It’s easy to get the impression on Front Porch Forum that many Vermonters are hobby gardeners. Members offer produce generously across FPF – it feels like an online farmer’s market this month!
- “3 dozen free cukes on a table in front of our house on Church St. Help yourself!! Please leave the table!” – Wendy, Bristol
- “Free Sunflower Heads… I have cut down all of my sunflowers and removed the “heads” if you would like the seeds for your garden next year… or your birds, furry friends… come pick them up!” – Susan, Brandon
- “Elderberries for the Taking … Hello again! My elderberry tree is at full bloom again and the berries are ripe and ready to be harvested. I can’t use them all so come on by and cut some.” – Jennifer in Grand Isle
- “Basil Anyone? … My garden did not provide a lot of food for me this year, but I do have an abundance of basil! I am happy to share. If you would like some, please reach out.” – Joanna, Richmond
- “Rhubard & Little Green Apples … You’re welcome to take small amounts of rhubarb, green onions, mint, or little green apples (often wormy, if you have a use for them), from sidewalk or tree.” – Dick, Village Green
And this member put it well in a poem…
Lock the doors
and turn out
the lights.
Pull the shades,
close the blinds
and draw the curtains.
Hide the kids
in the tub,
do not breathe
and be very,
very, quiet.
Up the steps
comes a neighbor
with a brown
paper bag…
Zucchini… By Charlie in Marshfield
If you have garden beds overflowing, consider sharing the love on your FPF!
On another note… This year has been especially challenging for farmers due to the torrential rains and floods of July, plus a severe frost back in May. Many of Vermont’s farms and orchards are suffering crop loss. In the spirit of eating locally, growing food and offering it to your neighbors, please go out and support your local farmers any way you can!
“Makeup for a Special Occassion” from FPF to RumbleStrip
Check out this romantic way to use Front Porch Forum. It’s too delightful not to share. Read this episode from RumbleStrip, a Vermont-made podcast that is top-ranked by The New Yorker and The New York Times, here.
Or listen to the episode on Spotify, here.
“A couple weeks ago on Hardwick’s Front Porch Forum, someone called Tiana asked if there was anyone who could help her with her hair and makeup for an important date with her boyfriend“… read more.
Keep Going Vermont Strong
The 2023 floods brought much devastation to Vermont. The recovery will be long and difficult, but not without signs of hope. Here are some snapshots of inspiring stories we’ve seen of neighbors coming together…
- “We have been stranded since Monday – no access to food, medical care, etc. However, the bridge that has been built is a human one. Our neighbors have all banded together in helping each other in any way needed.”
• Paul, Berlin
- “I have a Plethora of dehumidifiers now. That was quite the outpouring. Already feeling dryer inside. Thank you so much Waterbury neighbors.”
• Jim, Waterbury
- “Just popping in to say I have a working, unflooded car with 4 seats and spare time this weekend! I can’t fit much in the way of Stuff, but if anyone needs rides to work, appointments, errands, etc- please feel free to shoot me an email, I’ve been checking every couple hours lately.”
• Grace, Montpelier
- “Our road was hit very hard and it was not an easy job. Not only that, but the sense of community on our street was nothing like I have ever experienced. I met more of my neighbors in 36 hours than I had in the three years since we moved here. Me and my family received numerous check-ins, offers of places to park or stay, offers of food and water. The feeling of support all around definitely made weathering this whole experience much easier. Words can’t express how thankful I am to live on such a wonderful road surrounded by so many wonderful neighbors!“
• Nikola, Middlesex
- “I was driving though Plainfield, hoping to find an alternative route to Hardwick, when I spotted the sweetest sign in front of a black plastic bucket with flowers inside, at the end of a driveway. The cardboard sign stated “Bad day? Free flowers.”
• Rose, Woodbury
- “Hoping to find the man who came to my door last night, during the storm, to tell me that there were sparks right near the side of my house and he was worried about a fire to my house. A huge tree had fallen and turned out there was a live wire under the tree that was sparking. The fire department came immediately and took care of everything; they were great!! I am hoping this man may have told some friends the story and they might read this and I can find out who this kind man was who saved my house. I want to be able to thank him!!!”
• Joan, Woodbury
- “To the off-duty rescue worker who helped get a neighbor out of her swamped apartment. Even carried her dog to safety. Appreciation to the canoe couple who helped a neighbor on Franklin St with belongings and waited patiently for the flooded neighbor to get her things and self together to leave. Thank you to the guy who carried items out of an apartment to dry ground. Every person who walked flooded Franklin St and was asked for help, stopped to assist people. Thank you to all who asked if anyone needed help. Things were happening so fast and those caring folks were needed to do just what they did in that moment. You assisted many and asked nothing. Molto Gracia.”
• Barbara in Montpelier
Check out FPF’s new emergency feature: the Regional Disaster Response Board. It’s designed to facilitate mutual aid across communities and share vital updates. Just post to your local Forum, and any disaster-response-related postings will show up on your region’s board.
If you’re looking for ways to support neighbors, check out the Regional Disaster Response Board today. You’ll see requests for assistance (along with many updates) from all the Forums across your county.
NEW: Regional Disaster Response Boards
FPF just launched an emergency feature to facilitate mutual aid among Vermonters and help communities support each other in recovering from the July 2023 floods.
View your region’s Disaster Response Board.
The board brings together in one place all disaster-related postings in a given county (or group of counties). Members have access to any county or counties where they currently have an FPF account.
To add a posting to this board, simply post to your local Forum. If your posting is related to disaster response, it will appear on the board shortly.
Who wants to deal with a broken kitchen sink?
These handy-people recommended on FPF do! Many members turn to FPF to ask neighbors who they use to fix faucets, screen doors, broken heaters, you name it… Then, members share their positive experience back on FPF. See these success stories below.
What do you have that needs professional fixing? Ask for recommendations on your FPF, and check out FPF’s Community Directory with over 13,000 listings of local businesses in all categories!
- In Middlebury… “A valve malfunction shut down my kitchen sink and Shawn Frost, previously recommended here on FPF, went above and beyond in his efforts to get me out of my quandary the very same day at no small inconvenience to him and his plans. He is very experienced across the board in all things related to plumbing, pleasant, efficient, and professional, so I too am happy to recommend him.”
- In South Burlington… “We want to let everyone know that we had a great experience finding a handy person on FPF this week and would like to recommend him. Do not hesitate to contact Craig Bujold for any of your home projects. He’s a super nice person that works in Human Services and can tackle projects with competence and a smile.”
- In St. Johnsbury… “Several weeks ago I found a listing here on FPF for a handyman and I reached out to Isaac Poe. Now I am back to tell you what a positive experience it is to work with him. He was very responsive, on time, reasonably priced but most of all he did a high quality job. I could not be happier with the work he did for me. I highly recommend him.”
A pleasant way to sell a bike…
A sweet note from Sheryl in Waterbury:
“It has been many years since I have used Front Porch Forum and I have had the best experience selling my bicycle today! Friendly emails and very nice people! I am grateful for this community service.”
Want a Response? Try Front Porch Forum!
Members get an amazing response when they post on Front Porch Forum. Check out these examples just in the first week of June!
- “Thank you to the over 2 dozen neighbors who wrote with suggestions about my hose leak! Turns out I needed to replace the anti-siphon valve. Multiple people sent helpful notes that walked me thru the process, and voila! No more geyser shooting out the top of the spigot and around the hose! Shout out to Martins for having the inexpensive part in stock. Gratitude to all of you who wrote, to Martin’s Hardware, and to Front Porch Forum!“
• Porter in Bristol
- “I want to express my thanks to those individuals who replied to my recent FPF posting requesting pressure washing help. I had nearly 30 replies (!) either offering to provide the service or making a recommendation.“
• Lee Ann in Salisbury
- “Wow, within minutes we had four offers of people willing to lend us their tampers for our patio project. And more offers still coming in! What a great community! And what a great resource Front Porch Forum is!”
• Doug and Renee in East Montpelier
About Blog
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more
Post Categories
- Uncategorized
- PDF2009
- Big Tech
- Calendar
- Northeast Kingdom
- podcast
- Peer Rental
- Events
- Localization
- Pay It Forward
- PDF2007
- Web Traffic
- Google AdSense
- Elections
- berkmansunlight
- Maps
- Video
- Coupons
- Wildlife
- Upstate New York
- Mobile
- Viral Marketing
- Raffle
- Crisis Response
- Donations
- Lost & Found
- Gratitude
- Real Estate
- College Students
- Social Responsibility
- Orton Family Foundation
- Start ups
- Make It Your Own Awards
- Online Civility
- Clay Shirky
- How To Use FPF
- Newspapers
- Humor
- Online Classified Ads
- Peer Reviews
- Politics
- Community Management
- Economic Development
- Local Reviews
- Case Foundation
- Borrow and Lend
- Neighborhood Watch
- Good Government
- Small Business Advertising
- Citizen Journalism
- e-Vermont
- Democracy
- Local Search
- Knight Foundation
- Burlington
- MacArthur Fellows
- Civic Engagement
- Social Media
- social capital
- Social Networking
- Vermont
- Neighborhood
- Community Building
- Local Online
- Front Porch Forum