The farm and I need your help :)

Hi there everyone!

For those of you who do not know me, my name is Anne Marie and I own and operate Strouds Creek Farm in Hillsborough, North Carolina.  I am a single Mom to my 3 daughters and their only financial provider. The business that I have created here on the farm is how I pay the bills and put food on our table.   

I run a horse boarding operation, which also includes a riding lesson program.  Additionally, the farm is home to about 100 chickens raised for their delicious eggs that I sell to the community. The farm is also home to my after school program, birthday parties and summer camps.   
 
About 2 years ago I was sued by my neighbors over septic easments which, unbeknownst to me were located on my property. These easements are located in the pastures that I use to board horses.  The lawsuit alleged that horses could not continue to be housed on the land over these easments.  Can you imagine my shock when I received this suit!  How could this be  possible? I have been building this business for 10 years, using the land I own, that I pay taxes on and now I am being told I can't use it any more! 

The long and short of this situation is that the horses may not be kept on the land over the septic easments due to new regulations enacted by the county since I purchased my property 10 years ago!  My legal fees in this matter have already exceeded $10,000.00 and the changes that are required to comply with the new regulations must be done immediately to avoid further legal expenses.  So to say that I have lost sleep and had many panic attacks over this situation is putting it mildly!

Since I believe that God never closes a door with out opening a window, I put my big girl boots on and came up with a plan to preserve my lively hood and come into complaince with the new county regulations.

1 -  Existing fencing, gates and run in shelters must be removed, repositioned and relocated. 
 
2 -   The two paddocks located within the easements must be turned into "compatible use" areas. 

3 -  Two new paddocks must be created and fenced in areas outside the easements.  
  
4 -  The playground area must be relocated and reconstructed.

5 -  Privacy trees must be removed and replaced.  


This brings me to gofundme!!
 
I find it really difficult to ask for help.  I take pride in being a very hard worker and always finding a way to "make things happen".  This situation puts me in a very different place, I simply cannot do this on my own.  I do not have the funds to make the changes that I must.

Your donation will make a huge difference and the girls, the animals and I will be forever grateful  :)   

Thank you so much,
Peace Love & Happiness
Anne Marie


www.stroudscreekfarm.com