Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre March Events l Workshop: Criticism l Gentle Barn Calendar

The Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre is located 30 minutes North of Winnipeg on highway 67 between highways #7 and #8. Call 467-3300 or email Jacques Bourgeois

Seed Starting Workshop
March 8, 1 p.m.
Learn how to grow native plants, vegetables and herbs with Patricia Garrod.
Workshop fee is $10 plus admission.
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Ruddy Duck Carving Workshop
March 9, 16 and 23
Learn to carve your very own Ruddy Duck decoy from award winning carvers Harry Williams, John Frye and Ross Gage. This three-day course will teach you the art.
Cost is $70 for members and $85 for non-members.
*
Maple Syrup Workshop
March 15 - 1 p.m.
Join maple syrup enthusiast, Jacques Bourgeois, whose family has had a sugar shack for many generations. Learn how to recognize the different maple trees, how to harvest and how to transform the sap into delicious product.
Pre-registration is required.
Workshop fee is $10 plus admission.
*
Astronomy Night - Spring Constellations
March 20 - 7 p.m.
A special theatre presentation followed by an observation session from the rooftop will help you gain an appreciation of our night sky.
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World Water Day
March 22
The United Nations declared 2014 as the International Year of Water and Energy.
Take in fun water activities from Project WET such as H2Olympics and learn the amazing properties of water.
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Snowbird Beach Day
March 23
Celebrate the arrival of spring with a Tropical Beach Party!
Marvel at dozens of live parrots from the Parrot Club of Manitoba.
Listen to enchanting tropical music of Clyde Heerah and his steel drums.
Participate in our limbo contest.
Don't forget to enjoy a tropical lunch in our Café and purchase baked goods.
*
Birding Hour - Raptor Workshop
March 30 - 1 p.m.
Paula Grieef, our Resident Naturalist, teaches how to identify the birds of prey that migrate through Manitoba.
Cost is $5 plus admission to the Interpretive Centre.
*
Wild, Weird and Wonderful Week
March 31 to April 4
See how fascinating the creatures are with crafts, games, movies and presentations daily.
*
Day camps for kids (age 6 to 9) during the school break.
The spring camps will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Early drop-off and later pick-up can be arranged.
Day camps are $24 for Interpretive Centre members, $30 for non- members.
Each day is unique with fun-filled indoor & outdoor programs, crafts and other activities.

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March 18 to 19

Ace Art, 2-290 McDermot Avenue

Attendees must confirm before March 12. 

free to ace & aci members | become a member

Vol. 1: Criticism, critique, criticality

Slippery salons: discourse on muddied waters 

Hosted by Courtney R. Thompson, a freelance arts writer/critic/worker in Winnipeg

This workshop is about asking questions of where we see art, how we talk about it, and who's reading about it.

This is for writers working in visual arts journalism,curators, and artists looking to navigate the impact of their practice from the artist statement to the exhibition review.

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Get Your Gentle Barn Calendar!

Each year we produce a Gentle Barn calendar full of beautiful pictures of our animals and their stories. 

This year we featured our celebrity animals, animals that stand out because they love attention so much. Inside you'll see Buttercup the cow who loves hugs; Caesar the horse, a true movie star; Mario the rooster who struts his stuff in the barnyard and, of course, our Jewel who can never be outshined. 

For a limited time, buy two calendars and get one free! Click here to get yours now! The Gentle Barn Foundation, 15825 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita, CA

MEC SnowFest - FREE! l The Edge Fun-raiser - FREE! Shelmerdine: Christmas events, crafts & Photos with Santa! l Artists in Healthcare Manitoba: CD launch & Sylvia Kuzyk l The Gentle Barn: Thanksgiving with Pamela Anderson

MEC SnowFest - November 23, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm 

Mountain Equipment Co-op, 303 Portage Avenue

Free Clinics, Giveaways, Gear Swap, hot chocolate, coffee, cookies, and 

samples from Lara Bar, Taste of Nature, energy gels, and more. 

If you want to get outdoors and be active this winter, SnowFest is a great place to learn about different options, Alisa Birnie, Outreach & Learning Coordinator at MEC Winnipeg

Ø  Check out the latest snowsports gear.

Ø  Find deals at the MEC Winter Gear Swap.

Ø  Make your very own ‘outsiders beard’ and other fun crafts at the kids’ table.

Learn new skills and get the most current information at free clinics including: 

Ø  Nordic Waxing Clinics with CCSAM & CANSI

Ø  Get Informed & Get Outdoors with WST & AdventureSmart

Ø  Winter Running 101

Ø  Winter Cycling 101

Ø  SnowMotion – Skijor & Kick Sled with your pet

Meet local clubs, and find out about their activities and communities. 

Many will be giving away great prizes, for example:

Ø  Club D’Escalada de Saint Boniface is giving away climbing sessions

Ø  Winnipeg Search and Rescue is giving away adventure package

Ø  AdventureSmart is giving away adventure package

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THE EDGE FUN-RAISER

The Edge Gallery and Urban Art Centre, 611 Main Street

November 23, 2 - 10 pm - FREE!

snacks - refreshments - activities - vegetarian and meat lovers chili

Kids' activities, live music, SILENT AUCTION 

CHILI BOWLS - CUPS - MUGS - handmade by artists, including MIKE ASTILL, CRYSTAL NYKOLUK, MONICA MARTINEZ, JESSICA HOGESON and BERNARD BRAHMADA.
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SOFA SA (School of Fine Arts Student Association) Undergrads at the University of Manitoba
Show & Create 2013
Exhibition date November 29 to December 5
A variety of student work including 2D & 3D will be exhibited.

Reception date Friday, November 29, 7:00 pm - Guests can collaborate on a piece of art work that will be exhibited at the School of Fine Art's student lounge.

For more information please contact John & Shaylyn

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Shelmerdine Winnipeg Garden Centre calendar of holiday events

Extended hours: Mon - Fri: 9 am to 8 pm, Sat: 9 am to 5 pm, Sun: 11 am to 5 pm 

Decorating With Holiday Greenery

November 23, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Photos with Santa!

November 30, 11:00 AM - 03:00 PM l December 1, 12:00 PM - 03:00 PM

Family, friends and pets are all welcomed! 

Just $10 per group and your photo will be emailed to you! 

All proceeds benefit Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg.

Storytime & Cookies with Mrs. Claus!

For children ages 3-8, enjoy hearing Mrs. Claus read a story and decorate a freshly baked cookie!  Every Wednesday and Friday at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm 

$5 per child, make sure to pre-register for this special moment with Mrs. Claus!

Children's Craft Corner

December 21, 12:00 PM - 03:00 PM    $5.00 per child

Bring the kids to create and decorate a Christmas craft that they can give to a loved one!

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November 28, 8:00 pm until 11:00 pm (Doors open 7:30 pm)
The Park Theatre, 698 Osborne Street (204-478-7275)

Artists in Healthcare Manitoba is proud to release its debut CD!
Tickets are $10 - online through The Park Theatre, from our musicians or at the door.

Hosted by Sylvia Kuzyk, Honorary Advisory Council Member of Artists in Healthcare.
It will be wonderful to see her again!!
With performances by:
Tim Cummings
Ron Halldorson
Lynn and Peter McClure
Aaron Shorr
Keith Price
Liz Goossen
Lois Gillespie
Vanessa Kuzina
Jess Reimer
William Grierson
Kristopher Ulrich
Shirley Grierson
Gilles Fournier

Listen to audio samples here - See what we do    video 1       video 2

Not only will this CD help spread the word about what we do, but it will also be given as a gift to patients!  For every CD we sell, we will give two away.
Come celebrate and support our organization!

With thanks to Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, The Winnipeg Foundation's 'Youth In Philanthropy' Program, Gillis Quarries, and all of our kind Indiegogo and Canada Helps donors.

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The Gentle Barn Foundation, 15825 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita, CA

Come celebrate life with us on November 28, Thanksgiving Day. 

Feed pie to all our turkeys, enjoy a delicious, candlelight, vegan dinner and participate in a Native American drum circle and bonfire. 

Come celebrate life, peace and gentleness with us at our table this year. 

See a Thanksgiving video with Pamela Anderson at The Gentle Barn 2012.

Fruit Share Fundraiser and Workshops l Gentle Barn Gala to Help Children

Fruit Share's Pie and Cider Fundraiser running now until Sept 25. 

Once all the orders are in we'll be making pies for pick up 

on October 5 - just in time for Thanksgiving! 

Proceeds will help ensure that Fruit Share continues to pick and share unused fruit.

Winnipeg Free Press article on Fruit Share

We’ve got some great workshops! 

Register today by emailing Joanna

All classes are FREE at Churchill Park United Church (525 Beresfod Ave)

Beginner and expert pie makers all welcome.

Demonstration followed by lots of hard work and a fun time! 

You’ll be helping make many pies for our fundraiser!

Making pie dough from scratch
October 1, 6-9pm

Making apple pie
October 2, 6-9pm

Making pumpkin pie
October 3, 6-9pm

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The Gentle Barn Fundraising Gala

September 28, at 8:00 pm 

Serenity West Recording Studio, 5540 Hollywood Boulevard.

Please join us for vegan food, cocktails, music, and a live auction! 

Please come in cocktail attire and support the animals and children we heal.

We are requesting a $250 donation per person. 

www.gentlebarn.org/donate - select The Gentle Barn Gala under One Time Donations. 

Please RSVP and include your donation confirmation and names of guests in your party. 

You must RSVP and make your donation in advance. Adults only. 

The animals and children thank you!

The Gentle Barn's Violence Prevention Program for at risk, inner city and special needs kids starts this month. Our 10 month program hosts kids who do not respond to traditional therapy and who are kept either on medication, in foster care or in jail because they have no where else to go. 

Coming to The Gentle Barn can change their lives forever. 

The foster homes, probation camps, drug and alcohol rehab centers and inner city schools that desperately want to bring their youth to our program this year cannot afford to come, so we need to raise the funds for them. Our program costs us $400 each time the kids come and $4,000 for the entire year.  Help bring  youth to The Gentle Barn to learn kindness, compassion, confidence and find themselves.

Our beloved Cinnamon Apple Pie left us this week. 

She was very old, in her 30's, and was in bad shape when we brought her home 10 years ago. The weekly acupuncture, chiropractic, ultrasound and massage therapy made her feel better, kept her mobile and gave us many years with her. 

We are so sad to see her go.

                  

To read Cinnamon's story

The Gentle Barn Foundation, 15825 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita, CA

The Gentle Barn: Sponsoring & The Buddha Necklace

Sponsor a Gentle Barn Animal!

Because many of our animals have been severely abused before coming here, and because we have to make up for that abuse by giving them the best lives possible, their care is very expensive. One of the ways we can afford to care for them is by you sponsoring them.  

We have 135 animals and they all need sponsors. Their sponsorship amounts vary from a $5 donation per month for a chicken to a $50 donation per month for a horse. We would be so grateful if you would become a Gentle Barn animal sponsor. You will get a picture and bio of your animal and a regular emailed update of how they are doing.

It is a great feeling knowing that your funds are going to care for an animal in need, that you can have a special relationship for the life of that animal and that you are a part of The Gentle Barn Family.  It also makes a great gift or a special way to honor a loved one. 

Just go to our Virtual Barnyard and pick an animal that you love and that you can afford and get started! We cannot do this wonderful work without you, thank you!

The Buddha Necklace 

The Buddha charm necklace is now for sale in our online store on our website. 

At only $50, this one of a kind necklace designed by expert jeweler Jes MaHarry will be a lifetime show piece and supports the animals, with 100 percent of the sale going to The Gentle Barn.

Buddha is our first cow. Now 12 years old, she has taught love and empathy to well over 100, 000 children. She is a true healer.

Purchase your own Buddha charm necklace today!  

The necklace is donated by Jess MaHarry, an exquisite jeweler and animal lover.

Valentine's Day at The Gentle Barn

This Valentine's Day, bring your loved one(s) to The Gentle Barn and share the day with the animals!  

The Gentle Barn Valentine's Day celebration will be on Sunday February 12, from 10 to 2.

Hug a cow, give a pig a tummy rub, cuddle with the turkeys, play with the goats and sheep, and flirt with our emu (or if you're lucky...he'll flirt with you).  

Afterwards, have a yummy valentine cupcake, munch on some hot fresh popcorn, enjoy a cold drink and have a slice of pizza and have lunch on our picnic tables, under the shade trees surrounded by glorious mountains, under a blue sky, shrouded in peace, joy and tranquility!

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The Gentle Barn rescues animals that no one else wants and their only other option is to be put to sleep. We rely on our vets to help us heal our animals, but sometimes the animals are so sick that there is nothing more the vets can do. That is when we pull out our secret weapons from our bag of tricks.  

One of the things we rely heavily on is algae, a food that boosts the immune system, helps get rid of toxins and helps the body get stronger. It has helped us boost the immune system, make old animals comfortable and extend their lives. 

If you have an animal that is sick, old or could just use a good energy boost, please email The Gentle Barn or (661) 252-2440, and we'll let you know how to order it. And by the way, we humans take it too; it makes eating a plant-based diet a breeze!

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A Plant-Based Diet is Easy!

Did you know that you will spare approximately 198 animals a year by adopting a plant-based diet?  If you love animals and want to explore a plant-based diet, we can help by making sure you get the right amount of protein, calcium and iron.

Please contact us for more information.

Not only does a plant-based diet help animals, but also it is essential for the environment. The United Nation is urging a global switch to a plant based diet!  

Click here to see what they have written. 

Love Ophelia Supports The Gentle Barn

Love Ophelia wanted to show our gratitude to an organization dedicated to helping the helpless. 

The Gentle Barn is a wonderful organization that is tirelessly and selflessly committed to giving a voice to the voiceless and advocating for compassion for all living things.

It is our privilege to donate 20% of our sales to the Gentle Barn when you enter GENTLEBARN at checkout throughout December.

As an extra thank you, we will give YOU a 20% discount when you enter code GENTLEBARN.

If you feel moved to help us support the Gentle Barn, enter GENTLEBARN when you make a purchase at Love Ophelia.

The Gentle Barn is a refuge for severely abused animals and a safe haven for at-risk and special needs children.  The Gentle Barn's dedicated volunteers and advocates give us hope for a compassionate future for all animals, and ultimately for all mankind. 

We think that is simply OUTSTANDING! 

We are beyond thrilled to be able to contribute to their cause. 

Save some money, save some lives. 

How amazing is that?

Winter at Gentle Barn

Monty and Marsha, two turkeys, were rescued from Thanksgiving two years ago. 

They act like a married couple with Marsha always fussing over him, and Monty patient and loving with his bride. Monty thinks he is a movie star and lives to please and show off for his fans. When groups of people call out "Hey, Monty" he gobbles back to them.

Wild turkeys live for about 20 years, can fly, run, mate and live in large family groups. Domesticated turkeys are genetically engineered to get very big, very fast so they can be slaughtered when they are only 12 weeks old. They live only a few years and cannot run or mate and have a hard time walking. They are so intelligent and affectionate, it is such a shame that their bodies are set up to fail.

Monty had health issues and we almost lost him last year. He was in heart failure and the vet told us to say our goodbyes and that he would not recover. But we didn't give up on him and miraculously, Monty did recover and stayed with us to keep dazzling folks with his magic personality and winning plumage. 

With his beautiful wife by his side, what's not to love? 

Sponsor a Gentle Barn turkey this month! 

You, or your recipient if it's a gift, will receive a picture of the turkey you sponsored and his story, and each month you will get an emailed update with a new picture.

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Want another turkey story?

Visit Thanksgiving Wishes & A Tale

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If you haven't already, get your Gentle Barn calendar today! 

It has beautiful pictures of our animals on every page, it's only $15, and it will make a 

great holiday gift while supporting The Gentle Barn! 

We can ship it anywhere in the world, so place your order now!

Order your calendar today.

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Because many of our animals have all been severely abused before coming here, their care is very expensive. One of the ways we can afford to care for them is by you sponsoring them.  

We have 135 animals and they all need sponsors. Their sponsorship amounts vary from $5 for a chicken to $50 per month for a horse through our Virtual Barnyard. You will get a picture and bio of your animal and a regular emailed update of how he is doing.

It is a great feeling knowing that you can have a special relationship for the life of that animal.  It also makes a great gift or a special way to honor a loved one. 

The Gentle Barn

Be a Gentle Barn Sponsor!

Because many of our animals have all been severely abused before coming here, and because we have to make up for that abuse by giving them the best lives possible, their care is very expensive. 

One of the ways we can afford to care for them is by you sponsoring them. 

We have 135 animals and they all need sponsors. Their sponsorship per month amounts vary from a $5 donation for a chicken to a $50 donation for a horse. 

We would be so grateful if you would become a Gentle Barn animal sponsor. You will get a picture and bio of your animal and a regular emailed update of how they are doing.

It is a great feeling knowing that your funds are going to care for an animal in need and that you are a part of The Gentle Barn Family.  

It also makes a great gift or a special way to honor a loved one. 

Just go to our Virtual Barnyard and pick an animal that you love and that you can afford and get started! 

We cannot do this wonderful work without you, thank you!

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The Gentle Barn 2012 Calendars are here!

They have gorgeous pictures of our animals on every page.

They will make great gifts or a treasure to have on your own wall! 

The funds go to support our animals, what a win, win! 

Have you visited our online Gentle Barn store lately?  We have great apparel, mugs, jewelry and so much more. 

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A Plant-Based Diet is Easy!

Did you know that you will spare approximately 198 animals a year by adopting a plant-based diet?  

If you want to explore a plant-based diet, we can help by making sure you get the right amount of protein, calcium and iron.

Please contact Gentle Barn for more information.

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The Gentle Barn Halloween Party

Please join us on Sunday, October 30, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for some Halloween fun!

Please come dressed up in costume and trick or treat with us in the barnyard. There will be a wonderful prize for the person that looks most like one of our animals.

Bring your appetite with you, as there will be delicious food from "Southern Fried Vegan," pizza from "Tomato Joe's," refreshing drinks and cupcakes from "Bake You Happy" and delicious homemade cookies. 

Beauty is on the Inside

The Gentle Barn hosted a great group of kids from the Children's Burn Foundation.  

The physical scars from these traumas are often visible on their faces, arms and legs, 

but the emotional scars from the horror of how they were hurt are buried deep inside.

We started the tour with the story of our horse, Prince Charming, who was unwanted because of his swollen knees, swayed back, rotten teeth and overall appearance. He had scars all over his body because of the abuse and fights he had been in. We told them how we were delighted with him because we saw that he was perfect just the way he was. His body and what he had been through is not who he is. He is the beauty within him that shines through him, and it is perfect and beautiful. We told the kids how much we love this sweet horse and how we will treasure him till the end of time.  

We explained that it was hard for Charming to trust our love at first because he did not believe it and he did not want to accept it. It took us a year of hard, patient work, but he finally accepted our love and affection and trusted it.  The kids' faces and attentiveness made it clear that they were moved by Prince Charming's story. 

After talking a bit, we spent the day hugging the cows, feeding carrots to Prince Charming, giving pigs tummy rubs, cuddling turkeys, and playing with the goats and sheep.  We ended the day by giving Prince Charming a bubble bath.  Over the course of the day, as the kids relaxed, their stories started to surface.  Some of their stories would make the most hardened person weep. 

We fell in love with these kids and hope they come back to see us.  

They are heroes to us and we can't wait to see them again. 

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When you sponsor an animal at The Gentle Barn, you get a picture of that animal, their written story, and email updates.  

You also get the satisfaction of knowing that you are contributing to their care. 

We can't do it without you!

Visit The Gentle Barn's Virtual Barnyard to sponsor an animal!  

Happy Birthday, Gentle Barn!!

The Gentle Barn is celebrating its 12th year anniversary on Sunday, August 28, 

from 10 am - 2 pm! 

We will have music, great vegan food and of course all our happy animals here to love and tell their stories. 

It has been a very successful 12 years; we have worked hard, saved thousands of animals and healed thousands of kids. 

We are grateful for all our devoted volunteers, our dedicated staff, and all of you who support our work and keep us strong and successful. 

We hope you all come out and celebrate with us!

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The Gentle Barn has been nominated for "Favorite Farmed Animal Sanctuary" in the 2011 Veggie Awards, the world's largest survey of vegan people, places, and products. 

Please vote for The Gentle Barn and you will get a chance to win fabulous prize packages including an all-expense-paid vegan cruise, a vegan dessert party, a Vitamix, a one-year supply of ice cream, and more. 

The polls close August 31 at midnight, and winners will be announced in the November+December holiday edition of VegNews.  

The Gentle Barn's Golf Tournament

Robinson's Ranch Golf Course in Santa Clarita

Friday June 24, 12:00 pm Shotgun Start

Register online at The Gentle Barn or call (661) 252 -2440

Registration must be received by The Gentle Barn by June 10

Many great raffle prized, a live auction, and gifts!

A chance to win two cars in our Hole-in-One Contests!!

Win 4 hole in one prizes and the putting contest where you can win a full set of golf clubs!

We have more awesome prizes this year and can't wait to get all of the great pictures of the players with our celebrity cows Holy and Madonna. What a great gift for Fathers Day.

Come join us for a great day of golf and giveaways, while supporting rescued animals

and inner-city, at-risk and special-needs children in Santa Clarita, Los Angeles and the

Antelope Valley.

Start the day by taking a picture with our cow, then enjoy a sack lunch while you play golf. End the day with a delicious dinner and silent auction. If you don't golf, please join us just for the dinner. It is an absolute blast! 

If you can't play golf, don't forget about our awards dinner after the tournament. 

Dinner, music and prizes... It was the highlight of the event last year!

So come join us at The Gentle Barn Golf Tournament... Golfer or not!

All Because of a Tiny Hen

We had a group of foster kids who came to the barn. All the kids gathered around me as I told them about the animals and the ranch, all except one.  This boy stood in the back, eyes down to the ground, arms folded across his chest, as if to say, "you are not getting to me, I am not interested."

I kept trying to get him interested in the animals but he would not look at me or talk to me. I finally gave up and focused more on the other kids, thinking, "Well you can't win them all." Just as the session was coming to an end I heard a voice behind me mumbling, "Can I hold that chicken?" I whirled around to see the closed off boy talking to me. He was not looking at me mind you, but he was talking to me and he was interested in holding a chicken! I picked Strawberry up and handed her to him to hold. He stroked her very gently. Then he started telling me about how he had a chicken when he was a child and they loved each other very much. That one day he came home from school and she was gone and he never saw her again. He told me how he missed her.

I told him how very sorry I was that happened to him and how much I understood his pain. His eyes slowly lifted and he started telling me how he lived in a foster home and no one understood him and he had not seen his parents in years, and how he wanted to be an animator but was not sure how to do it. He told me his whole life story, and he was looking right at me as he spoke. I did not take my eyes off of him, and prayed that the dialogue would never end.

He left The Gentle Barn with a smile on his face hugging me goodbye and saying he couldn't wait to return soon. This boy had been so invisible, angry, resistant and defensive, and came alive, opened up and let me in, all because of a tiny hen named Strawberry.

Strawberry is no longer with us, she died of old age several years ago, but I was thinking of her and wanted you to know of the wonderful work she did here for almost 8 years!

The Gentle Barn 

26910 Sierra Highway D-8 #318 

Santa Clarita, CA, 91321

661-252-2440 

info@gentlebarn.org