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OK guys, I’ll get to how you can win tickets to see Sally Fallon and Dr. Campbell-McBride… but first, the back story (and what a story it is)…

Three years ago, Clarkston, Michigan resident, Archie Welch finally met the woman of his dreams. New Zealander Deidre Currie was a world traveler, teacher, gourmet cook, nutritionist, environmentalist, athlete, outdoor adventurer, green building designer, and a marathon runner. Two years later, she moved across the globe, they got married, and they were soon expecting a child.

Baby Jack was born premature last January. Sadly, his mother, Archie’s love, Deidre died in childbirth.

Baby Jack is thriving with his daddy’s loving care and donated breast milk from local WAPF mothers. Here’s a photo at three months:

Despite the crushing grief, Archie is doing his best to try to make it through his days. He has plans to move to New Zealand in the new year with Baby Jack.

In Archie’s words:

I’m moving to New Zealand because I woke up one morning (I’m sure Dee paid a visit during my sleep) and knew that is where Jack and I are supposed to be. It is where Dee is buried, I want to be by her and to raise our son in her hometown. Dee’s parents as you can imagine are devastated and since Jack is their only grandchild it will do wonders for their aching hearts to have him around.

Such a dear man, don’t you think?

However, before they go to New Zealand, Archie has made it a priority to pay tribute to his beloved wife.

You see, last September, Deidre organized the first ever Wise Traditions Michigan Conference in Livonia, based around some of their shared passions: healthy food, small farms, and nutrition.

Archie writes, “Dee was bent on changing the world. Now that she is gone, she is leaving it up to me to carry on in her name.”

As a tribute to Dee, Archie is holding a follow-up event in Ann Arbor next month. The Deidre Currie Festival will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2008 from 8:15 am to 6 pm in the Morris Lawrence Building at Washtenaw Community College, 4800 E. Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105. The cost is $45, which includes access to all lectures.

Speakers include:

Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, M.D., a Cambridge pediatrician, is reversing autism with nutrition in her own son and thousands of her patients. Author of Gut and Psychology Syndrome, Dr. Campbell-McBride holds advanced degrees in nutrition and neurology. For more about the GAPS diet, visit Gut and Psychology Syndrome and Gaps Diet. Video interviews of Dr. Campbell McBride are on YouTube.

Sally Fallon is the president of the Weston A. Price Foundation and the founder of the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund. Her cookbook, Nourishing Traditions, has sold more books than Rachel Ray’s 30 Minute Meals and Ina Garten’s The Barefoot Contessa (see Washington Post article). For more on Sally Fallon, visit WAPF and Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund.

Jerry Brunetti cured himself of terminal cancer with food (see Google Video). In 1979, he founded Agri-Dynamics, which provides holistic sustainable consulting and products for ecological and natural remedies to replace pharmacuetials. Jerry also founded Earthworks in 1991 to advise landscapers and golf courses on sustainable practices.

Karen Lubbers and her husband currently operate a sustainable farm in West Michigan offering grass-fed meats, a cow share program for raw milk, and a bakery.

In addition to the speakers, from 9-6 pm, free of charge and open to the public, there will be a children’s health area with local holistic doctors and dentists, and a gourmet farmer’s market featuring local and national sustainable farmers and food artisans – from Zingerman’s cheese to rabbit from US Wellness Meats and raw milk from Oliver Farms.

Register for the conference here. or call 248-620-8969.

OK! So now onto the part about the free tickets!

Yes, that’s right! TWO FREE TICKETS TO THE DEIDRE CURRIE FESTIVAL!

Archie has graciously offered to give away two free tickets to anyone who signs up the most friends for the festival.

HERE’S HOW:

• Tell all your friends!
• Have them register online BEFORE 11:59 pm on September 1st, 2008
• When they register, be sure they put your name in the “Referred by” box, so we know who wins the free tickets.

YOU ONLY HAVE 2 WEEKS AND THE CONTEST IS OVER!

FESTIVAL DETAILS:

• When: Saturday September 13, 2008
• Where: Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Cost: $45 (Includes ALL speakers)

WE’D LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE! I will be flying in with Baby Kate.

If you live anywhere nearby (or even if you don’t), I hope you will think about coming. If so, come find me and introduce yourself!

As a matter of fact, Kelly the Kitchen Kop and I are planning a little get together for our readers.

If you can join us, please email so we can let you know the time and place once we decide, and so we know who to look for: kellythekitchenkop@charter.net

Register for the conference here.

If you can’t make it, don’t worry! We’re bringing cameras and we’ve gotten special permission from Archie to take notes while there and post them on our blogs the following week.

If you’re unable to come (and even if you are):

Will you consider a donation to help Archie?

He’s been through so much and has many financial burdens since Dee passed away. Being a single Dad, he works quite a bit to make ends meet, and with an expensive impending move back to New Zealand, money is tight.

If you’d like to send a donation, send it to:

Archie Welch, P.O. Box 690, Clarkston, MI 48347

Lastly, Kelly the Kitchen Kop I have worked together to get the word out about the Deidre Currie Festival.

Here are other bloggers who have also joined our efforts (to thank them, how about popping over to check out their site?):

1. Peaceful Acres
2. The Urban Homemaker Blog
3. One Busy Mama
4. You’re next!

Email to let us know that you’ve linked back here and we’ll add your site to our list. (Ann Marie: inasnit@gmail.com or Kelly: kellythekitchenkop@charter.net)

I love that photo. It makes me think of Archie and Deidre together again one day in Heaven. I know Deidre’s watching down on all of us from her perch up there in the clouds.

I really can’t imagine what their family has been through. Everyone has hard times, but I can’t imagine something worse than what this family has endured.

I know though that there are times when we need to come together as a community to support each other.

This is one of those times.

Please help if you can.

Here are some ways you can help:

1. Come to the festival.
2. Send a friend.
3. Send a donation.
4. Forward this link via email.
5. Post about this on your blog.

Thanks so much!