By PAUL WIRTH Diocesan Communications Staff
With a generous helping of faith, Michael and Emily Scheidel are living their lifelong dream of raising a large family and running a full-time farm.
On any given day at Little Peace Farm near Schuylkill Haven, the couple is juggling the demands of home-schooling eight children, tending to chickens and pigs and cows and goats, and raising acres of vegetable and flowers for sale to restaurants and the public.
The pair also finds time to do charity work. They are among the founders of the only homeless shelter in Schuylkill County and sit on its board of directors. They also donate their farm products as auction prizes for fund raisers at their parish, St. John the Baptist in Pottsville.
In a unique effort, the Scheidels also help the needy by coordinating the charity of others. Through Little Peace Farm’s “Good Steward Shares,” people can visit their website to donate money toward the cost of weekly fresh produce for a family who cannot afford it. When the donations reach half the cost, the Scheidels subsidize the rest.
Farming is a difficult way to make a living, the Scheidels are quick to say, and faith plays a key role. “Our faith keeps us trusting that everything will work out, even during bad years,” says Emily. For example, there were two crop-damaging hailstorms this year, one of which wiped out a field full of lettuce and caused a substantial financial loss.
“There were plenty of times when I lost hope,” says Michael. “I don’t think Christ expected us to be absolutely solid at all times and never have a meltdown. Faith helps me shake it off and move on.”
“Because We Are Catholic” tells the stories of how the people of the Diocese of Allentown make a difference in the lives of others, bringing the Light of Christ to each other and to our community.
