Help Aimee Greenwood Secure Her Farm's Future

My name is Aimee I've been farming on Maui for over 14 years and have been raising dairy goats for 12. I currently produce over 800 pounds of food per month for the community. I'm raising money to complete my farm infrastructure so that I can take a much needed break. I've been running my farm by myself seven days a week, for over 6 years with no breaks. And its been 12 years since I had a vacation. Ive been working on the farm infrastructure for the last 4.5 years. The completed farm infrastructure will help to keep the goats safe, dry and healthy and will also provide a safe pasture for our chickens. This last year an illness devastated our goat herd with losses over $25,000. Im raising funds to recoup some of the losses, finish fencing, clean up muddy areas on the farm to keep the goats healthy and hopefully take a much needed break. Continue reading to see Our Farm Wish List.

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I really need a break and also want to keep farming. I currently provide over 800 pounds of food for the community each month and over 65 dozen eggs. I also grow microgreens and have 20 fruit trees in the orchard which will be producing lemons, limes and apples this next year. I also produced over 250 Dahlia flowers this last summer and hope to increase to 100 plants and over 1000 Flowers this next season.

This last summer an illness went through my herd and all my savings was used to keep my goats alive. I unfortunately lost my favorite goat and top milker Stormi. With the illness and her passing I lost 1/5 of our farm income and all of my savings. This illness has affected 15 goats in my herd and hit my oldest goats the hardest. Luna and Poppy both 11 year old senior does needed IV fluids to get through the illness. These older girls are dear to me they are the great grandmothers to our current kids. I really thought I was going to lose them. I still owe the most recent vet bill of $900 (update the bill was $1400, I paid 500 and my account is now negative 900). My herd is currently building immunity the young does heal quickly and the older does need extra care. The last 6 months has been really hard. Some nights I'm in the barn every hour. Last week Poppy was hypothermic at 92 degrees. The 1st night I was in the barn every hour making sure her temperature was stable with heating pads and blankets. It was such a relief to see her temperature normal (101.5) at 9am. I had very little sleep for the 1st two nights. The last week I've worked 12 hour days. Poppy was not able to stand or walk for 3 days. Thankfully she stood up and started eating on Day 4 and her rumen was efficiently working on Day 6. Today (12/18) is Day 9 and her last day of IV fluids. She is doing great and will probably be in the sick bay another week to ensure she is strong enough to keep up with the herd. Luna had the illness last month and is stronger than ever. 8 days of IV therapy and she came out of the illness stronger than when it started. I'm hoping we are almost done with this illness as only 4 goats have not had it. Up until May my herd had never been sick in 12 years. And since May vet bills and supplements have been over $6000

I'm needing to complete my farm infrastructure and get everything in order so that I can take a break. Even just 2 days would be great. I feel burnout is close and I'm needing a solution! I have a long wish list and the 2 most important projects are to finish the property fenceline to keep our chickens safe (we lost 1 to the neighbors dogs last week) and on 12/30 a neighbors pitball attacked our other neighbors goats and complete our Buck pasture fence to keep our buck in a secure 6 ft fence. Which will also create a second clean pasture to move the goats into. Getting our property line finished will put a new 6 foot welded wire fence with barbed wire at the bottom and a single electric line at the top and bottom to keep dogs from getting through the fenceline.

Our Farm Wish List

Complete:

1) Poppy's vet bill (Makawao Vet) $900

2) $2000

175 feet of livestock fencing to keep the chickens safe and to allow them pasture for 9 hours each day. Currently I have to alternate letting out the chickens when the neighbors dogs are inside. This is time consuming and adds to my already 7 hour chore day. I lost a chicken to the neighbors dogs last week which was really hard to witness. When the fenceline is complete and the chickens are out on pasture all day I will save $125 per month in feed. Getting the fence lines finished is my #1 priority. Over 600 ft of fencing was completed in 2024. And 500 ft was completed in 2023.

3) $500

Finish buck pasture so that our 9 month old Buckling Chip is secure with 6 foot fencing. This will also create a 2nd clean pasture to move the herd into to stop the cycle of parasites that are causing them to get sick. Chip has superb genetics and was imported from Washington to add strength and top dairy genetics to our herd. The 6 foot fence will keep him safe so he does not injure himself trying to jump over the 4 foot fence.

4) $200

Gutters on the barn to stop water from flowing through the barn during rain storms. With the last rain storms we had water running through the barn creating more mud and the goats would not go into the barn.

5) $300

French drain above the barn and along the 20 foot retaining wall to keep water from flowing through the barn.

6) $1800

12 Tons of Gravel to repair the muddy areas above the barn, inside the barn and below the barn. This area gets 5 or more inches of mud in storms. Putting down gravel will also keep the area cleaner so the goats don't get sick. 4 Tons were brought in last year to put stone down in the 350 square foot feed area to keep it dry.

7) $300

Finish barn doors to keep the barn draft free and warm at night. This is really important to keep baby goats dry and warm with kids due in March. And keep sick goats warm so they can heal.

8) $500

Finish the barn walls to strengthen the structure and keep the walls clean.

And if I can raise enough money and complete my Tiny home I will have a place to put my belongings and have a bed to sleep in. I've been sleeping on the floor for over 3 years. The Tiny home trailer was purchased 2 years ago and needs to be completed. The Tiny home is also next to the barn so I can tend to goats when needed. It will cost about $5000 to complete. If you have read this far thank you. I would like to share that burnout is real and I feel it is close. Over 30 years ago at (14 yrs old) I started a journey to figure out why I have chronic pain and fatigue. A year ago I found out I have 2 mutations of the mthfr gene. As a result my body methylates at a 10% rate. Everyday is a struggle to reduce pain and increase energy. Rest is imperative to keep my body healthy so that I can work, keep my herd healthy and provide to the community.

This is a really hard ask as I usually do everything myself. I've been working 7 days a week for 12 years. I really need to complete the infrastructure so the goats are safe from rain, drafts and diseases. My goal is to put future funds towards taking a break once each month with the ultimate goal of 2 days off each week. Currently 90% of the farm's income goes back into the farm each month to work towards completing infrastructure. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I appreciate all donations even $5 is super helpful.

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