Planting orchards for rescued animals

Dear friends,

Thank you for supporting our Orchards for Animals program, which provides orchards to animal sanctuaries as sources of food, shade, and enjoyment. We’d like to share a glimpse of the kinds of projects your donations make possible.

In November 2024, we planted a mini-orchard of five large fruit trees at Herd & Flock Animal Sanctuary in Vacaville, California. Each tree will eventually produce ~150 pounds of fruit per year, including apples, figs, pomegranates, and persimmons — quite a bounty of fresh, healthy treats for the rescued animals who call the sanctuary home.

The orchard also provides much-needed shade and a place for animals to explore, rest, and enjoy their environment, while giving volunteers and staff a pleasant space to care for the animals. Watching the sanctuary animals sniff, paw, and eventually sample the first fruits of these trees is an example of the simple joy and benefits that fruit trees bring — not only nourishment, but enrichment, comfort, and beauty.

We are deeply grateful to the volunteers and staff who help plant and care for this orchard and to Herd & Flock for their tireless dedication to rescued farm animals. You can learn more about the sanctuary here.

Your support allows us to plant more orchards like this across the country, helping sanctuaries provide food, shade, and enrichment to the animals in their care.

With gratitude,

The FTPF Team