It's been quite the year here at Safe Haven Animal Discovery Experience!
We have made some exciting changes to the grounds, clearing up the landscape to make way for pathways and exhibits. The overgrown weeds and brush that had overtaken the property have been removed and we've been tending the fields to encourage grass growth. We've also started a compost pile so that we can reduce our carbon footprint, keep some trash from going to the landfill, and add some of the finished compost to the sandy soil in garden beds to grow our own browse and produce for the animals. We also had to complete the renovations on the home that is on the property, so that we could finally get moved in here and no longer have to commute back and forth. Once all those things were done, we finally got to move on to making some tangible changes to structures and buildings which will hold animals and exhibits.
The biggest completed project, and the one that we're most proud of, is the completion of our Petting Barn renovation.
Photo from March 2017, pre-renovation.
As you can see, renovating the barn was a huge undertaking. Luckily for us, while the outside structures looked a little rough, the building had "good bones" and a solid foundation. Posts and beams were solid, the roof was salvageable, and the floor to the hayloft was in good condition. Other then that, almost the entire barn got a makeover.
We started by removing all the old timber boards on the outside of the building. Next, we mapped out the first enclosure, put posts in, and installed the fencing. We also replaced or reinforced exterior supports so that we could add the new walls back on.
May 2017, walls and fences going up.
Once we got the new walls put up, we installed barn doors, a brand new sliding hay loft door, windows, and a fresh coat of paint. We also replaced the missing tin on the roof and patched up all the holes in the existing metal. All in all, the renovation took us about 6 months, as we were working nights and weekends to get the job done. We couldn't have asked for a better result and are excited to move on to the other two buildings on the property that are in need of renovation.
October 2017, finished Petting Barn renovation.
We would like to give a huge Thank You to some of the local businesses that have donated to help make this possible: Walmart of Leland, Lowe's Foods, and Tractor Supply. Your donations of food to help feed our animals has freed up funds to help make this renovation possible!