Refuge Farms (www.refugefarms.org)

It only seems appropriate on this bright, sunny morning that we talk about flowers and tending to gardens. The frost last night was a bit hard on some of the plants here at Refuge Farms but the warmth of the sun is helping to revive them and repair the damage from the cold that surprised us all last night!

"What flowers at Refuge Farms?" you ask. Well, in order to understand our flower gardens you must first understand The Three Promises. These are promises given to the horses that will become the Sanctuary Herd. Horses that we consider "diers". Horses that, when we find them, are so forlorn and so deprived and so neglected that we know they must stay with us and become a part of the Ministry. Become a horse that we attach to and guard for the remainder of its days. And beyond its days.

There are three promises: one for safety, one for food, and one forever. It is the third promise that is key for today's blog:

3. You are home. You are here forever. No more fighting for a place in a herd. No more new water to get used to. No more trying to find the way in a new barn with a new caretaker. Even in death we will keep you at THE FARM. You can relax now. You are home.

It is at the very instant that the trailer doors are opened for the horse that the horse makes the decision to leave the trailer and begin the remainder of its life or to lie down and begin the very beginning of its next life. If the horse decides to exit the trailer, The Three Promises are in effect. And we take these promises as serious as any commitment given from one living creature to another living creature.

So what does all of this have to do with flower beds at Refuge Farms?

When a horse crosses over, the decision is made on where to bury the horse. It is an important decision and it is made with the utmost care and respect to the personality and preferences of the horse. We humans must put our desires aside. It is the horse's resting place and so the placement is for the horse.

If the horse is buried in the pasture or under its favorite tree, we plant a tree in the yard as a tribute to the life of the animal. If the horse is buried in the yard, we build a flower bed, called a Memory Bed, over the grave site. These are the flower beds of Refuge Farms.

This past season has seen several very important residents of Refuge Farms cross over. We lost Ole' Man Cole in December and Little Man in March. Both of these creatures had received The Three Promises - Cole in 2002 and Little Man in 2007. We promised to provide safety and respect, food and water, and a home forever - even in death, we promised these creatures that they would stay at THE FARM.

Now Ole' Man Cole was a very special minister. Cole was Andy's horse. You know the story. Cole arrived and was most perplexed by this white stuff that fell onto his nose that first winter. He spent the majority of that winter in the barn watching the ground turn white. Not sure what this stuff was and not sure if it was safe to venture out of the safety of the barn.

In later years, Cole grew to appreciate the winter season. The air was drier and his breathing made easier because of this. Blankets on his body kept him warm and soon this Texas Boy became a Wisconsin Boy. Always a character, Ole' Man Cole's grave was selected to be as close to the Andy Durco tree as possible. Right in the yard, in the shade of the big maple planted in Andy's honor. A new flower bed to tend to. In honor and out of respect to the character that was Ole' Man Cole.

Then, out of the blue, Little Man decided to move on, too. Leaving behind broken hearts and little children who cried for him. Adults who cried for him, too. And so many of us wanting to adorn his Memory Bed with flowers that relay his gentle ways. His friendly leanings. And those every present big, brown eyes that never looked away.

A much smaller Memory Bed than Cole's, but just as important. In Little Man's three short years with us, we won every one of us over! What a greeter he was! What a grand ambassador for Refuge Farms he became. As many of us have said numerous times, "This dog was meant to be here."

And so we will create two new Memory Beds this spring and plant their gardens. And one of our ways to accomplish this is the Annual Fundraiser to sell bulbs to any of you who feel the need to plant. The dirt under your fingernails. The softness of the earth in your hands. The pleasure to see the little green sprout poking up through the earth. And the joy of the blooms!

We select our partner in this event with care. Breck's is a worldwide known supplier of bulb and perennials. The quality is outstanding. And their products are warrantied for life. Not many bulb suppliers even attempt to match their commitments to quality.

"There's no risk when you order plants and bulbs from Flower Power Fundraising, Inc. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you are dissatisfied in any way, just let us know and we will issue you a replacement, exchange or refund - whichever you prefer."

The Breck's program is called "Flower Power". It is very simple and a full 50% of the proceeds will come to Refuge Farms. A good sum to help in the creation and planting of the Memory Beds needed for Cole and Little Man. Quality plants in support of two creatures that deserve and warrant our cares after their crossing.

The Flower Power program is an online system. Access to the menu of selections is as simple as a screen brought up on your computer. Orders are taken online and the bulbs are shipped directly to you. No delivery or time spent picking up your bulbs from THE FARM. And upon shipment, the funds are mailed to Refuge Farms. And then we begin to build the Memory Beds.

If you would like to look at the plants offered in this program, we simply need to inform Flower Power of your email address and the rest "just happens". The plants include peony, lupine, purple coneflower, several varieties of iris, bleeding heart, and even hostas. Add to that strawberry plants in a pot, blueberries, and hanging tomato plants in the new upside-down hanging planter. Over twenty-six (yup, 26!) plants to meander through. A good selection and all fully warrantied.

If email is not your style, then simply call THE FARM or stop by during the Antique & Garage Sale next weekend and we'll have order forms and a catalogue of selections available for you to look at. Bulbs are still shipped directly to you. Products are still warrantied. And your purchase is 50% deductible on your personal income taxes as a donation to Refuge Farms.

This entire effort is a part of the grieving process for us. While we plant and tend to the Memory Beds of those we have loved, we talk of them. Tell their stories. Recall the times they fooled us or played tricks on us. And we talk about how much we loved them. We begin to heal by digging in the dirt. Sharing our hearts while we tend to them.


It's our Mission. To provide safety and food and a home forever. Whether they be in the barn or in a Memory Bed, we still care for them. It's because we promised that we would. And here, at Refuge Farms, we mean the promises we give.

Enjoy the journey of each and every day,
Sandy and The Herd

If you would like to participate in this Fund Raiser for the Memory Beds of Refuge Farms, please email THE FARM at refugefarms@hotmail.com, call THE FARM at 715.772.3379, or stop by the Antique & Garage Sale next weekend. Times for the sale are on the poster found on our homepage. Thanks. From all of those that we will remember.