Carlwood Calf Barn Repair

In the early morning hours of October 30th, a powerful storm slammed the Northeast.   My close friends, who I consider to be my second family, the Carlsons and Boardmans, own Carlwood Farm in Canaan, CT.  They were in complete disbelief as they found in the Monday morning daylight that their heifer barn, which houses roughly 70-head of their youngstock, was destroyed by the hurricane-force winds.  The entire tin roof of the barn has been completely ripped off and is not salvageable, leaving the cattle without much-needed shelter from the elements.  Thankfully all animals are unharmed and safe but unfortunately it is the only barn not covered by insurance.  

It has been a very difficult year for dairy farmers across the country due to low milk prices and this family has had a very difficult year health wise as well which makes this major setback even harder for them to grasp.  Doug spent this past Spring and Summer recovering from a stroke, and just recently came home from another stay in Geer Nursing & Rehab center due to some health issues.  Doug’s wife Crystalle, faced some health issues of her own a week after Doug’s stroke, and she underwent a mitral valve replacement in her heart.  Sandy has slowly been getting back on her feet after being laid-up all winter after being diagnosed with kidney cancer and undergoing surgery.  Most recently Sandy has been having to alter her schedule at the farm to take her husband Rick to his monthly chemo treatments for his battle with leukemia.    

This farm means everything to this family and they mean the world to me. They are the last people who would ever ask for help but the first to offer a hand to someone in need which shows their true selflessness.  Any of them would give the shirt off their back to help a friend and I believe we need to do the same for them.  Please consider donating even the smallest amount to this family so that they can begin to rebuild such a crucial part of their family-farm.  Thank you in advance!  


If you would like to donate directly, please mail checks to:

Carlwood Farm

141 Canaan Valley Road

Canaan, CT 06018