Help Melissa buy her berry farm

Now that I have realized by dream to create a stable, self-sustaining business as a farmer, I want to help other women find freedom from abusive domestic relationships. With your help, I plan to purchase the farm I have established on leased property – where I can employ and work around the schedule of single mothers starting out on their own. I have traveled that road, and my mission is to help others find their way out.

My name is Melissa and I began in agriculture as a hobby farmer 25 years ago, growing large gardens and orchards with multiple varieties of fruits and vegetables. I always dreamed of being able to pursue my passion as an actual business, but my social situation would not allow it. I was born into a polygamous cult that is completely male dominant, so as a woman, I was subject to my husband and the rules set forth by the organization as to what my role could be. My then “husband” finally gave me “permission” to start selling my produce at the local farmer’s market in the spring of 2018. I took advantage of this situation and immediately registered my business with the state of Montana. My first booth contained a few zucchinis and some jars of homemade jam.

This became the catalyst for my escape to freedom, and Aspen Grove Farm is not only a testament to my passion for agriculture, but my desire to succeed as a female entrepreneur and most importantly a witness to the true goodness of God. I wish to be an example to other women and young girls from abusive and dominating situations that they can break free and flourish to pursue their own dreams.

Today I am blessed to lease the land where my farm grows. With the help of new friends and a new faith community I have been able to grow and maintain six acres of berries (five of them being honeyberries) and introduce this amazing super fruit to our local market in fresh form as well as the jams and syrups I process in a local commercial kitchen. The business dream is being realized and the farm is now able to hire employees…so here goes part two of the dream, helping other women find freedom. Having a means of income is often difficult in the culture I left. Not only can I offer employment, but my experience as a single mom of eight children gives me a unique understanding of how challenging it can be to work outside the home and therefore I am willing and able to work around the mom schedule. Flexibility is the key when walking alongside a woman seeking freedom from abuse.

So here is the reason for a Go Fund Me. The gentleman that I lease the farm from wants to sell the whole property – 6 acres of farm and 2 acres with a 3 bedroom house by the end of the year. He is a very kind man and wants me to be able to have the opportunity to buy before anyone else. Currently I live in the house I shared with my former spouse but must face every day the culture I am still in the process of escaping. When I can live elsewhere I will finally be free, free of the spying eyes, the gossip and the shunning and able to fully help women retain their privacy as they seek their own escape. The ideal situation would be to live at the farm and be able to manage the daily challenges of water and weather without loading all my kids in a car and driving across the valley. So…I need help with a down payment. The farm and jam business are now a going concern and can make a mortgage payment. I have a significant amount in savings but not enough to cover what the bank will require even with being a woman farmer and first time home buyer. The current value of the house and farm is $580,000 which means I need approximately $200,000 down to keep the monthly payments reasonable. I have taken on a third job to help bring in some more income but it will not be enough soon enough. I realize this is a large request but ALL money collected will go directly to the farm payment and the mission to help women.

The journey I have traveled so far has been miraculous, to say the least. Clearly, there is a purpose for this farm that goes beyond me. I am extremely grateful for the blessings I have been presented with so far and would like to thank any donors for your part in helping my family provide a means to final freedom for us and others in similar situations.