Save Anna's Farm
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Anna Runnings has a wonderful little 17 acre farm out in Qualicum Bay on beautiful Vancouver Island. It's a lovely place with 13 sheep, 13 goats, chickens too active to count, but somewhere around the 40 mark, as well as 2 dogs and 2 cats. There is also a fibre mill here, where yarn is made. It's a full service mill offering everything from washing services to picking and carding for more information about what the mill provides and what she does please visit: http://qbfw.ca.
Anna bought the farm with her mother, Louise Ann, in 1990, with hopes of working together to make it self-sufficient. Louise Ann worked the farm while Anna worked in California to pay off the mortgage. With the mortgage paid, Anna moved to the farm in 2001, to find her mother in deteriorating health. Over the next few years Anna struggled to find a job, while her mother became more and more incapable. In 2007 the Crofton carding mill came up for sale, and Anna took out a new mortgage on the property to purchase it. That same year her mother was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease. Over the years Louise’s mobility continued to decrease, until she was no longer able to leave the house, or do anything more than sit and read. Anna was her mother’s primary caregiver while still maintaining the farm and the mill on her own and then in March of 2014, Louise had a stroke, and passed away in May. Her mother’s death was a financial blow as well as an emotional one – Louise did not have a large income, but it evened out the ups and downs of the mill operation. Overwhelmed by grief and depression, she struggled to keep afloat financially. Bills piled up, and many were simply ignored, since there was no money to pay them, and when there was money, feeding critters and people came first.
Anna takes in critters and people! How do I know? She took me in, and I have a roof over my head and a place to work in the mill, and around the farm. For the most part, when people can no longer take care of their animals she takes them, hence the sheep and goats, even some of the chickens and such. They are fed, housed and taken care of as best we can.
However there is a snag, some things – like property taxes - were put off for too long and we have a few payments to make by the end of the month for both the mortgage and the tax. If these payments are not made, they will result in the loss of the farm, as well as the mill. The carder, a beautiful 150 year old machine has required some extra attention lately, which has slowed down our processing making our financial obligations difficult to meet in the time frame we have been given. The maintenance of the carder came at a bad time.
Between hay and grain, feed bills alone run up to about $1020.00 per month, just for the animals. We’ve been able to keep up with most of these bills including the mortgage, but with the carder needing more time and attention to keep it operating to the high standards our customers have come to expect, reaching the financial obligations have overwhelmed us.
There comes a time when hopes, prayers, good thoughts and intentions are not enough. It’s time to reach out to the community and as for some help. We need $4000.00 to keep the farm, and we need to get on this fast. We appreciate any help that can be given, even if it’s just sharing our story, or the link to this page.Qualicum Bay Fibre Works
Anna bought the farm with her mother, Louise Ann, in 1990, with hopes of working together to make it self-sufficient. Louise Ann worked the farm while Anna worked in California to pay off the mortgage. With the mortgage paid, Anna moved to the farm in 2001, to find her mother in deteriorating health. Over the next few years Anna struggled to find a job, while her mother became more and more incapable. In 2007 the Crofton carding mill came up for sale, and Anna took out a new mortgage on the property to purchase it. That same year her mother was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease. Over the years Louise’s mobility continued to decrease, until she was no longer able to leave the house, or do anything more than sit and read. Anna was her mother’s primary caregiver while still maintaining the farm and the mill on her own and then in March of 2014, Louise had a stroke, and passed away in May. Her mother’s death was a financial blow as well as an emotional one – Louise did not have a large income, but it evened out the ups and downs of the mill operation. Overwhelmed by grief and depression, she struggled to keep afloat financially. Bills piled up, and many were simply ignored, since there was no money to pay them, and when there was money, feeding critters and people came first.
Anna takes in critters and people! How do I know? She took me in, and I have a roof over my head and a place to work in the mill, and around the farm. For the most part, when people can no longer take care of their animals she takes them, hence the sheep and goats, even some of the chickens and such. They are fed, housed and taken care of as best we can.
However there is a snag, some things – like property taxes - were put off for too long and we have a few payments to make by the end of the month for both the mortgage and the tax. If these payments are not made, they will result in the loss of the farm, as well as the mill. The carder, a beautiful 150 year old machine has required some extra attention lately, which has slowed down our processing making our financial obligations difficult to meet in the time frame we have been given. The maintenance of the carder came at a bad time.
Between hay and grain, feed bills alone run up to about $1020.00 per month, just for the animals. We’ve been able to keep up with most of these bills including the mortgage, but with the carder needing more time and attention to keep it operating to the high standards our customers have come to expect, reaching the financial obligations have overwhelmed us.
There comes a time when hopes, prayers, good thoughts and intentions are not enough. It’s time to reach out to the community and as for some help. We need $4000.00 to keep the farm, and we need to get on this fast. We appreciate any help that can be given, even if it’s just sharing our story, or the link to this page.Qualicum Bay Fibre Works
Organiser
Kate Asher
Organiser
Qualicum Beach, BC
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