Friends of the late Esther the Wonder Pig at Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary (HEEFS) have a new home, thanks in no small part to the community that has supported the residents for so many years.
Executive director of HEEFS Derek Walter said the new location, which he calls the Field of Dreams, is somewhere in Flamborough, but doesn’t want to reveal too much before more things are – quite literally – nailed down.
“We’re looking at a 600 per cent increase in pasture space from our current location; it’s outstanding,” Walter said. “All of the barns we have at our current facility will all fit in one of the barns at the new place.”
Nearly 80 residents - of the two- and four-legged variety - call the farm home, and are currently living on approximately 41 acres of land in Campbellville, of which only 12 acres are actually usable. The new location is 110 acres, with about 80 acres ready for grazing.
The residents have to work on rotational grazing, where they are taken in and out for a time, meaning they may only get a certain amount of time per day to graze at their own leisure. The new location will alleviate this.
“We’re at a point where we can’t grow any farther, we’d be taking away from the residents,” Walter said. “We’re certainly not going to have that problem with the new property. Instantly, we have 175 per cent more space for the residents, then in the years following that’ll be 400 per cent and 600 per cent.”
A significant monetary contribution to the farm was made by a woman named Lisa Chance, whom Walter has never even met, nor had any contact with the family.
He said the donation fell from the sky.
“When we got it, it was about $400,000,” Walter said. “The person who left it to us wanted it to be used in a way of legacy and great impact, and the biggest way that we could see impacting our community was to put it in a savings account, and hold it for the day we can really use it.”
To honour Chance, who left the money as part of her will, the team at HEEFS is building the Second Chance Hospital Wing, a part of the farm designated for medical procedures.
The land is also being purchased from a fan of the farm, who gave them a nearly $1 million discount on the property. Walter said it’s something the bank had never seen before.
Despite the donations and the discount, the farm is still in need of help and hopeful that fans of the farm can help.
“We’ll always encourage people to sign up for the newsletter, and for compassionate hearts to donate ot this project,” Walter said. “It’s a world-renowned sanctuary moving into Flamborough.”
Fans who donate are eligible to have their names put up around the property as a thank you, in a similar manner to the Second Chance Hospital Wing.
There is currently no expected opening date, but Walter said they expect to start moving equipment to the new facility in August. Those interested can follow the journey through the newsletter and online.