My Favorite Farm Expansion
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My Favorite Farm
My name is Meghan Kosar and I am the founder and owner of My Favorite Farm, LLC. A small beyond organic farm in Southwest PA. I am deeply invested in changing what I see as a broken food system. I am tired of seeing people eat poison, getting sick, and using medications to cure the symptoms rather than helping their bodies avoid disease. I’m tired of knowing the horrid things that occur behind closed doors away from the public eye in food processing plants and hidden behind clever food labels. I want to encourage and educate people on how to work hard to grow their own food, research where items come from, and to go out and find the small local farms and community gardens. I want people to be informed about their meat, understand where their dairy comes from. Education is the first step to change. The first step to true health. I too am on a journey, to better myself, to better the world. For me, that journey starts with my farm.
In addition to growing vegetables, fruit trees, and berry bushes I raise chickens and goats. These animals have become a part of my daily life on the farm and I treat them with love and respect. They are free range, no fences, no hormones, no antibiotics, no pain, no suffering. They get to breath fresh air, stretch their legs, eat what nature intended them to eat, drink clean water, and enjoy themselves. In return the chickens lay beautiful eggs, and the goats provide milk to make soap and lotion products with. 100 % of the proceeds from my animals goes back into supporting them.
When I breed my goats, I will not rip the babies away, rather they will be with their mothers, bonding and being loved on. When it is time for them to be weaned naturally, we will continue to milk and use that for our products. We will be keeping some of the offspring, and will find good loving homes for the other animals. I will never discard an animal because it is old and can no longer produce, I will not sell animals at auctions to go to questionable futures. I will have animals that will be up for adoption to loving homes for people like me, who want nothing but the best for all creatures. If their homes do not work out I will offer first right of refusal and will happily welcome them back to my farm.
For anyone that knows me knows that I love all creatures big and small. I will go out of my way to help any animal in need: whether it’s a baby bird fallen from a nest, a kitten abandoned on a road, hungry stray cats, an elderly dog that needs a safe place to land, a snake stuck in tape, or a chicken with special needs. I will do anything in my power to ensure their safety and happiness. When I was younger I would bring home every animal that needed a home. I filled my parents house with cats, dogs, bunnies, gerbils, and hamsters. We would relocate turtles and snakes that were in danger from development. I would even go out of my way to save Monarch caterpillars in danger from being mowed down. I would spend as much of my time as possible taking care of our pets, my neighbors dogs, and learning from more experienced people at the local horse barn. I always wanted to do more.
The biggest reason why I moved into the country, and completely changed my life was for animals. I adopted my first dog of my own as soon as I graduated college. I wanted her to have endless land to run on and enjoy. I wanted her to have other animal friends. Taking care of them and making my life about their lives is my calling. I am happiest when I am covered in sweat and dirt and muck making an animal’s life better. Now that I live on a farm and have the room I want to do everything in my power to help as many animals as possible. I am working to create an animal haven/sanctuary on my farm. It is one of my goals in the next few years to become a 501c3 approved animal rescue. Until then, I will spend every spare dollar and minute of my time to preparing space and resources to help as many animals as possible.
I think that one of the big issues with today’s society is the disconnect between people and their food. This is an issue I believe I can help. I want to create a farm that offers public tours, workshops, and educational programs. I want to reconnect people with the land, food, and animals. Create a place where people can learn about practices and creatures that they may otherwise not be exposed to. I want them to learn to appreciate the farmers who on a small scale make a difference. I would love to teach children to love farm animals, even if they live in the city miles away from chickens, pigs, and goats. To teach them they can make a difference in how creatures are treated. I want to have animals that are examples of the beautiful souls that would otherwise be thrown away.
My goals Include:
1.Create a sanctuary for dogs: I want to create a space on the farm to take in senior dogs in their Golden Hour. The creatures who deserve to die with dignity in a beautiful place, comfortable, and surrounded by love. I will do this in honor of Bear, a dog that came into our life as a grown dog who had nothing but love to give. Sadly, a few short months after he came to live with us on the farm he was diagnosed with a large tumor growing off his liver that was too risky to operate on. We decided to give our big Bear the send off he deserved. For his last week we took daily walks, went swimming, ate yummy food, gave belly rubs, napped in the sunshine, and told him how special he was. When it was time to say goodbye he left our world in the arms of people who loved him with the sun shining on his face. As heartbreaking as it was to say goodbye, I was comforted knowing that he knew he was loved when he went, and died with dignity. This is something that I want to offer to other dogs that deserve better than what the world gave them. It is not something that is easy, and a year ago I do not think I would be emotionally or mentally prepared to take on such a feat, but I feel it is something I need to do for the dogs that forever changed my heart. For Bear that we didn’t have for long enough, and for Ruca who I never got to take care of as a senior dog, that left years before I thought I would have to say goodbye. They got to spend time on the farm, being a dog, going on adventures, being loved. In their honor I will take others in, because no dog deserves to die alone in a shelter.
The funds I raise for these animals will inationaly go to creating a large fenced in area so the dogs do not get themselves into any dangerous situations wandering off where they should not go. I would like to build an indoor/outdoor kennel to keep any dog that needs to be quarantined or kept quiet and alone comfortable and happy. Funds after these initial costs will then go to veterinary costs to keep them comfortable and in good health for as long as possible as well as their daily care needs.
2. T-N-R (Trap Neuter Return) Program for Cats: I live in the country, and sadly this is a prime dumping ground for every single cat that no one wants. People think that just because they drive on some back road near a farm and leave an animal that that animal will be taken care of. Every spring there is an absolute EXPLOSION of kittens at every farm on my road. I will slow down my truck while 8-10 kittens scamper in front of my vehicle. Two years ago I was driving home in the middle of nowhere when I saw something tiny sitting in the middle of the road, I pulled over and a kitten ran over to me. It was a cold day in late fall and there is no way she would have survived there on her own. The couple I buy hay from is in their early 80s and they try to keep up with feeding more and more cats every year. They do not have the financial means to spay these cats and kittens, and can barely keep them fed. Every time I see them they ask me if I can take a cat, if I know anyone who wants to adopt kittens, and sadly I have to tell them no.
I want to help them, I want to help farmers like them, I want to help the cats. T-N-R is the only way to put a dent into the crazy populations of feral cats on farms. These cats starve, fight, get hit by cars, and get sick. No one takes care of them. The farmers are not familiar with programs to help them, and are too far away to hear about or participate in many of them. I want to set up a program to catch these cats, get them fixed at a low cost facility, and then return them or find them homes if they can be socialized. This is a project that I will gladly dedicate time to, catching, transporting them, taking care of them while they are in recovery, and then finding them homes. I want to help get the populations in my area under control, and sadly this is a project that will most likely take years to complete.
3. Save Slaughter bound horses: For years I have seen facebook posts of horses bound for slaughter. All types of horses, horses that have clearly been starved, abused, and neglected. Horses that were used for lessons and at camps carrying children and then disposed of at the end of the season or when the horse is too old and used up. I have seen pregnant mares, and day old babies go through the disease ridden auction houses Horses that are in their primes, beautiful healthy horses, that after a turn of bad luck at auction, got bought by the wrong buyers. I have hit refresh countless time in panic watching a horse that a rescue was fundraising for attempting to pull it to safety. Staying up later than I should hoping that enough people like me gave a few dollars so it could be saved. Every time it breaks my heart, it doesn’t matter how many years have gone by, how many horses I see, every single time it makes my heart ache. No animal deserves that.
I am finally in a position where helping these animals doesn’t have to be something I give a few dollars to here and there. I have space, I have a network of horse savvy friends, I have the willpower. I want to raise enough money that I can pull a few of these animals from a horrible fate. I will raise the majority of funds before I take in a horse in need, the funds will cover not only the purchase price of the animal, but transportation, 30 days in quarantine, veterinary care including vaccinations and microchipping, specialized feeding program to bring the horse back to health, dental and farrier care, and any special care they may need to recover. I will be looking to raise approximately $3,000- $5,000 for a horse before it comes to the farm. Initially I would like to pull one or two horses to keep on the farm as Saved from Slaughter Ambassadors. To help educate the public about the plight of these creatures. Eventually if the program goes well I would like to expand it to include rehabilitation, training, and adoptions.
4. Honey Bee Recovery: the plight of the pollinators is something that should hit home with every human being. No pollinators = No food. On the farm I have set aside acres of land solely to support the pollinators in my area. In the years to come I want to set up my own colony, as well as be able to rescue any hives in need of a safe home. Since we do not use any pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or chemical fertilizers our bees have access to a healthy environment in which they can thrive. They will help pollinate surrounding farms as well creating an abundance of food for people.
5. Develop sustainable small scale food production practices: We want to experiment and research the best possible ways to grow food in our area and help educate people on what we discover. We plan on utilizing different growing methods such as hugelkultur, no till raised beds, and high tunnel hoop houses for four season production. We are encouraged that the practices we experiment with today, may be what helps the local food systems of tomorrow.
6. Because I am me: I know it is only a matter of time before the animal I wasn’t expecting shows up on my farm. Whether that is a unwanted pig, an abused burro, a neglected goat, or a sick chicken. Because I am me, I won’t say no. I won’t turn a blind eye, I won’t let the suffering continue. I will take on whatever animal needs me. I also know that being a small first time farmer, I am struggling to make ends meet on a regular basis and I don’t have the funds set aside to help these animals. YET. I want to have money set aside so I can help those that need help. So I can make the vet appointments, buy the special feeds, get the equipment, set up the environmemt, and give ANY animal the life it DESERVES.
Thank you for your time! Please consider donating to this campaign, and sharing it with your friends and family on Facebook, email, Twitter, and text message. Each share makes a real difference!
Follow me for updates:
Instagram: megkosar
Facebook: My Favorite Farm
Web: http://thehikingherd.wixsite.com/myfavoritefarm
My Favorite Farm
My name is Meghan Kosar and I am the founder and owner of My Favorite Farm, LLC. A small beyond organic farm in Southwest PA. I am deeply invested in changing what I see as a broken food system. I am tired of seeing people eat poison, getting sick, and using medications to cure the symptoms rather than helping their bodies avoid disease. I’m tired of knowing the horrid things that occur behind closed doors away from the public eye in food processing plants and hidden behind clever food labels. I want to encourage and educate people on how to work hard to grow their own food, research where items come from, and to go out and find the small local farms and community gardens. I want people to be informed about their meat, understand where their dairy comes from. Education is the first step to change. The first step to true health. I too am on a journey, to better myself, to better the world. For me, that journey starts with my farm.
In addition to growing vegetables, fruit trees, and berry bushes I raise chickens and goats. These animals have become a part of my daily life on the farm and I treat them with love and respect. They are free range, no fences, no hormones, no antibiotics, no pain, no suffering. They get to breath fresh air, stretch their legs, eat what nature intended them to eat, drink clean water, and enjoy themselves. In return the chickens lay beautiful eggs, and the goats provide milk to make soap and lotion products with. 100 % of the proceeds from my animals goes back into supporting them.
When I breed my goats, I will not rip the babies away, rather they will be with their mothers, bonding and being loved on. When it is time for them to be weaned naturally, we will continue to milk and use that for our products. We will be keeping some of the offspring, and will find good loving homes for the other animals. I will never discard an animal because it is old and can no longer produce, I will not sell animals at auctions to go to questionable futures. I will have animals that will be up for adoption to loving homes for people like me, who want nothing but the best for all creatures. If their homes do not work out I will offer first right of refusal and will happily welcome them back to my farm.
For anyone that knows me knows that I love all creatures big and small. I will go out of my way to help any animal in need: whether it’s a baby bird fallen from a nest, a kitten abandoned on a road, hungry stray cats, an elderly dog that needs a safe place to land, a snake stuck in tape, or a chicken with special needs. I will do anything in my power to ensure their safety and happiness. When I was younger I would bring home every animal that needed a home. I filled my parents house with cats, dogs, bunnies, gerbils, and hamsters. We would relocate turtles and snakes that were in danger from development. I would even go out of my way to save Monarch caterpillars in danger from being mowed down. I would spend as much of my time as possible taking care of our pets, my neighbors dogs, and learning from more experienced people at the local horse barn. I always wanted to do more.
The biggest reason why I moved into the country, and completely changed my life was for animals. I adopted my first dog of my own as soon as I graduated college. I wanted her to have endless land to run on and enjoy. I wanted her to have other animal friends. Taking care of them and making my life about their lives is my calling. I am happiest when I am covered in sweat and dirt and muck making an animal’s life better. Now that I live on a farm and have the room I want to do everything in my power to help as many animals as possible. I am working to create an animal haven/sanctuary on my farm. It is one of my goals in the next few years to become a 501c3 approved animal rescue. Until then, I will spend every spare dollar and minute of my time to preparing space and resources to help as many animals as possible.
I think that one of the big issues with today’s society is the disconnect between people and their food. This is an issue I believe I can help. I want to create a farm that offers public tours, workshops, and educational programs. I want to reconnect people with the land, food, and animals. Create a place where people can learn about practices and creatures that they may otherwise not be exposed to. I want them to learn to appreciate the farmers who on a small scale make a difference. I would love to teach children to love farm animals, even if they live in the city miles away from chickens, pigs, and goats. To teach them they can make a difference in how creatures are treated. I want to have animals that are examples of the beautiful souls that would otherwise be thrown away.
My goals Include:
1.Create a sanctuary for dogs: I want to create a space on the farm to take in senior dogs in their Golden Hour. The creatures who deserve to die with dignity in a beautiful place, comfortable, and surrounded by love. I will do this in honor of Bear, a dog that came into our life as a grown dog who had nothing but love to give. Sadly, a few short months after he came to live with us on the farm he was diagnosed with a large tumor growing off his liver that was too risky to operate on. We decided to give our big Bear the send off he deserved. For his last week we took daily walks, went swimming, ate yummy food, gave belly rubs, napped in the sunshine, and told him how special he was. When it was time to say goodbye he left our world in the arms of people who loved him with the sun shining on his face. As heartbreaking as it was to say goodbye, I was comforted knowing that he knew he was loved when he went, and died with dignity. This is something that I want to offer to other dogs that deserve better than what the world gave them. It is not something that is easy, and a year ago I do not think I would be emotionally or mentally prepared to take on such a feat, but I feel it is something I need to do for the dogs that forever changed my heart. For Bear that we didn’t have for long enough, and for Ruca who I never got to take care of as a senior dog, that left years before I thought I would have to say goodbye. They got to spend time on the farm, being a dog, going on adventures, being loved. In their honor I will take others in, because no dog deserves to die alone in a shelter.
The funds I raise for these animals will inationaly go to creating a large fenced in area so the dogs do not get themselves into any dangerous situations wandering off where they should not go. I would like to build an indoor/outdoor kennel to keep any dog that needs to be quarantined or kept quiet and alone comfortable and happy. Funds after these initial costs will then go to veterinary costs to keep them comfortable and in good health for as long as possible as well as their daily care needs.
2. T-N-R (Trap Neuter Return) Program for Cats: I live in the country, and sadly this is a prime dumping ground for every single cat that no one wants. People think that just because they drive on some back road near a farm and leave an animal that that animal will be taken care of. Every spring there is an absolute EXPLOSION of kittens at every farm on my road. I will slow down my truck while 8-10 kittens scamper in front of my vehicle. Two years ago I was driving home in the middle of nowhere when I saw something tiny sitting in the middle of the road, I pulled over and a kitten ran over to me. It was a cold day in late fall and there is no way she would have survived there on her own. The couple I buy hay from is in their early 80s and they try to keep up with feeding more and more cats every year. They do not have the financial means to spay these cats and kittens, and can barely keep them fed. Every time I see them they ask me if I can take a cat, if I know anyone who wants to adopt kittens, and sadly I have to tell them no.
I want to help them, I want to help farmers like them, I want to help the cats. T-N-R is the only way to put a dent into the crazy populations of feral cats on farms. These cats starve, fight, get hit by cars, and get sick. No one takes care of them. The farmers are not familiar with programs to help them, and are too far away to hear about or participate in many of them. I want to set up a program to catch these cats, get them fixed at a low cost facility, and then return them or find them homes if they can be socialized. This is a project that I will gladly dedicate time to, catching, transporting them, taking care of them while they are in recovery, and then finding them homes. I want to help get the populations in my area under control, and sadly this is a project that will most likely take years to complete.
3. Save Slaughter bound horses: For years I have seen facebook posts of horses bound for slaughter. All types of horses, horses that have clearly been starved, abused, and neglected. Horses that were used for lessons and at camps carrying children and then disposed of at the end of the season or when the horse is too old and used up. I have seen pregnant mares, and day old babies go through the disease ridden auction houses Horses that are in their primes, beautiful healthy horses, that after a turn of bad luck at auction, got bought by the wrong buyers. I have hit refresh countless time in panic watching a horse that a rescue was fundraising for attempting to pull it to safety. Staying up later than I should hoping that enough people like me gave a few dollars so it could be saved. Every time it breaks my heart, it doesn’t matter how many years have gone by, how many horses I see, every single time it makes my heart ache. No animal deserves that.
I am finally in a position where helping these animals doesn’t have to be something I give a few dollars to here and there. I have space, I have a network of horse savvy friends, I have the willpower. I want to raise enough money that I can pull a few of these animals from a horrible fate. I will raise the majority of funds before I take in a horse in need, the funds will cover not only the purchase price of the animal, but transportation, 30 days in quarantine, veterinary care including vaccinations and microchipping, specialized feeding program to bring the horse back to health, dental and farrier care, and any special care they may need to recover. I will be looking to raise approximately $3,000- $5,000 for a horse before it comes to the farm. Initially I would like to pull one or two horses to keep on the farm as Saved from Slaughter Ambassadors. To help educate the public about the plight of these creatures. Eventually if the program goes well I would like to expand it to include rehabilitation, training, and adoptions.
4. Honey Bee Recovery: the plight of the pollinators is something that should hit home with every human being. No pollinators = No food. On the farm I have set aside acres of land solely to support the pollinators in my area. In the years to come I want to set up my own colony, as well as be able to rescue any hives in need of a safe home. Since we do not use any pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or chemical fertilizers our bees have access to a healthy environment in which they can thrive. They will help pollinate surrounding farms as well creating an abundance of food for people.
5. Develop sustainable small scale food production practices: We want to experiment and research the best possible ways to grow food in our area and help educate people on what we discover. We plan on utilizing different growing methods such as hugelkultur, no till raised beds, and high tunnel hoop houses for four season production. We are encouraged that the practices we experiment with today, may be what helps the local food systems of tomorrow.
6. Because I am me: I know it is only a matter of time before the animal I wasn’t expecting shows up on my farm. Whether that is a unwanted pig, an abused burro, a neglected goat, or a sick chicken. Because I am me, I won’t say no. I won’t turn a blind eye, I won’t let the suffering continue. I will take on whatever animal needs me. I also know that being a small first time farmer, I am struggling to make ends meet on a regular basis and I don’t have the funds set aside to help these animals. YET. I want to have money set aside so I can help those that need help. So I can make the vet appointments, buy the special feeds, get the equipment, set up the environmemt, and give ANY animal the life it DESERVES.
Thank you for your time! Please consider donating to this campaign, and sharing it with your friends and family on Facebook, email, Twitter, and text message. Each share makes a real difference!
Follow me for updates:
Instagram: megkosar
Facebook: My Favorite Farm
Web: http://thehikingherd.wixsite.com/myfavoritefarm
Organizador
Meghan Kosar
Organizador
Springfield Township, PA