PARK HALL, Md. — For the past four years, Monique Cronk has passionately served her community through her shop Two Hens Feed, Seeds & Bees. Opening on Point Lookout Road in 2017, Two Hens aims to heal and preserve the environment through chicken keeping, gardening, and beekeeping. The small shop looks to help the local community and beyond learn how to live a more sustainable lifestyle that benefits themselves and the environment.
After suffering from several losses — from her husband’s passing to her business partner’s personal withdrawal from the business, to COVID — Cronk finally thought 2021 would be her year. However, Cronk was recently informed that the building where Two Hens is located is being sold.
“It breaks my heart that once again, no matter how much I work, or believe in what I do, I cannot control all aspects of the future of my shop,” Cronk wrote.
She is now turning to the community to try and save her shop through a GoFundMe page. Her goal is to raise $24,000 to help cover some debt that has accumulated throughout the pandemic and to restock on products such as better feed.
“I have a very difficult time asking for help. I have to admit that I need my communities’ help on this one. I know first hand how difficult these times are, but if your budget allows it, please consider donating to keep Two Hens sustainable.”
Two Hens provides more to the community than just its tangible products, as Cronk teaches customers about the importance of beekeeping and chicken keeping, giving them the knowledge to live a more sustainable life. She shared one example of a family that started chicken keeping during the peak of quarantine and how it “was beneficial to the physical and mental health” of everyone involved. In addition to the bees and chickens, Cronk sells organically grown vegetables and encourages people to buy locally.
A customer of Two Hens, Elaine Stonebraker, says that she always feels so welcomed every time she goes to the shop and would be devastated to lose it. She has been trying to support Cronk as much as she can.
“Monique is always happy to share her latest adventure with the ongoing peacock romance, or some valuable care instructions for a particular plant,” Stonebraker said. “She seems to have been born to do this, and I have never known anyone to work so hard.”
“I have always said that my shop is what I am meant to do. I really believe that,” Cronk said. “I love what I do for 70+ hours a week, it’s not work, it’s my passion.”
Cronk’s tiny shop has an enormous impact on her community and the environment. Her sustainable methods and numerous alternatives to “antibiotic/steroid pumped chickens, ducks and turkeys” and chemical pesticides produce. It would be a sad loss to SOMD to see Two Hens go, because of all the valuable efforts it does for the environment.
If you want to help Two Hens or learn more about Cronk’s shop, visit her GoFundMe page HERE
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