Main fundraiser photo

Help Farmer Frog Hire Fergus

Meet Fergus - Livestock Guarding Dog-in-training. Farmer Frog is hiring Fergus and his goats to work at Paradise Farm in Woodinville, Washington, the recent beneficiary of the NAIOP Community Enhancement Project seen in the video.


Fergus is a nine-month old Kangal,  a breed of livestock guarding dog originating from the Sivas province of Turkey.  When he is fully grown he will weigh in around 140+ pounds, twice the size pictured here, and be capable of defending his flock against black bears, coyotes, and cougars - oh my!



And meet Sirius - Livestock Guarding Dog-fully trained, Pyrenees Mix who will be Fergus's mentor. Sirius comes from Eastern Washington where he worked as the guard dog for a large sheep farm. His owners are changing their practices and rehomed Sirius with Farmer Frog. He will be teaching Fergus the ropes of being a good LGD.


Sirius and Fergus 
are bonding well and working together. Fergus listens to Sirius who guides him with good care.



Why is this project important? 


Woodinville is home to one of the highest numbers of black bear conflicts in the Puget Sound region primarily due to human provided food resources - garbage cans, compost piles, and fruit trees top the list.  Farmer Frog programs teach farming practices that are integrated with and support natural ecosystems using wild farming methods and conservation agriculture practices.   


Three things are key to peaceful existence when managing livestock in close proximity to wildlife: 

Good Fences
Livestock Guarding Dogs (Fergus & Sirius)
Human Presence  (The Caretakers)

The LGDs, the fences, and the presence of the caretakers will encourage wildlife to keep to their corridors and natural foods. 


People can learn how to produce food without displacing their wildlife neighbors or harming the habitats they live in. 

Farmer Frog's long term goal 
is to create an education center where we can demonstrate and teach sustainable, innovative, and intensive food-producing and ecosystem-friendly land management. 


How will your donation help?

Your donations will support the Bear With Me Wildlife Friendly Farming project at Paradise Farm through its second year. 

Fergus the Kangal - food/vet $ 6,000
Sirius the Pyrenees - food/vet $5,000
Seven Goats - food/vet $2,000
Electric Bear Fencing - $5,000
Solar Fox Lights  - $2,000

Fundraising Goal $20,000 by April 30th, 2018

Who is Farmer Frog?

The Foundation for Sustainable Community does business as Farmer Frog,  a 501(c)3 non-profit organization headquartered at Paradise Farm in Woodinville, Washington.

Farmer Frog programs support people of all ages from diverse cultures, backgrounds, needs and living conditions by providing equal access to healthy, nutritious, safe and affordable food produced within their own communities while natural ecosystems and wildlife habitats are protected.

Sprouting Simple Change - Farmer Frog cultivates programs, school gardens, and hands-on learning to nurture communities one seed at a time. 





Organizer

Jane Hutchinson
Organizer
Everett, WA
Foundation for Sustainable Community dba Farmer Frog
 
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.

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