The Bird Family of Granville's Bird's Haven Farms is part of our family on Market Wednesday. The Birds have come up with a great idea to fund a much-needed deer fence for their farm - crowd funding!
The Bird Family has posted a crowd funding page on indiegogo.com:
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/save-the-local-veggies-bird-s-haven-farms-deer-fence-campaign
From the Birds:
So... What's Up?
Bird's Haven Farms has been a family farm committed to Licking County and the Greater Central Ohio local food community for over 17 years. We have been at your dinner tables in some capacity since 1995.
After years of loosing 30+% of our annual crops to deer damage we can no longer make it financially viable to continue without a real, strong, 7', 3-D deer fence. Such loss of labor costs, seed, time, cultivation have begun to create a deficit in our business. We had hoped to finance this project on our own but because of unforeseen circumstances in needed irrigation upgrades we cannot finance both.
We were working with USDA Natural Resource Conservation Services and their Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) for irrigation but because the 2012 Farm Bill was not passed programs are currently unfunded. Therefore, we will be working to finance both of these much needed upgrades by Spring planting.
While commodity crop insurance programs and many other Farm Bill programs will continue to be funded despite the failure of a Farm Bill passage one of the only parts of the Farm Bill that directly impacts small and diverser specialty crop farms such as us has gone unfunded... Therefore we are left with one option...
COMMUNITY!!!
And what a great community we are apart of!!
How Bad Can It Be?
Many of our customers have commented, "It is just deer?", "Can't you let hunters on the farm?" "I heard a great trick with human hair"
However, Licking County deer herd population is highest in the state and we live between almost 500 acres of non-farmed land... perfect for deer.
In just 2013, we lost:
- 18,000 strawberry plants
- 3 acres of sweet corn
- 15,000 squash plants
- 20,000 beets
- 1 acre of sugar snap peas
- and countless pumpkins, melons, flowers, and lettuce
We have worked to control the pest damage and population through less expensive means such as liquid fencing, netting, frost blankets, and noise irritants. However, all previous measures have been ineffective.
For Conservation:
Having this fence we would be able to cut our current planting by 40%. This would allow for us to have fields in rest and better conservation practices.
Where Is The Money Going?
WE NEED TO RAISE $7,910.00
Where Is The Money Going?!
Our family is committed to supporting other local businesses in this venture and will be purchasing all our material from Eads Fence Company, Inc in Loveland, OH.
We are working to SAVE MONEY through our own labor costs. This saves $4,000 of labor expenses. Also, we will use existing tree lines and trees instead posts saving another $3,000!!
Current Estimate to Deer Fence 20-Acres:
▪ Deer Fence Standard - 7.5' X 330 X 13 Rolls = $2,978.04
▪ 1 5/8" X 10 1/2 " Commerical Grade Post = $3,225.00
▪ DD BLK 8 ga Monofilament Fence Wire 3000 ft = $468.00
▪ DD Monofilament Sleeves 25 pk = $13.90
▪ DD Monofilament Crimper Rental = $15.00
▪ DD Hog Rings Heavy Duty 9/16in. 2500 pk = $225.00
▪ Stanly Hog Ringer = $233.40
▪ DD sod Staples Case = $208.30
▪ DD #50 White Flags - 50 pk = $62.91
▪ Sales Tax 6.5% = $482..92
Other Ways You Can Help
We understand many won't be able to financially contribute. But that doesn't mean we don't appreciate your support.
Share the Story. Write about it on your social media websites.
Ask to share posters and postcards. We are happy to send you material.
Purchase produce and continue to support our family farm.
If you have any questions or want to know more - stop by the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market each Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. @ N. State and E. Home through October 30th and check in with Bird's Haven Farms or contact Bird's Haven Farms @ farmfresh@birdshavenfarms.com
Visit Bird's Haven Farms online...
Click here to visit the website.
Click here to visit Bird's Haven Farms on facebook.
Click here to visit indiegogo.com
Photograph Thanks To Gary Chisolm
at ChisolmStudios.com
and Evelyn Frolking Author Of "Homegrown:
Stories From The Farm"
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