Ballydídean Farm Sanctuary

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Clinton, WA
Ballydídean Farm Sanctuary

Ballydídean Farm Sanctuary 🐄🦙🐐🐏🐖🐓🦃🦢🦆
📍 Whidbey Island (Seattle)
🌱 Powered by plants and SSRIs
💸 501(c)(3) nonprofit
(1)

02/17/2025

Our day got disrupted in the most educational way! Unfortunately a bunch of our teens were sick but that meant that there were few enough of them that they could all come on Wicklow's clinic visit for his intake exam! They got to see him get an x ray which Dr. Sandi walked us all through, they got to see him get some shots and some stitches, they each got a turn listening to his heart. Dr. Sandi was so generous with her time and really involved everyone in the diagnostic process. It was so fun!

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02/16/2025

Welcome Wicklow and Glendalough! We are so thrilled to have these two not least because we so rarely get to rescue families together. Glendalough is 6 years old and was living on a production farm in Northern California. Due to many possible issues (genetic issues, viruses, toxic plants, malnutrition, unlucky twins, etc) she had a complicated lambing. Both her babies (usually sheep don't have twins) were born with wobbly crooked legs. The farmer wanted to get rid of mom too "because she was making broken babies".

Unfortunately one of them died before we were able to remove them from the farm but our fave volunteer Jorden picked them up and got them here safely. We thought the baby had contracted tendons which can often be helped with splinting if caught early enough but after getting baby up here and getting x rays, Dr. Sandi said that actually it looks like he was premature (makes sense for twins) and the knee bones (equivalent to our wrist bones) were not yet fully grown so there was a lot less bone and a lot more cartilage that's not meant to be load bearing. We shrunk their space quite a bit so that he can't bounce around too much and it has already gotten a lot better on it's own.

Dr. Sandi also had to fix a flipped eyelid which is a relatively common genetic problem we see in sheep that causes flipped or split eyelids that cause extremely painful wounds on the eyes due to rubbing eyelashes.

Mom and baby are both doing well and we can't wait to tell you more about them!

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02/15/2025

Meet Frankie! Named for St. Francis, Frankie is one of two roosters named by the animal ministry at as part of their generous $50/mo sponsorship. Frankie and Augie are brothers from the same clutch of eggs. Their guardians were one of our favorite families on the Island who do a lot of work for us at the sanctuary and were unfortunately displaced along with seven hens when a landlord in Freeland changed their mind about allowing chickens after years of having them. We are sad for the family but so grateful for St. Augustine's in-the-woods for making this rescue possible

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02/14/2025

Welcome Acorn! We have missed having turkey energy around so much. Unlike Gourd and Delicata who have been bred to grow so fast they collapse even under sanctuary conditions, Acorn is a heritage breed (Bourbon Red). Even though he's already two years old, he should live to to at least 6, hopefully 8 years! The differences are actually startling. He can walk, he can run, he can jump and roost, he can vibrate his feathers to make this really cool reverberating deep purr noise. It makes me sad to know more fully what Gourd was missing out on but so happy for Acorn to be able to display the full range of turkey joy!

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02/13/2025

Sven hung out with Sarah while she and teen volunteer Maliya prepped the basement room for an incoming lamb rescue! They've actually been here for a few days but we'll introduce publicly this weekend!

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02/12/2025

Snow days! Nothing I loved more as a kid, nothing I hate more as an adult 🤣.

We had two snow days and a late start last week. Gwen had such a great time playing in the snow but running a frozen farm sanctuary while your kindergartener is bouncing off the walls is... a challenge.

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02/11/2025

💘 Our relationship can vote! ✅

Happy 18th anniversary, Sarah. We have both changed so much since our teens, and I have found that every change is an opportunity to fall in love with you all over again. I fell in love with you as a theater nerd, as an architecture student, as a fashion designer, as a miniature artist, as an interior designer, as a saleswoman, as a business owner, as a board member, as an animal guardian, as a mom, and as the partner that I have needed to achieve our dreams together.

You always find new ways to surprise and delight me just by being you. Your happy squeaks when you the perfect piece of salvage furniture, your witchy cackle when you see something juicy in a reality show, your purr when you sink into a great cuddle with a rescued animal, your furrowed brow when you're girl-mathing your way through a building project.

You're beautiful in muddy overalls, you're beautiful in classy gowns, you're beautiful in your own body.

I love you so much and I can't wait for our relationship to be able to drink! 🥂

(Posted by Ansel)

02/10/2025

Last reminder! We have 1 table left Saturday and 2 tables left Sunday. Support the animals and have a delicious chef-crafted meal with your sweetie this weekend.

https://ballydidean.farm/lovebirds

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02/09/2025

It's Sunday! Blossom says it's a great day to have breakfast in bed

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02/08/2025

Hay: to eat or to wear?

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02/07/2025

We are so in love with the new boys in the dumped flock. They are all so sweet and dumb and goofy. Some updates in the last couple weeks:
1. Two of them have chosen to join Tumbledown flock as independent roos
2. One of them has become a very close partner to Sven
3. One of them has managed to woo a gal away from Tumbledown flock and she has moved into the frat house with him

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02/06/2025

I mentioned the metal roofing we scored at an auction for about 60% off retail late last year. We still won't be able to install it until the rain stops this spring but with the spike in forecasted steel prices due to Canadian tariffs we are now doubly grateful with the timing. We could not have afforded to re-roof the barns without it.

(Gwen for scale)

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02/05/2025

This move is called the cowboy moon tree. Because Gwen calls desert brush "cowboy trees" and she says she's doing a "moon move". 🤠🌛🌴

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02/04/2025

It's the tail end of pumpkin donation season and the cows are really going to miss it!

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02/03/2025

Nothing better than a cow cuddle! Maliya started spending time with us as a babysitter for Gwen so Sarah and I could work outside but she pretty quickly took my spot outside with Sarah and has been helping us in all sorts of ways. We have been so impressed with her creativity, problem solving, and enthusiasm. Thank you Maliya!

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02/02/2025

Our neighbor Ron just may be the sweetest man who has ever lived. He always sends us holiday cards on his custom Whidbey themed stationary. But this winter he used his design skills (and his laminator) to make a bespoke
Ballydídean deck of cards with a resident on each card! He even put thought into which resident to put on which card (Ash as the Ace of clubs is perfect).

I love the little easter egg that the club cards have the footprint of each individual species!

Thank you Ron, for brightening our winter with this gift and our neighborhood with your presence.

(Posted by )

02/01/2025

Don't tell the others but here's our favorite cow Dahlia next to our favorite sheep Dublin 🤎🤍🤫

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01/31/2025

We'll miss the warmth, the adventure, and the restaurant selection from Palm Springs but it's great to be back home on our island. Huge thank you to Kate, Jennifer, Maliya, Susan, Edward, and the other staff and volunteers that made it possible for us to take a little break.

Address

3460 French Road
Clinton, WA
98236

Telephone

+13609309388

Website

https://linkin.bio/ballydidean

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Videos

I always love seeing Blossom emerging from bed! She missed breakfast again because she's deaf so Sarah had to go find her. #farmsanctuary #animalsanctuary #rescue #friendsnotfood #herewithusnotforus #govegan #goveg #vegan #veganfortheanimals #animalsofinstagram #someonenotsomething #whidbeyisland #pigs #pigsofinstagram (Posted by @anstosa)

Our 5 bachelors have started free ranging during the day because they are just SO sweet and social. They follow Sarah wherever she goes as she's working throughout the day and when it gets dark they all go back to their coop and jump up on the roosts together 🖤🖤🖤🤍🤍 #farmsanctuary #animalsanctuary #rescue #friendsnotfood #herewithusnotforus #govegan #goveg #vegan #veganfortheanimals #animalsofinstagram #someonenotsomething #whidbeyisland #sheep #sheepofinstagram #rescuesheep #savethelambs #friendsnotfiber #notyourmomnotyourmilk #llamas #llamasofinstagram #chickens #chickensofinstagram #rescuehen #rescuerooster #loversnotfighters #rescuechicken (Posted by @anstosa)

Baby Sunlight is very happy about her corn stalk (corn on the cob is always a piggy favorite) but she is worried about having to share it so she stays on the move 😂 #farmsanctuary #animalsanctuary #rescue #friendsnotfood #herewithusnotforus #govegan #goveg #vegan #veganfortheanimals #animalsofinstagram #someonenotsomething #whidbeyisland #pigs #pigsofinstagram (Posted by @anstosa)

The huge increase in our fresh produce sorting needs thanks to The Goose demanded a rethinking of our intake, sorting, and distribution system. Here's what Sarah came up with! We've been using it for several weeks and it's working great. #farmsanctuary #animalsanctuary #rescue #friendsnotfood #herewithusnotforus #govegan #goveg #vegan #veganfortheanimals #animalsofinstagram #someonenotsomething #whidbeyisland (Posted by @anstosa)

Finally caught this on video! Rez has learned how to open pumpkins with his head 😊 #farmsanctuary #animalsanctuary #rescue #friendsnotfood #herewithusnotforus #govegan #goveg #vegan #veganfortheanimals #animalsofinstagram #someonenotsomething #whidbeyisland #cows #cowssofinstagram #pasturepuppies #notyourmomnotyourmilk #rescuecow #dairyisscary (Posted by @anstosa)

The story of Ash, the livestock guardian dog who saw a field mouse run into a bush. #farmsanctuary #animalsanctuary #rescue #friendsnotfood #herewithusnotforus #govegan #goveg #vegan #veganfortheanimals #animalsofinstagram #someonenotsomething #whidbeyisland #dogs #dogsofinstagram #lgd #anatolian #adoptdontshop #workingdog #farmdog (Posted by @anstosa)

It's farm fashion Friday! Did you know that pointy gel nails are great for cow scritches? #farmsanctuary #animalsanctuary #rescue #friendsnotfood #herewithusnotforus #govegan #goveg #vegan #veganfortheanimals #animalsofinstagram #someonenotsomething #whidbeyisland #cows #cowssofinstagram #pasturepuppies #notyourmomnotyourmilk #rescuecow #dairyisscary (Posted by @anstosa)

Arnold is such a good boy. When tour groups come through, he just walks up to them and tips over for belly rubs 😂 #farmsanctuary #animalsanctuary #rescue #friendsnotfood #herewithusnotforus #govegan #goveg #vegan #veganfortheanimals #animalsofinstagram #someonenotsomething #whidbeyisland #pigs #pigsofinstagram (Posted by @anstosa)

Being originally from the midwest, we are used to a LOT more deciduous trees than we have in the PNW so our little trip to Cleveland to visit Gwen's uncle Nolan and Aunt Ari was an excellent opportunity for leaf jumping (No, that's not their house in the background unfortunately 😂) #farmsanctuary #animalsanctuary #rescue #friendsnotfood #herewithusnotforus #govegan #goveg #vegan #veganfortheanimals #animalsofinstagram #someonenotsomething #whidbeyisland #farmgirl #farmhand #gwednesday (Posted by @anstosa)

Our hearts are full. This weekend well over 100 people took us up on our offer of free animal therapy for people who really needed it after this week... Here's a timelapse of our driveway 9-5 Friday-Sunday. We met some amazing people, most of whom had never visited before! Many of them were also disappointed to learn that Gwen was still on the east coast and would not be making an appearance 😭🥰. Thank you to everyone who came! By Sunday afternoon everyone was so full that the only residents who still wanted treats were Neo and Poco 😂 #farmsanctuary #animalsanctuary #rescue #friendsnotfood #herewithusnotforus #govegan #goveg #vegan #veganfortheanimals #animalsofinstagram #someonenotsomething #whidbeyisland #cows #cowssofinstagram #pasturepuppies #notyourmomnotyourmilk #rescuecow #dairyisscary (Posted by @anstosa)

Sometimes the Ballydídean crew gets to visit other animals... today we learned that giraffes and cows are more alike than we thought! ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #farmsanctuary #animalsanctuary #rescue #friendsnotfood #herewithusnotforus #govegan #goveg #vegan #veganfortheanimals #animalsofinstagram #someonenotsomething #whidbeyisland⁠ #cows #cowssofinstagram #pasturepuppies #notyourmomnotyourmilk #rescuecow #dairyisscary⁠ #farmgirl #farmhand #gwednesday⁠ ⁠ (Posted by @mackofall.trade)

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Ballydídean aims to promote animal welfare, ethical land stewardship, and positive community building

Founded by the Santosa family in 2018, Ballydídean Farm Sanctuary is something that Sarah and Ansel dreamed of starting since they were 15 in high school. Many have never met farm animals; particularly not those who were kept in non-production conditions and have misconceptions about the behavior or characteristics of those animals. Those misconceptions are often used as excuses for treating farm animals different from pets.

We want to adopt animals out of production conditions and give them happy, peaceful lives. And we want to give others access via community or educational events to help build a sense of empathy towards these animals, especially in children.