From Surviving to Sanctuary: Help Build Benny’s Beans

✨ Help Me Bring Benny’s Beans to Life – A Fairy Garden Café and Rescue Sanctuary ✨

Hi, I’m Juniper. I’m 33 years old, disabled, a DA survivor, a student, and a dreamer. Although I'm currently working toward my Master’s in Anthropology and Archaeology, my true dream, the one I’ve nurtured through some of the most challenging years of my life, is to create a beautiful sanctuary - something lasting, healing, and full of magic.

Benny's Beans is more than just a business to me - It’s a place where sustainability, animal rescue, whimsy, kindness, healing, and magic come together — and I need your help to make it a reality.

What Is Benny’s Beans?

Benny’s Beans: The Pig & Pug Café – Animal Rescue & Fairy Garden will be a whimsical, themed, cottage-core and fairy-inspired café and animal sanctuary nestled in the lush beauty of Koh Samui, Thailand.

It’s a place where rescue animals are loved and protected, and where guests can unwind in a setting that feels like stepping into a storybook — But Benny’s Beans isn’t just a business — it’s a sanctuary born from survival, and built in memory of my first rescued companions: Benny, Biene (Beans), and Aunna. They saved me, grounded me, and gave me purpose when everything else felt lost. Now I want to honor their legacy by creating a place where others — animals and people alike — can feel that same kind of safety and love.

Over the last decade, I've survived DA (my divorce left me with nothing but a van full of stuff and my precious fur kids at my side), chronic illness (which cost me my job more than once), multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, and years of instability. I’ve started over from scratch more than once. But through it all, animals have been my anchor, and this dream has stayed alive in my heart.

My autoimmune condition (which is just one of a number of conditions I live with) has no cure, and while I am happy to say I'm chemo-free now, I will have to continue taking immunosuppressants for the rest of my life. This, along with other health issues that affect my autonomic nervous system, makes life here in Germany (during the winter) incredibly hard. In Thailand, the temperature stays stable (and warm) year-round. This would be such a blessing to me.

Please note this is a community-supported dream project for a cafe that will double as an animal rescue/sanctuary. Funds will go directly into a dedicated account for the startup costs. I will not use this money for anything else (as is also GFM's policy and guarantee). This is not a business investment; donors will receive no goods or services in return for their donations.

Well, you will get my eternal gratitude, but nothing of physical monetary value.

Benny’s Beans will be:

This fundraiser is to help launch Benny’s Beans from the ground up — to make the move to Thailand, secure the property, build safe spaces for the animals, and create a magical experience for visitors. Every element will reflect our commitment to sustainability, community, animal welfare, and heartfelt hospitality.

It’s taken me a long time to find the courage to share this — I’ve been scared someone might take the idea and build it faster than I can. But I’ve realized this dream is mine because it comes from my story, and I have to try.

Why Thailand?

As I mentioned above, Thailand’s warm, stable climate helps ease my chronic pain, which flares up in colder, unstable weather. I’ve spent years battling illness, I've had to undergo chemo and Immunosuppression therapy, multiple surgeries, and rehabilitation again and again. During the last 5 months alone, during winter in Germany, I have had to take five different antibiotics for five separate infections. I hardly ever leave the house because of pain and fear of catching another virus that will turn bacterial... but when I’m in Thailand (I have been blessed to go on three separate occasions now over the last 7 years), I feel stable, surrounded by the warmth of the sun, the beauty and tranquility of the warm and clear ocean... Swimming is the best (and only) real exercise I'm allowed to do, but it isn't so easy to go to the pool here in Germany all the time, especially in the winter (not to mention there is a certain financial cost). Massage therapy is one of the best things for my pain, and in Germany, I can't afford it. In Thailand, the ocean is free, the weather is fantastic, and the massages are affordable. Thailand also has a strong healthcare system, where medical treatment is not only excellent but also affordable.

Plus, Thailand is developing a growing appreciation for immersive cafés and animal rescue spaces, and Benny’s Beans would offer something truly unique. I'll be able to build this cafe thanks to a treaty that exists between Thailand and America. I also want to give back to the community by working with local rescues, hiring locals, paying above the minimum wage, and donating 10% of profits to charities focused on community welfare, reef conservation, and, of course, animal welfare.

Why I’m Asking for Help

As I've said, I held this dream close, afraid that if I shared it, someone might build it before I could. I won't lie, I'm still afraid... But I’ve realized: some dreams are meant to be shared. This one is bigger than me. It’s about healing, kindness, and giving animals—and people—a place to truly belong.

I’m asking for €800,000 to bring Benny’s Beans to life—built with care, magic, and intention from the ground up. That number may seem high.

But it breaks down to just €10 from 80,000 people, or €5 from 160,000.

And what it allows us to build is something truly rare: a sanctuary designed to last.

Your support will help me:

If you can contribute—even just 5 euros—you’re helping create something deeply meaningful. And if you can’t donate, sharing this with your community is just as powerful.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you for believing that this world needs more soft places, second chances, and slow mornings in a fairy garden.

With love, hope, and a whole lot of puggy snuggles,

Juniper

View my Pinterest Board to get a better idea of the vibe: https://pin.it/6aMcydxRo

Oh, and let's not forget... since this is a dream rooted in reality, my ✨ Financial Plan ✨ can be found below. I have a more detailed business plan, of course, but these are the basics you need to know!

You might be wondering - where exactly are my funds going?

or

How will Benny's Beans live on after this campaign?

Here is the answer:

Business Setup & First Year Operations: ~ $70,000 USD

Relocation & Business Visas: All costs associated with international relocation, business registration, and required visas.

Thai Business Bank Account Setup: Ensuring compliant financial operations in Thailand.

Initial Recruitment: Focused on securing a talented head chef and key staff.

Legal Counsel: Professional support to navigate business formation, contracts, and regulatory requirements.

Business Vehicle: Purchase of a reliable used van for business transport.

Launch Marketing: A comprehensive initial marketing push, including digital campaigns and collaborations with local hotels and tour operators to drive awareness and customer traffic.

Business Licenses:

US-Thailand Treaty of Amity Certification

Thai Company Registration

Food Service License

Hotel License and Inspection Fee

Animal Care License/Animal Welfare Permit & Inspection

Environmental Compliance and Waste Disposal Permits

Health and Safety Inspections

Zoning Permits

Land Purchase & Construction: ~ $640,000 USD

Land Purchase

Café, Kitchen, and Staff Apartment(s)

Owner's House

Studio Rental Cottage

Small Pond for Ducks

Small Pool for Pigs

Small Barn

Furniture and Decorations

Initial Animal Rescue Costs: ~ $10,000 USD

We will be adopting/rescuing 14 animals to start - this estimate includes costs associated with any potential adoption or rescue fees, transportation, medical care, food, and any other potential fees that might arise. Initially, we will be getting:

Pugs (3)

Pigs (3)

Ducks (4)

Bunnies (4)

Once we are established, I hope to set up a relationship with local rescues and foster available dogs and cats at the cafe - so they might be adopted out by patrons.

Initial Inventory & Souvenirs: ~ $10,000 USD

I will do my best to support local Thai artists and small businesses by purchasing our inventory from them:

Mugs and To-Go Cups

Stuffed Animals

T-Shirts

Magnets

Art Prints

Postcards

Tea Sets

Initial Operating Costs (First 6 months): ~$50,000 USD

Contingency Plans (for unexpected expenses): $20,000 USD

Projected Annual Revenue: ~ $576,240 USD

Revenue Breakdown:

Café Revenue: ~ $304,200

Private Feeding Revenue: ~ $221,400

Souvenir Sales Revenue: ~ $28,800

Studio Cottage Rental Revenue: ~ $21,840

Additional Revenue Potential: ~ $106,600 (from private parties, themed events, and holiday specials)

Projected Annual Running Costs: ~$373,354 USD

We will be paying fair wages (far above the minimum wage) and offering comprehensive benefits for employees. Running costs also include the cost of animal care and routine check-ups.

Total Profit (5-day work week): ~ $257,905 USD

We will be donating 10% of all profits to local charities, which would amount to approximately $25,790 annually.

The remaining funds will be used for ongoing maintenance of the café, animal care, rescue work, and to support myself, my mother, and my family.