Support the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm, a small local farm in Victoria, British Columbia, home to goats, alpacas, donkeys, pigs, birds and more, which relies on donations from on-site visitors during the season and additionally needs continuing support during the off-season winter months.

The farm might be small in size but we are proud to provide a loving home to more than a hundred farm animals. During our public farm season which typically runs from mid March to Thanksgiving we welcome countless animal lovers of all ages. The visit to the farm is not by admission fee but by donation. These donations help us to cover the costs of running the farm and tending to all the needs of the animals - and the money donated by visitors gives us a good start into our off season. Every year after Thanksgiving the animals start their well deserved winter break during which they continue to receive the best care that we can provide - most often more intensive care and additional maintenance during the colder months. To be able to cover all the ongoing costs and keep going into another season with visitors we depend on generous support - especially now during the winter closure.

This fundraiser “Goat Fund Us” was first established in 2020 and since then visitors and donors have adopted this easy method of supporting the farm and a growing community is following our journey. We adjust the fundraising goal periodically to meet current funding gaps, particularly during the winter when the animals still require full care, but the farm is closed to the public. This winter season please “Share in the Giving” and support the farm, the home of our special animals!

Who visits the farm and what we share with the community

Every season at the farm is special and holds lots of unique moments, but the year 2025 was made extra special by the fact that the farm celebrated its 40th anniversary - what a milestone! We are so fortunate to be able to share this amazing experience of living with and caring for these animals with lots of visitors – tourists and locals alike. During our 40th anniversary event we were touched by how many visitors have already come for generations to the farm, making their animal visit a family tradition, how old memories were revived and new ones made - and our little farm with all its great animal residents makes it all possible!

While the farm is the safe home to many different animals (which we’ll introduce to you later) we are in the unique situation to bring this rural farm setting, which is an environment with a multitude of different farm animals and experience small scale farm life, into the buzzling confinement of city life. For the past 40 years the farm has always been a steady part of the local community. Each year between mid March to just after Thanksgiving the farm is open to visitors of the public - these visitors are as colourful as a rainbow - too many to name them all here, but lets just list a few examples:

… and so many more.

This might be the biggest “secret” of our farm: Everyone is welcome. As human beings we are all different, but the animals and their genuine presence give something to us - it might be something different for each of us, but we all take something home from the animals:

… all accompanied by the gentle, kind and curious nature of our amazing animals.

The animals simply help us to leave our daily worries behind and just enjoy the moment and make lots of positive memories.

How it all works

The farm is on city land and the city of Victoria also covers our cost for utilities which is a great help at any time but especially during the winter with the chilly weather and dark nights where additional heating and light might be needed. But apart from this contribution the farm solely depends on donations made by visitors to the farm as well as donations coming in online.

Having a successful and busy farm season is a very important step for bringing everyone through the winter break. When the farm closes to the public every year after Thanksgiving we continue to provide our animals with the highest quality of care they need and deserve - and that is especially important during the colder months. The staff also uses this quiet time at the farm to tend to any necessary cleaning, renovating and improving to have the farm ready in time for opening each March and then we rely on having a good and successful opening season with a busy spring break all through Easter weekend to recover our funds and keep the farm afloat.

In order to continue our work and the care for the animals through the quiet cold winter break, we depend on continuous donations from the community of animal-lovers and farm visitors and we are very grateful for any financial support we receive.

Who we are and what our role in the community is

I’m the manager of Beacon Hill Children’s Farm, but the farm can never be run and maintained by a single person. Behind the farm stands a strong team that consists of the volunteer-based Beacon Hill Farm Society, the Koenders family as owners and operators, a team of dedicated full- and part-time staff members and a large volunteer pool. To all of us the farm represents much more than just our work. Taking care of the animals and making the farm a unique place is a passion that we all share.

During the season the farm relies partly on the support through our large volunteer pool which consists of a very versatile group of people from all around Victoria. Our volunteers range from the age of 6 years into more senior years (currently 80+ years), a plentiful mix of students, retirees, people in various careers and different abilities. Working around the animals allowed many of them to grow and develop new skills. Taking care of another living being advanced their level of self-confidence, provided some meaningful and important tasks in their lives or helped them step back from a very hectic daily routine and simply relax. We are truly grateful for all their help and enjoy working alongside them.

Meet our farm family

We are very proud of all our different animals, they are genuinely part of our farm family and as many visitors to the farm will have been able to witness over the years our animals are well loved. We work alongside them, we spend so much time with them that we’ve established a close relationship with them. There are so many of the them and they are all unique:

Our two senior ladies Opal and Taffy who have the sweetest faces and loudest voices when it comes to feeding time.

Our flock of colourful chickens: these fancy fellows come in all sizes and personalities ...

... and they were joined this season by new arrivals: our pair of turkeys the lady Rose and her gobbling suitor Dwayne.

Our little herd of four alpacas Osmond, Lacy, Pumpkin and Sweetie Pie who show that we can still make new friends at their advanced age.

Our wonderful flock of birds in the aviary consisting of many finches, budgies and likely everyone's favourite the conure Mango who like to dance with visitors through the window.

Our three "little" piggy sisters Petunia, Poppy and Punk who don't like the grey chilly season at all and rather snuggle up to dream of sunny weather.

Our raft of big and small ducks - who enjoy their pond and any puddle or water bucket they can find.

Our little chattering group of guinea pig ladies who like to hide out together and noisily demand their healthy treats.

And of course our large goat herd:

With baby "Nova" who is the first baby born this season and who is growing up so quickly ...

... to our oldest lady "Astra" who loves to hang out with extended family and she her daughter becoming mother and her grand kids growing up.

And there are many more in between:

Some young, some old, some shy, some pushy, some expecting babies for the first time and others very experienced mothers, and ALL of them very lovingly. They all have their own story.

These are of course just a few examples of the members of our huge farm family. There are many more animals living here at the farm and we try to provide them all with the best care we can give and all the love they need.

Why we need your help

The community has always supported the farm over the past 40 years through volunteer work and donations. The farm would not be what it is without that support. We are immensely grateful for it. But especially when it comes to our winter break we really rely on your ongoing support to keep on providing for the animals.

It is not an easy step to ask for help - but we do so to ensure the continuous care for our animals. They bring so much joy to everyone who meets them: we are hoping that during the season of joy we can come together to lend support to the farm and to collect donations for the animals. Every donation helps - every small contribution brings us closer to our goal.

Here are just a few examples of the basic expenses that we are facing on a regular basis:

Just these monthly costs of keeping the animals well fed, having enough clean bedding for their barns, providing the necessary veterinary care and covering some of the maintenance will add up to about $6,000 CAD. On top of that are farm operational costs and staff costs.

In order to cover the “animal-related” costs expected for this winter season 2025/26 we decided to raise the goal of our fundraiser by $30,000CAD to a total of $210,00CAD. This fundraiser was initially started to help the farm during the COVID pandemic and the community supporting us really gave it wings. It’s been growing in supporters and support which really helped us through some difficult times. This has been quite a journey, and during all these years we liked to share our experiences that we have with the animals and give an insight into farm life. Now we share the hope that with your help we will be able to raise these essential funds which will allow us to provide for the animals until the farm opens again to the public next spring.

All the money raised during this campaign will be transferred to the farm’s bank account directly and will be used to support the animals and the farm.

Any financial help to get the animals and the farm through the winter break will be very much appreciated.

Thank you all and know that your donation is directly supporting the most lovable animals who you can come and still see through the fence in the winter and visit again in the spring.

The animals and all the staff of the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm are looking forward to welcoming you again next season.