Please help fill the Shyre's barn for the Winter

Greetings Farm Friends. Well, it's been a really rough year here on The Shyre and we would really appreciate some help to get through the Winter. I'm looking for help to fill the barn with hay and litter to get us through. If you are familiar with The Smithshyre, you will already know that our doors are open to the community and every year, hundreds of folks come to feel the love and connect with that special kind of happiness that only comes from interacting with farm animals. Whether it's a farm tour where they learn about the whole farm and meet all the critters, or it's more personal like a baby goat cuddle session or maybe taking in a baby goat yoga session - there are options here for everybody. I host all ages, even kids groups (Snohomish Boys & Girls) and senior center visits. These visits are no charge or reduced charge. I also donate visits to fund raising auctions and to folks who just can't afford to visit. Everybody deserves this kind of love in their life and I'm so grateful to be in a position to share it with them. But now, I'm in need of help. My summers are typically when I have the most visits and I save money for the winter, but this year I just fell off the grid. My advertising just wasn't working and people weren't able to find me. My yoga classes, which had always been full before only had like 5-6 people in them. It was so sad. These kidds (baby goats) need other people to help socialize them. They need to see that all people are good, not just Grama (I'm Grama, they all have their own mom's and dad's). This is also a big way that they find new homes. People come for a visit, see how much fun they are and do the deep dive into "what if". And I serve as a mentor to new folks and they can always reach out to me for help. So that's my story in a nutshell.

The facts are that a 95# bale of hay costs $26.50. I go through about 20 a week in the seasons where there is no forage (like now). That's $490 a week for just hay. I also have poultry feed and goat rations in grain and pellet. I'm also in need of bedding, which are compressed bales of pine and cost about $20/each. I need 4 for the milk house and 9 for the barn with each change. Both rooms are in dire need to a change. I buy the hay and the litter at Poulsbo Grain & Feed, Brad has generously offered to take donations on the farms behalf and apply them to my account. I buy the grain at Bay Hay and Feed on Bainbridge Island and they have also offered to take donations on behalf of the farm. My ask is for $5000, with the hope that this will get us through.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. $25 buys most of a bale of hay, $20 buys a bag of litter.

I also have more options on my website (thesmithshyre.com ) if you'd like to help out in another way or you'd just like to read more about the farm.

I am currently going through a rebrand, post-divorce, so if you see the "Sage and Willow Farm" info, just know that's what is happening.

Please also feel free to read reviews of visits to the farm on my Google Business page, Yelp & social media pages.

I've shared my farm with folks for 4 years now and it's the most fulfilling thing I have ever experienced. I'm grateful and lucky to be able to say that I have "found my path" in life and this farm is it. So please help if you are able and we hope to see you on the farm next sunny day.

Thank you,

Roni and all the critters of The Shyre