Hello Farm Community,
If you have a moment, I’d like to ask for your help with something important.
When I first joined Joppa Hill Educational Farm as the Executive Director in October, I was in awe of the beauty and peace of this place. Katie Schelzel, the Farm’s operations manager, showed me a spot in the horse pasture with a view that truly took my breath away. It was at that moment I realized how special the farm and the community here really are.
Part of my role is to support the Board of Directors’ vision of preserving a working farm that remains open and free to all who visit. As many of you know, one of the highlights of the farm is our animals, and it’s such a joy to share them with visitors.
Sarah Grosvenor, Executive Director
I, along with everyone, love the experience of feeding animals and having them come up to the fence to eat out of my hand and get scratches. However, you may have noticed that the grain cups, which gave our visitors a chance to feed the animals, have not been available for a while. One of the decisions I made after stepping into my role was to discontinue selling the grain cups. This choice was made to prioritize the health of our animals and encourage their natural eating habits.
Since removing the grain cups six months ago, we’ve seen a positive impact on the animals’ health. They eat the leaves, stinging nettles and have done a great job maintaining our pastures. However, it has also significantly affected the farm’s finances. The grain cups were our largest source of consistent donations, contributing $30k per year, which went toward daily operations such as veterinary care, animal feed, staffing, and utilities.
Despite the challenges faced in losing this amount in donations, we remain committed to being a space where families and friends can come together and experience the joy of the Farm. But, truthfully, we’re facing a tough time.
If you can, I kindly ask that you consider making a donation when you visit the farm, as you did when purchasing a grain cup, to help us continue our work . Every little bit counts. You can donate directly here, or if you’re unable to contribute financially, sharing this message or connecting us with potential supporters would mean the world to us!
Thank you for taking the time to read this and for considering helping in whatever way you can. Your support makes all the difference.
Warmly,
Sarah Grosvenor
Executive Director, Joppa Hill Educational Farm