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Sanctuary One at Double Oak Farm-Your Local Care Farm

Sanctuary One at Double Oak Farm is located outside of Jacksonville in the beautiful Applegate Valley. This nonprofit care farm gives guided tours upon reservation that are offered March through October by appointment only (Wednesdays and Saturdays). Here, you will find a variety of friendly farm animals and house pets such as horses, cows, llamas, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, geese, dogs, and cats. Employees, volunteers, and interns all work together for mutual healing with the animals. This animal sanctuary provides a safe and comfortable home to the animals they take in, and they work with those who are interested in being good homes for adoption. If you are interested in reading more about the pets and think you might be a good home (or would simply like to be a sponsor), please visit http://www.sanctuaryone.org/meet.html. Additionally, they provide an environment that derives from Europe which is the therapeutic use of farming practices, which is known as care farming or green care. Focusing on sustainability through organic permaculture-inspired farming practices, Sanctuary One is a place we all need to go take notes at!

Not only do they provide public tours but they also invite schools and youth-serving nonprofit groups to visit the farm for hands-on learning, mentor interns who are interested in care farms, and more. In fact, they have even teamed up with Mediation Works and Jackson County Community Justice to provide an alternative to the traditional juvenile corrections program. Additionally, they have an internship program and two places where it is advertised. The first is World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (also known as WWOOF). Personally, I have been a “WWOOFer” and loved it! I did this while traveling in Ireland and Sicily. This gave me the passion for sustainability and organic farming practices that I did not have before, and it a great benefit to both the volunteer and the host. For more information about WWOOF go to http://www.wwoof.org/. The second program is The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, which you can find at https://attra.ncat.org. If these programs are of interest to you make sure you check out the link on their site at http://www.sanctuaryone.org/programs.html. Last I heard, they were looking for fall interns so make sure to spread the word or get involved in this great opportunity yourself.

There are many ways you can help out the farm if you are interested. Go to the following site for more info http://www.sanctuaryone.org/support.html. For example, they have a current animal wish list which is in need of straw or hay bales, cat litter and 100 percent cotton towels, blankets, and sheets (any size, used OK). The farm and garden wish list consists of a picnic table, wooden chairs, work gloves (all sizes), wooden bird house (all kinds), metal garbage cans and heavy duty garden hoses. A big thanks goes out to all of our local donors, such as MaraNatha Peanut Butter in Ashland, and Harry and David in Medford.

For more information about Sanctuary One at Double Oak Farm go to www.SanctuaryOne.org or call 541-899-8627. Lastly, I urge you to sign up for their monthly e-newsletter and “like” them on Facebook. These updates are great to have!

Bonnie Ryan, Web Content/Social Media/Blogger

Southern Oregon Visitors Association (SOVA) AKA Travel Southern Oregon

www.southernoregon.org

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