Hi Friends, Community and Local Supporters,

Who We Are: Angie and Dave Wagner, Shanti Farm, Wilkinson, Indiana

Shanti means Peace

After decades of living in suburbia, we felt a strong calling to a more spacious, peaceful place. Shanti Farm is our 12 acres of the Earth where we treat the land and all beings with respect. Creatures and gardens are cultivated with love. Shanti Farm began as just a peaceful place to live but in the past 2 years we have realized that many people in our community share our beliefs about growing food, and so our dreams for this land and our lives have grown. We have expanded our gardens and tend well over 150 chickens and ducks so we can sell fresh produce and eggs year-round to people who care where and how their food is grown.

How will the money from this Fundraiser be used?

There is demand in our community (direct customers and established wholesale partners) for Shanti Farm to do more. Until now, we have used all the funds at our disposal, even exhausting retirement accounts from previous jobs. The funds we hope to raise will go exclusively to that expansion in the following ways:

Greenhouses

We love growing in high tunnels as they reduce the number of variables to grow produce, extend the growing season and are cost effective. We currently have 2 and need 3 more.

Chicken tractors

There is demand for Shanti Farm pasture-raised chicken in our community and we need 3 chicken tractors to raise them in.

Expanded refrigeration and storage

Growing/Raising more means more storage.

Barn upgrades and repairs

There are 3 barns that we use for animal housing and storage. One is a heritage barn that was built in the late 1800’s and is in need of repair and upgrades to ensure it continues to serve its purpose. We have two additional barns that are not as old, but also need updates to support our growing farm.

Support Shanti Farm

We want to make a difference! Whether through produce, livestock or body care products, we are passionate about transparency and simplicity. Knowing what you are putting in or on your body is vital to living a healthy lifestyle. We want to do all that we can, with our 12-acre parcel, to support our community.

Donate: We are grateful to everyone who chooses to support us financially and accept the responsibility to use the resources appropriately.

Spread the Message: Share this campaign and our story with your community, friends and family. Your endorsement is sincerely appreciated.

Volunteer: We have workdays on the farm and are thankful to those who exchange their hard work for the benefit of our cause. If you are interested, email us.

We are incredibly thankful for your support in any or all of these ways.

BACKGROUND

How We Farm:

We subscribe to regenerative farming practices with the intention to improve the environment, soil, plants, animal welfare, health and community. “Regenerative Agriculture” describes farming and grazing practices that, among other benefits, reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity – resulting in both carbon drawdown and improving the water cycle.

We grow our produce in unheated high tunnel greenhouses and in an open field. We utilize beds with the lasagna method - wood chips on the bottom covered with compost and topped with planting soil. As the bed decomposes, we supplement as needed. All of these items are sourced from our local community and farms as well as our own. For plants, we utilize an indoor germination chamber and greenhouse to get them started unless they are directly seeded. When ready, we transplant them into the beds. When necessary, we use natural, organic pest control, never toxic chemicals.

Our animals are treated with care and respect. Within the 3 fenced acres, our animals' free range as they wish. They always have fresh water and are supplemented with non-GMO grain. With 24/7 access to our big 150-year-old barn, they decide how and where they spend each day. Our land is protected from predators by our three livestock guardian dogs.

We also have a handmade line of personal care products that are grounded in our vision - natural, chemical-free and healthy.