Serenity Farm Virginia

08/29/2024

Mark your calendars and set your alarms!
Our Raku Pottery Auction kicks off tomorrow at 12 PM sharp!

Don't miss your chance to own a unique piece created by Mark Donahue, honoring Edgar, Tucker, and Midas. All proceeds will support the 67 animals at Serenity Farm Virginia.

Get ready to bid and make a difference!

Thank you for joining us in this special event to support the 67 wonderful animals who call Serenity Farm Virginia their home. We are thrilled to have you here and deeply appreciate your commitment to helping us provide a safe, loving sanctuary for each and every one of them.

08/28/2024

We're excited to unveil the final piece for our auction this Friday, a beautiful Raku pottery creation that honors our beloved rooster, Midas. This exquisite piece, crafted by Mark Donahue, incorporates Midas's naturally molted feathers, capturing their intricate beauty.

Midas is the vigilant guardian of our chicken flock. He takes his role seriously—always on patrol, ready to alert the flock to any potential danger. When he finds a tasty treat, he generously calls the hens over to share. He even follows his human friends around like a puppy and enjoys eating out of our hands. He's truly a sweet and special boy.

Don't miss this chance to support Serenity Farm Virginia and own a unique piece of art inspired by our cherished animals!

08/27/2024

Today, we're excited to feature two exquisite pottery pieces crafted with mane and tail hair from our beloved horse, Tucker. These one-of-a-kind works of art by Mark Donahue will be available for bidding at our online auction starting on August 30th.

17-year-old Tucker was discarded like many others when he could no longer be ridden due to an injury. Leaving the home he had known for a decade, along with his cherished horse companions, was a heartbreaking experience. The move to a new place with unfamiliar faces and animals left him feeling lost and withdrawn. But over time, Tucker slowly learned to trust us and opened his heart. Now, this beautiful, gentle soul is living out his days in peace, surrounded by those who truly appreciate the joy he brings to our lives.

08/26/2024

Make a Difference Monday: Dolphin Exploitation

Imagine being confined to a small room for your entire life, deprived of your family, freedom, and everything that makes life worth living. This is the grim reality for dolphins in captivity. These magnificent animals are trapped in tanks, swimming in endless circles with no escape from the walls that confine them. In the wild, dolphins travel up to 100 miles a day, exploring vast oceans, hunting, and socializing with their pods. In captivity, their world shrinks to a barren, chlorinated pool—an environment that causes them immense physical and psychological harm.

Many captive dolphins suffer in swim-with-dolphin programs and dolphin-assisted therapy programs. These interactions are far from normal dolphin behavior. Dolphins are often trained into submission using food deprivation techniques, kept hungry so they will perform on demand. To cope with the constant stress, nearly all captive dolphins require routine medication. This relentless physical and psychological strain leads many to die prematurely from illness or stress-related disorders (Dolphin Project).

It’s time to stop this exploitation. Dolphins deserve to be free, living their natural lives in the vast oceans where they belong. Let's raise our voices to end the captivity of dolphins and protect these intelligent, sentient beings.

Stand up for dolphins. Say no to captivity. Share this post to spread awareness.

08/25/2024

Our Raku Pottery Online Auction launches on 8/30! This is your chance to own a unique piece of art created by Mark Donahue, honoring three of our beloved sanctuary residents.

Today, we're highlighting a beautiful pottery piece made with mane and tail hair from our precious donkey, Edgar.

Edgar arrived at our sanctuary after enduring years of neglect in his previous home. A kind neighbor, concerned for his well-being, provided the hay and water that were often missing from his small, inadequate pen. For several years, we stood by as the neighbor tried to persuade Edgar's owner to surrender him, and on June 8, 2020, that long-awaited day finally came.

Our spirited little friend brings us endless joy, often making us laugh with his playful antics—whether it's a game of tug of war with his rubber chicken or a lively round of tag with his fellow donkeys.

Watch this space for more pottery previews and the auction link coming in the next few days!

08/24/2024

08/13/2024

We just received a donation of 1,800 pounds of Cat's Pride litter through their Litter for Good program!!! Thank you Cat's Pride!

08/10/2024

Shep and Elvis joined our sanctuary family today! Chocolate told them all about their new home and volunteered to be the official tour guide.

08/07/2024

Lot's of fun in the outdoor classroom today! Mud pies, water play, bandana art, books, and musical instruments-oh my!

08/06/2024

Thank You for Your Incredible Support!

We asked for your help to pay our medical bills, and your response has been amazing. Thanks to your generosity, $7,795 has been donated! This allowed us to cover our outstanding medical bills and has given us a reserve for future expenses.

Medical care is a significant amount of our monthly expenses. If you would like to help, please visit https://serenityfarmva.org/support-needed-help-us-care-for-our-animals/

We are committed to providing comprehensive medical care to every animal that comes through our doors. Many of the animals we rescue arrive in desperate need of medical attention due to neglect, ab…

08/04/2024

Excuse me, there is something on your nose.

08/02/2024

Mouse and Opossum had a well check yesterday and they received a diagnosis of happy kittens. They purred so much during the exam the vet couldn't hear their heartbeat. ❤️

08/01/2024

We are thrilled to announce that our July Medical Fundraiser raised an incredible $2,045! Your generous donations will help us continue rescuing and rehabilitating these wonderful animals. Thank you for making a difference! ❤️

07/26/2024

Starting a new native pollinator garden during a drought is challenging. By collecting water from the animals' troughs when they are cleaned out and using gray water from the house, we’re keeping the plants thriving. Recycle, reuse, conserve!

07/23/2024

A huge thank you to each of you who donated to our medical fundraiser! You contributed a total of $995! We have $2,045 left to reach our $3,000 goal.

The medical fund allows us to provide specialized care for our handicapped friends and ensure everyone at the sanctuary remains healthy and happy.

In our last fundraising post, you saw the horrendous condition some of our friends were in when they arrived. Check out these pictures of their amazing recovery. This is the wonderful work your donations make possible. Thank you!

To donate please visit our website: https://serenityfarmva.org/support-needed-help-us-care-for-our-animals/

07/19/2024

Urgent Plea for Help: Support Serenity Farm Virginia's Medical Fund

We have an urgent plea for help! Our medical bills are due, but our medical fund has been depleted.

Serenity Farm Virginia is home to 65 animals, many of whom came from lives of cruelty and neglect. Our medical fund has allowed us to rescue and rehabilitate many animals, such as:
• The “Herb Sisters” puppies who arrived so emaciated they were near death
• Alfonzo the goat, whose feet were so overgrown he had to walk on his knees
• Oliver the pig, who was blind and crippled due to obesity
• Leilah the goat, who lost her back legs and ears to frostbite at birth
• Anjo, who was rescued from a drainage pipe and arrived with serious health issues
• And many more

Currently, we have medical bills for Mouse and Opossum, who arrived as neonatal kittens abandoned by their feral mother. Their treatments include ringworm care, vaccines, and neutering. We also have bills for our newest lamb, Domino, who is blind in one eye, and Franklin the goat, who was treated for a condition causing anorexia.

To continue caring for all of these special friends, we are asking each of you to donate. https://serenityfarmva.org/support-needed-help-us-care-for-our-animals/

Our goal is to raise $3,000. No amount is too small; even $5 will make a difference in the lives of these sweet animals who are counting on us.

Thank you for your support!

07/18/2024

Edgar is the official donkey walker at the sanctuary.

07/16/2024

Join us in celebrating World Snake Day!
The aim of World Snake Day is to increase awareness about the over 3,500 snake species that exist across the world.
Pictured here is the common garter snake.
At Blandy, the garter snake and the eastern rat snake are the snakes you are most likely to see.
Garter snakes may be a gardener's best friend! They eat pesky slugs and snails in the garden, as well as some of our smaller mammal pests.
Garter snakes are non-venomous but a threatened snake will flatten their head and body to strike. They may also spray musk from glands located at the base of the tail in an attempt to discourage predators.

07/07/2024

The animals loved celebrating a one-year birthday with our sweet little visitor!

See comments to schedule a tour.

07/04/2024

I SUSPECT every gardener has for years now over and again heard the warnings about the most widely used pesticides in the United States, neonicotinoids—or..

07/03/2024

Our special needs girls Leilah and Domino love their barn on the hill. They have a birds eye view of all the farm happenings.

06/26/2024

The Glencarlyn Library Community Garden coordinators have created a new series of short videos about locally invasive plants and native alternatives. This month's post is on the Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) tree.

06/23/2024

Virginia Spiderwort, one of many native plants in our gardens, has a long history of food and medicinal purposes.

American tribes used the young leaves as salad greens or mixed them with other greens and then either fried or boiled them until tender. The plant was mashed and rubbed onto insect bites to relieve pain and itching. A paste, made from the mashed roots, was used as a poultice to treat cancer. A tea made from the plant was used as a laxative and to treat stomachaches associated with overeating.

The blooms attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

06/19/2024

Today something wonderful happened. An act of kindness saved a life.

A commuter on Shepherds Mill Road witnessed a fawn become tangled in a fence while following their mom across the road. When I arrived she was valiantly trying to free the baby while the mom watched from a distance. Thankfully, between the two of us, we were able to untangle the little one and mom and baby were reunited.

I didn't get your name, Good Samaritan, but I hope you read this and know you saved a life today. Thank you for caring. ❤️

06/18/2024

Join our Hay for a Day Club!

Become a hero to our animals by joining the Hay for a Day Club. As a member, you will purchase one bale of hay each month and your name will be added to the Hay for a Day mural at the sanctuary entrance.

Here’s how your membership makes a difference:

Monthly Contribution: Your $11 recurring donation covers the cost of one bale of hay each month, ensuring a consistent supply for our animals.

Immediate Impact: Each bale of hay you provide directly benefits the animals.

Collective Effort: When combined with other members’ contributions, your support helps us to meet the ongoing dietary needs of all our residents.

Together, we can ensure our animals receive the care and nutrition they deserve.

Join the Hay for a Day Club today and make a lasting impact! https://serenityfarmva.org/hay-for-a-day-club/

Thank you for your compassion and support!

Help Us Feed and Care for Our Animals, One Bale at a Time By joining our “Hay for a Day Club,” you can make a significant impact by ensuring that our animals have the nutritious food th…

06/14/2024

We love sharing this special place with visitors!

06/08/2024

We have new books for children to enjoy while visiting our outdoor classroom during tours.

Sandy's Incredible Shrinking Footprint conveys meaningful environmental messages.

Gabby & Grandma Go Green is the perfect picture book for inspiring green projects.

In Gathering Sparks a child learns from her grandfather how she can gather sparks by loving animals and doing good deeds. Then one day, when enough sparks are gathered, there will be peace in the world.

Book a tour appointment on our website.
https://serenityfarmva.org/visit-the-farm-2/

No kids in your group? No problem. After the guided tour relax in an aidarondak chair with our nature and garden books.

06/08/2024

Shoutout to our amazing volunteers at Serenity Farm Virginia! Huge thanks to Penny Ott and Eileen Kropf for helping us complete a major project in just one day. We moved goat and pig houses, water troughs, fencing, and all the animals to new pastures. Thank you, ladies! 🙌💚