LOCATION: MORLENBACH, GERMANY
FOCUS: FARM ANIMAL RESCUE AND SANCTUARY
LOCAL PARTNER: LEBENSHOF ODENWALD
TOTAL DONATED: $10,850 - for vet bills, feed, new fencing, medications, maintenance, etc.
VOLUNTEERING:
I spent nearly 3 weeks with the internationally renowned farm animal sanctuary, Lebenshof Odenwald. I spent my time as a farm hand - digging ditches, fixing fences, creating chicken dustbaths, driving to the vet, feeding the animals, and administering meds...what a godsend! After my mental challenges in Turkey, the physical labor and the love from the animals was just what my soul needed!
HOW IT STARTED:
I was looking forward to this visit more than anything, as I'd been following Joar Berge, "The Moustache Farmer," on Instagram for years. His relationship with all the animals at Lebenshof Odenwald (especially the cows) gave me new understanding to food, and changed my view on all animal products. He was the reason I finally went completely plant based.
I reached out to Joar and told him that I had my own chicken rescue, and if possible, I wanted to raise money for his animals and spend time at his sanctuary. As luck would have it - they were short on staff when I was trying to visit, and since I already had farm experience, they would make an exception to their no visitor rule! Lucky for me, it was time to get my hands dirty!
I was very clear that I was coming from Istanbul in rough shape, and in a deep hole of depression and mentally struggling. They were more than kind, and just pointed me in the direction of the animals, saying, "Go meet everyone, and decide where your heart needs you to be."
The gods truly smiled on me by having Joar in my path - providing me a safe place to heal and recalibrate - and a place to both give and receive love.
I made the daily drive from Heidelberg, and what began as a three day visit, turned to five, which turned to a week, which turned to nearly three, as I just couldn't seem to break away from the chickens and the cows.
I made myself useful - feeding the animals every day, fixing some fencing, and digging out their stream bed. I built dust baths for their chickens and turkeys, administered medications, made vet runs and ran errands, and with all those daily chores, my soul began to breathe.
Joar, Frank, Lea, the rest of their team and all of the animals were an enormous gift to me when my heart needed them most. In turn, I was glad to offer a bit of help when they were short staffed, raise them some cash, and to help where I could. I will definitely be back.
❤