Elodie Farms Goat Barn Building Campaign
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Elodie Farms Barn Building Campaign Video
Elodie Farms is a no-kill goat dairy in Rougemont, NC. Unlike most dairies, we care for all the goats in our herd. At our farm, goats are never separated from their mothers, and old goats, males and animals with special needs live at the farm instead of being slaughtered. Every goat has an individual meal plan, regular vet care, and plenty of attention. We make fresh goat cheeses, and we use the leftover whey from cheese production to make whey crackers. We also host farm tours and multi-course farm dinners.
Creating a compassionate farm comes with a great deal of stress and a huge financial burden. Regular farm maintenance is expensive and keeping up has been particularly challenging during the pandemic. Half of our goats sleep in small tobacco barns that are over 100 years old. These small barns sit on the lowest point of a slope next to a creek and they flood every time it rains. Over time, the foundation and the walls have rotted making them drafty and damp. Strong winds and tree branches have also damaged some of the roofs adding to the flooding. Unfortunately, dampness and high temperatures contribute to a multitude of diseases that can affect goats. Last year, several of our animals had to be hospitalized for conditions brought about by the abnormally rainy year. Luckily, everyone recovered but we were left with hefty vet bills in the middle of a pandemic.
According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, 2020 was the second wettest year in NC since 1895 second only to 2018, and this trend is expected to continue in the next few decades. Therefore, it is our priority to build a new barn to protect the goats from the elements and to keep them healthy. That is why we have launched this GoFundMe campaign.
Building a new barn will help us accomplish the following important objectives:
1. Keep our herd healthy: Goats are very hardy animals, but they need protection against draft, rain, and mud. Draft and rain can increase the chances of pneumonia, and mud can cause painful hoof problems and it increases the chance of parasitic infections. The new barn is designed to protect the goats from the north winds, and it will be built on higher ground with adequate drainage to avoid flooding and decrease mud formation.
2. Protect our elderly goats: We do not slaughter our goats. For that reason, we have goats that are 15+ years old. Unfortunately, younger goats sometimes bully them out of the barns into the rain, and we end up with some of these goats in our mudroom or in improvised shelters that are not optimal. The new barn will have dedicated stalls for our elderly goats to provide shelter from the rain and draft, and protection from the bullies.
3. Isolate sick animals: On occasion, animals need to be isolated when they are sick so that we can provide adequate medical care and to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Our only isolation room is currently being used by Janet, one of our special needs goats. The new barn will have a dedicated isolation stall with cameras that will facilitate medical care and monitoring of sick animals.
Our goal is to raise $30,000 by June 30, 2021 to build a 2,000 square foot metal barn with electricity and water, and on higher ground away from the flood area.
Our commitment to compassionate farming in unwavering. But we cannot accomplish this project without your help. Please support our goats by donating today and by sharing this campaign with your friends and family.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Elodie Farms is a no-kill goat dairy in Rougemont, NC. Unlike most dairies, we care for all the goats in our herd. At our farm, goats are never separated from their mothers, and old goats, males and animals with special needs live at the farm instead of being slaughtered. Every goat has an individual meal plan, regular vet care, and plenty of attention. We make fresh goat cheeses, and we use the leftover whey from cheese production to make whey crackers. We also host farm tours and multi-course farm dinners.
Creating a compassionate farm comes with a great deal of stress and a huge financial burden. Regular farm maintenance is expensive and keeping up has been particularly challenging during the pandemic. Half of our goats sleep in small tobacco barns that are over 100 years old. These small barns sit on the lowest point of a slope next to a creek and they flood every time it rains. Over time, the foundation and the walls have rotted making them drafty and damp. Strong winds and tree branches have also damaged some of the roofs adding to the flooding. Unfortunately, dampness and high temperatures contribute to a multitude of diseases that can affect goats. Last year, several of our animals had to be hospitalized for conditions brought about by the abnormally rainy year. Luckily, everyone recovered but we were left with hefty vet bills in the middle of a pandemic.
According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, 2020 was the second wettest year in NC since 1895 second only to 2018, and this trend is expected to continue in the next few decades. Therefore, it is our priority to build a new barn to protect the goats from the elements and to keep them healthy. That is why we have launched this GoFundMe campaign.
Building a new barn will help us accomplish the following important objectives:
1. Keep our herd healthy: Goats are very hardy animals, but they need protection against draft, rain, and mud. Draft and rain can increase the chances of pneumonia, and mud can cause painful hoof problems and it increases the chance of parasitic infections. The new barn is designed to protect the goats from the north winds, and it will be built on higher ground with adequate drainage to avoid flooding and decrease mud formation.
2. Protect our elderly goats: We do not slaughter our goats. For that reason, we have goats that are 15+ years old. Unfortunately, younger goats sometimes bully them out of the barns into the rain, and we end up with some of these goats in our mudroom or in improvised shelters that are not optimal. The new barn will have dedicated stalls for our elderly goats to provide shelter from the rain and draft, and protection from the bullies.
3. Isolate sick animals: On occasion, animals need to be isolated when they are sick so that we can provide adequate medical care and to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Our only isolation room is currently being used by Janet, one of our special needs goats. The new barn will have a dedicated isolation stall with cameras that will facilitate medical care and monitoring of sick animals.
Our goal is to raise $30,000 by June 30, 2021 to build a 2,000 square foot metal barn with electricity and water, and on higher ground away from the flood area.
Our commitment to compassionate farming in unwavering. But we cannot accomplish this project without your help. Please support our goats by donating today and by sharing this campaign with your friends and family.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Organizer and beneficiary
Shannon Elizabeth Greene
Organizer
Rougemont, NC
Sandra Vergara
Beneficiary
