Some of you may remember Green Bean & Paco – OK Cafe – from the Spring Council/Gathering in Michigan this year. They graciously fed all of us and worked tirelessly to rock it all out. They’ve continued their mission under a new name – Beaver Stew. If you social butterflies are into it, please spread this post far and wide in support of our lovely family who’ve given so much to the rainbow community. Below is a message from these two amazing rainbow brothers. Please don’t let their story end here. 💕🌈🍲

So I guess it is time to level with you all and get serious online. Which is something I rarely do. Many of you know me personally. Some of you I have met in deserts, some in mountains, some in backs of trucks, vans, and the wild ride of a freight train. Some of you have picked me up in strange places. Some of you are friends from home or of family, and see my life without really understanding it or finding value in its intensity. Some of these years I have traveled for my own pleasure, and sought adventure and love out for myself and my circle alone.

But now of course it is time to do that leveling with you that I mentioned before. A huge facet of my life are rainbow gatherings. Many of you may not be aware of what these really are and what happens there and why we go, and those will not be explained here. But what I can tell you is that my absolute best friend, Jake Gott and I, came together after winters that could be called no less than horrific. We were not doing well, and we decided to try and save our souls, and run a small cafe (O.K. Kafe) based off of Aaron Olson and I’s love baby, the well known “Our Kitchen” , started at a winter gathering in Arizona, where I met Jake.

O.K. Kafe went to Michigan, and we fed how and what and who we could. This was the beginning of Beaver Stew Kitchen. Months followed and it exploded. We were passed on gear from much older kitchens in gatherings following like in the Cumberlands, and the ability to feed hundreds of people every day over campfires, was made possible by our family, like Zach Henry, who’s gear has allowed us to serve at a huge capacity. The truth is, that this experience has absolutely changed my life and saved me, and has been a huge impact to those around us.

We often single handedly pack out into the woods, build a kitchen, and those of you who have been served, will tell you that the menu is not so bad. We have met and loved so many. We pumped out the cakes for Aubree Evans Stearns and Parks Stearns most beautiful wedding. We have danced this great dance, and seen wonders, and done what we loved to who we did.

And now, Jake and I are asking for help. Folks do not see that in between these gatherings, we struggle to feed ourselves, and Jake’s sleep affected by the massive amount of gear the van was carrying. We rush to the woods sometimes only a day in between gatherings, just to feed the people we love, and sometimes the people we don’t. The van is totaled. The frame has ripped apart from weight and rust and age. All of Beaver Stews gear is safe and sound here in Michigan, but Jake and I are on foot.

We are planning one last official and dedicated kitchen at Beach Week, but after that we have no reliable way to move it. We are asking strangers, and all those we have touched and loved and served, for donations and help for a bus. We need diesel and the space to continue to make this a reality. These regional families need the support, and Beaver Stew has become a central and adored part of some of these. We are deeply saddened and afraid by the possibility of this story ending. We love you all, and regardless of what happens, we are so thankful and so satisfied and so honored to have walked into your lives, and that you came to sit at our fire and dream our dream. This has been the best summer of my life, the summer of Beaver Stew, and we are hoping it never has to end. Our fundraiser is below.

The gofundme has a venmo button baked right in. So if you prefer venmo, it’ll work as well!