Replanting the Orchard after Fire

On March 14th there was a massive prairie fire at my parent’s farm.

My mom saw the smoke approaching from the kitchen window and quickly got everyone away safely. My dad turned all the sprinklers he could towards the house and left shortly after. They couldn’t get back to the property until late in the evening and from of the size and scope of the fire, assumed the worst. Miraculously, thanks to my dad’s quick thinking, the house was damaged but saved.

They lost everything else:
the barn, the collection of 40 years worth of tools, the vast orchard of apple and walnut and other trees, the plantings, all the other structures on the property, etc. The damage is over one hundred thousand dollars. 

This land was my childhood home and is one of the most dear spaces to me and my family. For years it's been named the Sandhill Prairie Farm and it's accolades are countless: from hosting  "Apple Butter Days" and migrations of Monarch Butterflies to tractor toboggan sledding, my daughter's first view of a firefly, and as I go on my eyes tear up. But most importantly, it's the land and home of my wonderful parents. 

Many of you have asked how you can help, so we are setting up this gofundme site. We're poetically calling it the "Replanting of the Apple Orchard", but we hope Mama and Papa use the extra funds in the best ways they see fit and put their home together once again. 

A suggested starting donation would be $40, as that is the price of a single apple tree. 

Thank you so much for considering. With your help we can rebuild this place and the magic of these acres will captivate the Williamson family for generations to come.

We appreciate your help, your kindness, your thoughts, and your prayers.