01/19/2026
Winter at the sanctuary is quieter on the surface. Slower mornings, longer nights, breath hanging in the air. But it is also when the most essential work happens.
From now through the end of May, hundreds of animals here rely on one simple thing every single day to stay warm, healthy, and fed: hay.
Hay is not flashy. It does not come with a big reveal or a ribbon cutting. It is the steady foundation of winter care, filling bellies, generating body heat, supporting digestion, and keeping animals well through the coldest months.
Our hay costs average about $11,000 per month through winter and early spring, with January’s payment now due. To carry us through this entire season, we are working toward a $60,000 winter hay fund. Reaching this goal ensures that our supplier can continue setting aside hay for us and that we will not face shortages as winter stretches on. It also gives our caretakers peace of mind, allowing us to focus fully on the daily work of care without constant uncertainty around this one essential need.
In this photo is Gandolf, one of our water buffalo, watching the sunset as winter settles in. A quiet moment made possible by the most ordinary and essential kind of care.
In most years, we are required to raise a large deposit up front. This year, our hay supplier has shown us extraordinary trust by allowing us to pay month to month. It is a kindness we take seriously and are committed to honoring.
Giving toward our winter hay fund is not responding to a crisis. It is helping us keep a promise that every animal here will be fed, warm, and secure through winter, no matter what.
If you are able to give, thank you. If you are not, sharing this post truly helps. This is how quiet, essential needs get met together.
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