Our Mother Ship is a creature who needs support too

One thing I have found with raising money for the non profit is people are much more excited to donate when a plea goes out with drama in it,

"Old blind pony without ears needs help" gets attention and action, whereas,

"Final Barn Addition Funding needed!" gets yawns.

The barn is a Mother Ship, that is how I look at her. She is crucial to the well being of our animals, and our hay. She holds us in times of grief, as when I worked so hard to help Birdie. She keeps the wind, rain and snow out on cold Maine winter nights. It gives us space to get out of the sun, and flies. On cool fall days, if you leave her front doors open, she plays music with wind tunnels and dancing dried leaves. In rain, her roof is a symphony.

If you've ever built a farm, you know that the first thing on your mind is the barn. It has taken us three years to get the barn built. We started with the main center structure in 2016, then added the Llama Love Room last year. I had not planned on doing this addition this year, but I am so glad we did. It will allow a shifting of animals and paddocks that will be better over time for feet and feeding. And it will provide additional hay loft space meaning now ALL the hay can be stored there, freeing up a large part of the bottom barn.

We still have so much to do. The barn crew is done. Now Martyn will add the exterior walls and loft. We will have to build a sand ramp out of the door due to elevation change. We opted to do that versus raising the floor. And, fencing will be slightly rearranged to make different paddocks. We also will be getting our crushed granite this fall for the paddock and stalls. We could not get it in spring because the weather was so wet we could not get the large trucks up the road [another job to due-drainage for the barn road].

We have had a lot of needs this year to raise money for besides the usual feed/hay. I opted to take a loan out for the barn which I wasn't thrilled about but it leaves our fund healthy. But, we need to pay that off as quickly as we can, I hope in two years, to avoid spending on interest when that money could be spent on feed and vet care.

In another week the rabies shots will be given, another good chunk will be spent for that. We already gave equine rabies shots. Summer especially July and August are hard times to raise money. If you follow along you know I always feel torn about the balance of asking for donations. Some say I don't do it enough on the business social media page, but others, I assume, think I do it too much.

So please give support to our Mother Ship. She is a fabulous creature and as she evolves...well, who knows what journeys she will be part of–she has already experienced so much.

Oh, Ollie! I love how you love life!

Time to get busy-you might take this art home

We are entering The Final Barn Addition Fundraiser Freakout with the work scheduled to begin mid July. We have only raised $2,000 of the $20,000 needed. This is pretty much my fault as I just stopped fundraising to give everyone a break including myself.

But, time is of the essence.

I will be sharing lots of goodies you might take home if you donate.

Once we hit another $1000, one person's name will be picked out of a bucket-this time by The Goose [USA only, or you will have to pay shipping]and you will receive this beautiful 20x20 print, signed on the front. Includes a 1" white border.

I am also asking anyone who can do a matching donation to let me know, be it $10 or $1000 or more. It all helps.

The final barn addition will allow better mud and winter management, and safety, for the equine area. It will also allow more hay to be stored in the upper loft, freeing up more space on the ground level. Mud management is essential to foot health, as Paco will tell you who we are still helping resolve his White Line Disease which we are doing well on.

Of course, if you prefer to pay with a check, that is fine, just let me know it is coming and I will add your name to the list of possible print taker-homers.

Fundraising is a challenge and I really appreciate the many people who repeatedly support our efforts! You will be most likely greeted in the after world by old goats, llamas and donkeys.

Donate >

We did it...and then some

Many of you have already heard on other sites, but we made the barn goal and we are funded! But what is even more wonderful is The J&J Stanley Foundation is matching that $10,000 we raised.

And it still gets better.

Yesterday we were $1000 from making our goal. The Foundation informed me that if we reached our goal by the end of March they would 'sweeten the pot"and add tot hat $10,000. While The Puppet was hoping that meant cookies, I knew it meant money. So I put out the word. And many people came through yesterday, and even still today, and we reached our goal by late afternoon!

And then...I got the word that The Foundation would be adding another $5,000 to the already $10,000 they are matching.

Pretty darn sweet, I'd say!

I have thanked everyone a million times. But it is so gratifying to have made this accomplishment. And it is also a relief [probably for many of you too]. Now we can go to the next step of getting the barn started-which should begin in June-if the snow is gone! Hah!

What a wonderful way to end the week. Thank you one and all, no donation was too small, and all donations and shares did not go unnoticed. I am leaving the Go Fund up for a couple weeks to make sure all money is cleared into the account. You can always make donations here at the blog in the coming weeks. Stay tuned-there is lots percolating here!

THANK YOU. HOOF STOMPS. PIG SQUEALS. MEH.

Pino pulls a name out of his bucket and suffers anxiety

A post shared by Katherine Dunn / Apifera Farm (@katherinedunnapiferafarm) on Feb 20, 2018 at 8:09am PST

Poor little fellow, maybe I should raise his allowance.

I am like Pino though, I wish I could send all of the people who played a long a print. But, the important thing, is many of you did play along and we raised another $275 for the barn fund! It is so needed, and we are close but it feels far away. [We have another $3,300 to go to secure our matching grant].

So, we congratulate the winner of the print - it is going off to live in Montana with Lise R.! And we love all the rest of you for playing along-madly, truly, deeply!

It could be yours

You can help Apifera, and maybe adopt this archive 20" x 20" print [value $195].

All you have to do is donate $10. Every $10 gets your name in Pino's bucket, and at the end of next week, he'll pull a name out of his bucket. You can donate by check too if you wish, or go to the donate page. I will be adding all donations to the Barn GoFund site [if you donate there directly that is fine too].

The print is called "Bird Greets Young Tree".

If you do want to send a check, please email me so I know it is coming and I'll make sure your names gets put in Pino's bucket.

The Nose has a special public service announcement

When The Nose speaks, we listen. White Dog greets me everyday, wind, rain, sleet or snow. I guess he could be a mail person, although he might get distracted and do some walkabouts on his delivery route.

I always take time to commune with him, thank him for his service, and we look into each other's eyes in silence, or at least without words. I often tell him my mantra,

"Everything will be okay."

This is what I told all the animals as we prepared to leave the old farm for our long trip to Maine, and I still continue to say it to Benedetto. I think it is more for me than him, of course. I remember those days of reality sinking in, that we were in fact leaving our home for the unknown, and saying my mantra while looking in Ben's eyes soothed me and therefore him. These dogs are so telepathic, more so than any I've worked with.

So this morning The Nose was right there waiting.

I let him into the front paddocks to be with Marcella today. Everyone gets a bit bored, cooped up, in all the snow days. In the photo below, White Dog is standing in the area where the new barn will go. It will butt up against the other barn. I will be trying to come up with more fundraising fun in the coming weeks, as a down payment will be coming due soon. Remember, every dollar of the first $10,000 is being matched by The J&J Stanley Foundation [hoof stomps and pig squeals].

This barn fundraiser is a big undertaking-but will be crucial to our ongoing work. It will be so wonderful to have more stall space, and it will take pressure off the hay barn too. I already have ideas to improve and alter Her Royal Highness's suite. There might even be room for a giraffe, or elephant, who knows.

White Dog stands in the area where the new barn will go.

The Puppet picks two winners!

A post shared by Katherine Dunn / Apifera Farm (@katherinedunnapiferafarm) on Nov 5, 2017 at 10:42am PST

Poor little Puppet. He is so sensitive.

Congrats to the two winners who will each take home one of my small originals. And thank you to everyone who has donated to the barn fund-you will all be getting a special greeting at year's end from the Misfits, as will anyone who helped with the Elder Cat Suite. I'm sure there will be plenty of special art give aways and other enticements as the fundraiser proceeds!

As The Puppet says, nobody is a loser [for the record, I've never won anything in my life either, I think it's a genetic thing].

The Puppet is getting ready to pull a name out of a hat

You still have time to possibly take one of these original pieces home. All you have to do is go to the barn fundraiser and donate $10. Every $10 you put in gets your name on a piece of paper. The Puppet will pull two names out of his hat on late Wednesday, 10/31. I'm not sure if he will be in costume or not.

We have a great opportunity-The J&J Stanley Foundation will match for every dollar we raise up to $10,000. My goal is to put the down payment on the barn in April, with building to begin in June. The entire barn will cost $25,000. Thank you for those who have helped. Please share with your friends too. The new barn will allow us to take in more animals and have better quarantine and hospice areas.

Share their link with friends https://www.gofundme.com/apiferafarm-barn

Update on the new barn

I got the final bid for the barn and it comes in at $20,000, but that doesn't include the exterior wood and stalls which we will put up ourselves, so probably another $3-5,000.

we are drip by drip getting the job done! Thank you to those of you who have helped. I just sent out a big mailing and if you know someone who love animals and elders, please pass on our fundraiser.

Many companies will also match your donation to certain causes, so please consider asking your company if they might do this.

My goal is to be able to pay the down payment by February which is $6,000. Because of the graciousness of The J & J Stanley Foundation, every dollar donated will be matched up to $10,000-this is so important and wonderful.

Plus, if you donate this month, you might get an original piece of art. But you must donate before 10/31. On that day, The Puppet Will Pull Two Names Out Of His Hat and two donors will get one of my originals.

You can donate to the barn fund at the GoFund site. You can also send checks [let me know they are coming, please] or by going to  the regular funding page on this blog and want it to be for the barn [and possible art] that's OK, I can add your donation to the GoFund site manually [with with your name or anonymously].

It truly takes a village-and I appreciate everyone who has followed me, my art, my farm and animal work all these past 14 years!

I got stuck in the barn with The Llama and it was the best morning ever

The morning began with lots of wind and warm air but with a real feel of fall, and the smell of the ocean's cove nearby. It was beautiful. By the time I was almost done with feeding and cleanup in the outer barn, the rains began-down pours is a better way to explain them.

I love being in the barn in the rain. It takes me back to when I was little and I'd go out to my sumac fort in the cool days of autumn, sit with my poodle and just commune with Nature. There is something so comforting and 'safe' about being in the barn with the animals in inclement weather.

The animals take it all in stride. The sheep are not real lovers of rain, nor is Benedetto [although he loves snow and cold]. The llama too usually comes in when it rains, the donkeys and Boone really don't care but they were all inside munching breakfast hay.

After living in Oregon all those years, you might be wondering why I felt I couldn't run back to the house some 300 or so feet away.
I could have, but, I just didn't feel the need to get wet in a warm-but chilly-when-wet day and I had no coat on, or hat. So I sat amongst the sheep and Ben, and Birdie, with the equines right on our side in the other stall. The beautiful rain is much needed and it also meant the winds and rain kept the flies away.

I must have been out there forty minutes, in silence, having my morning equivalent of a church like experience.

Remember this moment, I thought.

I'm here, I thought, I'm getting to have this human experience, of feeling the air and smelling the rains and sea with wet wool mixed in and the smell of the horse near by.

It is moments like these that confirm I am a spirit having a human experience on this realm, and my time here must not be taken lightly.

{If you like the ten years of stories this blog has brought you, please consider a tax deductible donation to our barn fundraiser-so we can help more animals, which will mean...more stories, art and photos.}

A post shared by Katherine Dunn / Apifera Farm (@katherinedunnapiferafarm) on Oct 8, 2017 at 9:27am PDT

Hurry! OK, it goes through the month....

"Rabbit Watching Prayer Flags" 7" x 7" on wood

These can be yours for as little as $10.

Yep.

Here's how it works.

The Puppet is gathering names. For every $10 you pay, The Puppet will put a slip of paper with your name on it in a hat. All money will be put in the barn fundraiser and will be deductible. The Puppet will pull names out of his hat the last day of October. There will be two names pulled out of his hat, one for each piece. So the more $10's you send the more name slips you get in the hat. And it's for a good thing-a barn to help more Misfits!

Each piece is $7x7", on wood.

When I receive your payment, I will email you with confirmation. I will also add your name [or add your donation anonymously] to the barn fundraiser [and if you don't know already, The J & J Stanley Foundation is matching every dollar we raise up to $10,000].

Ends October 31.

So send Pino and me your 10's! And you can also send checks if you prefer [315 Waldoboro RD, Bremen ME 04551] with a note that it's for the Puppet's hat pulling on October 31.

"Mother and Child on Moonlit Walk" 7" x 7" on wood

The Puppet is back!

A post shared by Katherine Dunn / Apifera Farm (@katherinedunnapiferafarm) on Sep 29, 2017 at 8:26am PDT

Pino the Puppet has big ideas for a little donkey, but that has always been the case. He thinks outside the box. {If you want to help Pino and I see our wish come thru kindly go here, thank you}

Amazing news! Amazing! Amazing!

An amazing opportunity just presented itself to Apifera yesterday. It left me walking on air.

We need to build another barn to be attached to the second barn we built last summer. The new barn will allow us to help more elder/special needs creatures, and will also provide better space for quarantine and special situations-like hospice care.

So there I was yesterday afternoon, minding my own business, when the phone rang. I was informed that The J&J Stanley Foundation will match every dollar donated up to $10,000! I did what any professional does, I got weepy.

Isn't it wonderful?? It made me stand tall and feel like,

Wow, I am on the path I'm supposed to be on. And somebody really cares about Apifera's work!

Because we are now also in communication with state animal welfare people who might need a home for neglected creatures, the new barn will help me say 'yes' more.

So our goal is to raise $10,000 which will be matched dollar for dollar. The barn will cost $25-30,000. Please understand too that the Foundation $10,000 will not be submitted to the GoFund site, it will be deposited directly to Apifera, once we meet our funding goal. All your donations are tax deductible.

Once you donate at the GoFund site, and your money clears into the Apifera account, I will send you a receipt for your tax records.

Also, if you prefer to send a check, that is fine. I can add your donation manually-either anonymously or with your name. Checks can be made to Apifera Farm Inc and mailed to 315 Waldoboro Rd, Bremen ME 04551.

I asked the donors what I could do to show my thanks-and of course they graciously told me to just keep doing what I've been doing. But they also wouldn't mind having a chicken or something named after them. I will discuss this with Paco the Poet who has taken on these decisions since The Head Troll departed.