Exposure = Empathy
Ballydídean rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes farmed animals who are unwanted, neglected, or abused. Through tours and community education, we give people the chance to make friends with animals they typically only meet on their dinner plate, giving them an opportunity to rethink their relationship with farmed animals.
Founded by the Santosa family in 2018, Ballydídean Farm Sanctuary is something that Sarah and Ansel dreamed of starting since they were 15 in high school. Many have never met farm animals; particularly not those who were kept in non-production conditions and have misconceptions about the behavior or characteristics of those animals. Those misconceptions are often used as excuses for treating farm animals different from pets. We want to adopt animals out of production conditions and give them happy, peaceful lives. And we want to give others access via community or educational events to help build a sense of empathy towards these animals, especially in children.
If you’re interested in learning more about us personally, you can go really deep in Our Origin Story
Press
Sept 5, 2024 Whidbey Weekly: Annual Harvest Faire celebrates Whidbey Island agriculture with family events at Greenbank Farm
Jul 20, 2024 Whidbey News Times: Second Harvest Faire comes to historic farm
Jul 20, 2024 Whidbey News Times: Whidbey Island Fair opens July 25
Apr 01, 2024 Whidbey News Times: Petunia the rescue pig to celebrate first birthday
Mar 01, 2024 Whidbey News Times: Animal control officers rebuild program
Dec 12, 2023 Whidbey News Times: Give a gift of Whidbey charity this season
Dec 05, 2023 Whidbey News Times: Parading for the holidays
Nov 29, 2023 Whidbey News Times: Sound Off: Gourd the beloved turkey will be missed
Nov 24, 2023 PETA: Pass the CARGO Act: No More Tax Money to Fund Animal Torment Around the World
Sep 29, 2023 Whidbey News Times: South Whidbey handywoman does it all
Sep 07, 2023 Whidbey Weekly: Greenbank Farm to Celebrate Harvest Season
Sep 01, 2023 South Whidbey Record: Calling all farmhands
Aug 18, 2023 Whidbey News Times: Greenbank Farm to celebrate harvest season
Jul 28, 2023 Whidbey News Times: Fair kicks off in style
Feb 10, 2023 South Whidbey Record: Oink! Porcine runaways find sanctuary
Feb 10, 2023 Whidbey News Times: New animal advocacy group calls for change in Island County
Feb 03, 2023 Whidbey News Times: Local egg market is sunny side up
May 14, 2022 Whidbey News Times: Letter: Take care not to spread avian flu in domestic, wild birds
Mar 18, 2022 South Whidbey Record: A Big Welcome
Mar 26, 2021 South Whidbey Record: Animals put out to pasture, but not forgotten
Oct 11, 2019 Whidbey Life Magazine: Gimme Shelter
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COMMUNITY
There are so many other wonderful organizations on Whidbey Island and the pacific northwest larger region who help us do our work or are doing their own important and related work. Check them out!
Critters & Co. is rescuing pretty much every animal we don’t (rodents, reptile, fish, etc)
Flying Colors Aviary is saving birds of all kinds.
Island County Animal Control is doing the messy and difficult work of investigating neglect and abuse and extracting animals in need from dangerous situations
Whatcom Humane Society is an open admission animal shelter
The Dairy Calf Underground Railroad is saving all kinds of farmed animals in the pacific northwest.
The Farm Animal Adoption Network is finding safe homes for farmed animals nationwide.
Over 50 other nonprofit farm sanctuaries in the PNW! See them all at CascadiaSanctuaries.org