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LET TER FROM OUR DIRECTOR Wow! 2020 is a year for the record books! Great change has happened to each of us personaly, physically, and financially. The farm is no exception. We recieved many animals due to the owners getting sick or financially unable to care for them. We lost income due to canceled events, field trips and parties as well as no donations were coming in as we were all shut down. Life was a struggle but it gave us the opportunity to accomplish tasks that we could not before. As we had great need, blesssings were found. We have been blessed by the community to be able to continue to serve. I, the animals, the children, and all of our volunteers are so thankful to each of you.
Veronica Pasciuto
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CONTENTS 4
FARM & EQUALITY
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ROOTER’S GROWTH
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4 THINGS BEFORE YOU ADOPT
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SUMMER ACTIVITIES
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WHAT BLOOMED IN 2020
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GRUFF’S TRIBUTE
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SUGAR & SPICE
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2020 FINANCIALS
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TheFarm&Equality The biggest lessons I learned this year will effect me for the rest of my life. I thought I understood bigotry and privledge. I learned how ignorant I really was in regards to equality and race relations. I learned how to say and do things in a better way that makes all of us feel safer and more comfortable. It is important to remember we can be different and still stand together for change. It will only make us stronger as a community, nation and world. I am thankful for those who have had patience with me while I learned and grew this year. It is also important to remember that we are all in a different place of understanding and we can all change. Every day is a new day to educate and better ourselves. We strive to ensure that Celestial Farms is a safe place for everyone. If at any time you feel threatened, please let one of us know so that we might remiediate the problem. Celestial Farms Staff
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ROOTERS STORY
One of the largest in demand resscue is pigs! At the farm we reccieve at least three calls a week about taking in another pig, at times that number has reached over twenty. Unfornately, we have to turn away these rescues and give resources to aid in them in finding a forever home.
Now, Rooter has become a Celestial Farms favorite as people book appointments to come see how big he has gotten! You can often find him roaming the playgrounds looking for a treat or naping in the sunshine. He even sneaks back into the house when he needs a people break.
Rooter is a special case, brought to us at only a few days old and lost his mom. The wonderful family who took him in explained to us that his mom met her untimely end at the hands of teenage boys. After mom had babies, these boys said she was ‘aggresive’ and took matters into their own hands. All of her piglets scattered and Rooter was the only one who could be saved. Baby pigs require around the clock care, eating approximately every thirty mins in the first few days. Our staff, director and voluneers, all taking turns ensuring Rooter’s nutrition and love. It was no small feat and came with sacrafice of sleep for all of us hear on the farm until he was able to sleep through the night.
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4 Things to know before you adopt
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Saving one farm animal may not change the world, but for that one farm animal the world will surely change.
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Birthdays On The Farm MOST POPULAR PACKAGE PRICED AT $300 LEARN MORE AT CELESTIALFARMS.ORG/BIRTHDAY
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Today’s Youth Is Tomorrow’s Future Breanna Santiago, a jacksonville local and a long time Celestial Farms supporter was able to help raise $1,200 this past year with her social media pressencce and with the help of CheerLyfe. A brand that helps youth find their passion and dream big! We are so incredibly thankful of Bre and her whole family and ongoing support of the farm. Instagram.com/breannasantiago.bre
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Summer Activity Days This year we have made the choice to discontinue our Summer Camp Program. THe decision was made not only due to COVID but also provide another way fo rus to help service the community and keep our doors open. In place of our 10 week sumer camp, we are offering two classes a week throughout summer for anyone to join. These classes help youth expereince the farm in a different way from just a normal visit to the farm. We are so excited to start these classes June 7, 2021. As always we like to keep things as afordable for the community as we can, so these classes just have a $5 donation for anyone participating! These classes will be avaliable Mondays and Wednesdays throughout the summer, all starting at 10am to avoid the heat as much as possible. Classes will range in times, but most will not pass an hour. As for COVID precautions, we will always be meeting outside and have handwashing and sanitizing stations throughout the farm.
You can keep up with the lastest updates on activity days on our website or our public Facebook Group
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June 7 | Berry Picking & Painting June 9 | Grooming Day June 14 | Nature Pinch Pots June 16 | Great Boat Race June 21 | Kite Day June 23 | Garden Exploration
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What Bloome a visual
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ed This Year? journey
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Remember
ring Gruff
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We often share Gruff’s story here on the farm. His story showcased how much love can help you overcome tradgedies, and how important it is to treat others with kindness, love and empathy.
Gruff’s story began at a farm in Orange Park, he was just one years old when a young boy tresspassed on to the property and wrecked havoc. That day many animals on the farm did not make it; however, Gruff did. From there, Gruff had a long road of recovery, as his injuries were life changing. Shredded ears, a permanantly broken leg and a distrust of humans. As time continued on, Gruff was able to feel safe again and began to trust humans once more and became a favorite here at Celestial Farms. Our biggest priority for Gruff was making sure he was not in severe pain, we worked alongside our vet, barn managers and educators in homopathic remedies to find the best ways to help Gruff. Though the look of how he would walk across the pens could be daunting,
it never once stopped
him. He learned to adapt and continue on, he had a will to live and made sure we all knew it.
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Gruff was the boss of the goat yard, all of his fellow goats knew he was large and in charge. First to the fence line to gobble up all of the treats from guests and to get loved on. Gruff’s most favorite time is when our local food pantrys would drop off leftover food especially when it included cake! Gruff will always hold a special place in our hearts at Celestial Farms and we will conitnue to share his story or triumph and love. Without love and empathy Gruff may not have had the drive to continue on, wihtout kindness Gruff would not have trusted humans again. Gruff’s story shows just how important it is to treat animals with respect, learn from them and get to know them. He is our prime example of healing, learning and growing. Even with the passing of Gruff, we will continue to share his story, continue to teach the community about how much compassion, forgivness and empathy can change a life. Not just an animals life, but human lives too. The impact Gruff made on not only us here at Celestial Farms, but on all those who had the chance to meet him is extravagant. He stole the hearts of so many, even some who only knew him through social media.
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During our field trips we take the kids to our barnyard and would share the story of gruff in a way that works for all ages and teaches a tangible lesson, helping them to really understand and have something to relate back to in memory. The story of Three Billy Goats Gruff was a wonderful tool we used to help visitors really hold onto the lessons the Gruff helped teach about howhurting others, both people and animals is never okay to do.
Do you know the story of Three Billy Goats Gruff? In the story of Three Billy Goats Gruff, there is troll. Our Gruff had a troll in his life too. His troll was a 12 year old boy who was very angry and one day made a bad choice. The trolls bad choice hurt many farm animals that day. What are some better choices you can make when you are angry? Some better choices are: take a deep breath, count to ten, or talk to someone you trust.
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Gruff |2010 - 2020 52
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Titan Small yet mighty
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Titan came ot us in September of 2020, he was found on the side of the road with a leg that was essentially mumified. We believe that he may have been tied up or became stuck in something that cut off the circulation and caused his leg to stop growing. Our vet, Doctor Gina with Jacksonville Equine came out and assesed Titan’s leg, her findings told us that in order to keep Titan alive and ehalthy the entire leg needed to be removed and we prepared for surgery. Titan was a champ through surgery and came out of it as a happier goat. You would think that he had been three legged his wholelife for how he moves around! Being without a limb has not hindered him in anyway, you can find Titan bouncing around the farm and squeezing out of the pens looking for humans to befriend. He has made such progress on his journey to forgiving people and adapting to his new way of life, we hope that you will join him on his journeyof life by visiting the farm and showing him how much good humans are capeable of.
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BARN
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RENOS
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Sugar & Spice and mostly everything nice
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Sugar and Spice are a mother daughter duo who came to us Spring of 2020, they were well loved but their owners just did not have the time they felt Sugar and Spice deserved. We like to remind people that animals who are able to be rehomed and in good health we aim to find their forever homes. While we love them endlessly here, we also know that there are other animals who do need our help as well. Spice was able to be matched with her forever home, and even though it makes us sad to seperate the duo Sugar stilll needs lots of socialization before we could consider matching her in a forever home! Sugar may be sweet, but she can also be quite naughty! Over the summer we celebrated her first birthday, and like many human 1-year-olds, Sugar has a bad habit of nibbling. Over the past few months she has mostly gotten over nipping and her favorite pasttime is playing tag with Rory in the miniature yard.
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Spice & Her Forever Home
Recieving photos of our rescues in forever homes like these make our hearts so full! Spice is truly living her best life and we couldn’t be any happier.
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Now Booking
CelestialFarms.O
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g Camp Outs
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2020 Financi 2020 was a year for the record books in so many ways. In March, we had more bookings than we have ever had. We were on the path to success! Then, Covid hit. We had to refund prepayments for parties and field trips. All events canceled. We were devestated, but we pulled through. Then, in the Winter, when we realized we had no reserves for our typical slowest months, I issued a cry for help. That cry for $50,000 was met with an overwheling response from people all over the world. We were so blessed. Thank you all for resoring the farm and our faith in humanity.
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ial Overview
We hope all of you can continue to visit the farm and see what your donations accomplish for the animals, educational programs and for your neighbors in the community.
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MEET THE TEAM AT
V ER O NI CA
T HER E SE
E X E CU T I VE DI R E CTO R
A S SISTAN T DIR E C TO R
TAMI G U E ST R EL AT IONS
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CHL
A S SISTAN T
T CELESTIAL FARMS
PAT T Y
S AMI
M A ST ER G AR DENER
B AR N MAN AGER
LOE
ANISHA
T DIR E CTO R
G U E ST R EL AT IONS
N OT PI CT U R ED : MR . BOB, KAN DIN, DAPHN E , DEL ANE Y AND ALL O F O U R WON DER F U L VOLU N T EER S
Thank you for all your support of Celestial Farm
Please feel free to reeach out concenring any ads
We have so many wonderful changes happening o
and the anima
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ms, we hope that you enjoyed this magazine.
s, volunteering or intrests in any of our programs.
on the farm and hope you can visit soon to see them
als in person!
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Celestial Farms is a not for profit farm animal rescue and educational center located in Jacksonville FL. They are open by appointment to the public Monday to Saturday, where guests can spend time with the animals or in the gardens.Thiis orginization runs on donations which assist in community programs, classes, events and includes the care and rehabilitiation of farm animals.
