By pattrice jones | Coordinator, VINE Sanctuary
It's been a wild ride this year so far at VINE Sanctuary!
"Weird is the new normal." That's what we say about the weather now, due to the unfortunate effects of climate change. The winter was milder than usual, with lower-than-average snowfall and weeks of warmer-than-usual weather. We've had at least five mud seasons already, as warm days melted snow into much... but then it all froze again, leaving deep ruts in all driveways and pathways.
Then, beginning in late March, what felt like a winter's worth of snow fell all at once. We got nearly three feet of snow over one weekend! Then, on April Fools Day, the tractor played a trick on us: Nobody got hurt, but the parking brake slipped and the tractor rolled down the driveway, across the road, and into a ravine, taking a gate and a dumpster with it!
Again: Nobody got hurt. That's the most important thing! But we did have to pay a hefty sum to hire heavy machinery to haul the tractor and dumpster out of the ravine. And we still will need to replace solar-powered gate opener and repair that tractor.
We use the tractor every day to haul bales of hay weighing between 500 and 900 pounds each to the pastures where cows, sheep, goats, and alpacas are eagerly awaiting their meals.
If you're inclined to give a little extra to help us repair the tractor, you should know that GlobalGiving's Little x Little campaign runs through April 12. All small donations will be eligible for a 50% match while funds last!
You're probably wondering about the eclipse. Here, it didn't get fully dark but did become twilight-ish. Here's what happened as it began to grow darker in the middle of the afternoon: Sheep and cows began mooing and baaing as if it were dinner time. Roosters began crowing much more often than they usually do at that time of day. As it grew even darker, some roosters switched to a keening sound that they sometimes make at bedtime. For their part, hens spread out to forage, as they usually do right before bedtime, stocking up calories to last them overnight.
When the eclipse passed, everybody returned to their usual daytime activities as if nothing odd had just happened!
Thanks again for your support of the sanctuary!
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