Herbert: In Loving Memory
The Mercy community lost a dear fuzzy loved one over the weekend. Herbert, our Angora Satin Rabbit, was just 2 years old. He passed unexpectedly after appearing quite happy and healthy the days prior. As a Junior High community we have decided that a necropsy to try to discover the cause of death will hopefully help us to gain understanding and be better able to care for future fur babies.
Herbert came into our lives in the spring of 2024 as a part of a long awaited 8th Grade Legacy Project. Abby Zimmerlee and Greta Huber were two of many students that dreamed for years of brining a rabbit into the Erdkinder/Farmessori world. They did the research, planning, presenting, and budgeting, and building and they were finally ready. We got lucky when the Zimmerlee’s discovered an Angora breeder on the West side of town. At about 8 weeks of age Herbert was picked up and become our softest and sweetest everyday companion.
Over the past two years students in every division have enjoyed his sweet demeanor, soft touch, and often silly antics as he showed off his acrobatic skills while flipping and hopping around the classroom. A few of us were lucky to receive Herbert nibbles on our field notebooks as we worked in his shared space. Many Junior High students became certified in his care, joining the team of “Herberters” who looked after him each school day and often over holiday breaks and weekends. We all became more nimble and/or more cautious as we navigated stepping over his gateway. There were many life lessons learned and felt while living with Herbert.
Over the past year students have also worked to learn how to card his wool and use a drop spindle. Herbert gifted us many jars of his silvery fluff which we will continue to spin and then someday knit or crochet into fine products which will keep him as a part of our lives for many years to come.
We are all very sad to lose Herbert so young.
Herbert passed on the spring equinox, a time when we have finally made our way out of winter and are able to welcome all the new life that spring offers. But such is the circle of life; it is only in death that the richness of life is possible, whether from nutrients released into the soil, or memories and lessons learned. May we hope that Herbert will be remembered and cherished through this spring’s blossoms.