A pair of lambs frolic almost on cue in the enclosure, Maple the potbellied pig comes out to say hi, and a team of male peacocks strut around like they own the place.
Then thereB次元官网网址檚 the goats.
Easily the most popular residents of the Beacon Hill ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Farm, these social, wire-haired animals are happy to see a new visitor.
B次元官网网址淣ot having people coming in, I know the animals miss the people. They love the attention,B次元官网网址� said Lynda Koenders, the farmB次元官网网址檚 co-owner/operator.
ItB次元官网网址檚 been more than 13 months since the petting zoo was open to the public. Under public health restrictions, the regular flow of families who love the baby goat stampede and getting up close and personal with other residents here is absent. Those who do come by to check out the animals from a distance are behind a tall fence, more physically distanced than last year, thanks to the donation of provincial and Canadian flags by The Flag Shop in Victoria.
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Not only have families and other visitors been unable to enjoy hands-on time with the animals, donations are down, which Sylvia Brinckman, president of the non-profit Beacon Hill Farm Society, said makes things tough.
B次元官网网址淗ay is still the same price, grain is still the same price, wages are still the same,B次元官网网址� said Brinckman, who drops in every day for some B次元官网网址済oat love.B次元官网网址�
The farm opened for just six days in March 2020, around the time COVID-19 was beginning to raise eyebrows. Her husband Dennis Koenders watched the news March 11, Lynda said, B次元官网网址渁nd he saw what was happening in Europe and said B次元官网网址榯his is going to hit us hard.B次元官网网址� We did not want to be like a super spreader, because spring break was coming up and weB次元官网网址檙e very, very busy,B次元官网网址� she said, noting thousands of visitors traditionally come by in that period.
With not a lot of room for people for move between the pens, they made the decision to close. If and when they reopen, Koenders said, itB次元官网网址檒l likely be with one-way paths, a maximum number of people, mandatory mask and hand sanitizer use and different rules for the petting area.
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B次元官网网址淭he goats will be here, but you wonB次元官网网址檛 be able to go in with them,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ecause we are so hands on here, we just cannot clean the goats and clean other things in between people coming in.B次元官网网址�
Government grants for payroll have helped with the cost of tending to the animals with a skeleton staff. Their large and willing volunteer base B次元官网网址� unavailable due to restrictions B次元官网网址� helps with labour in normal circumstances, but with certain costs fixed, Brinckman said, itB次元官网网址檚 donations that make the farm go.
An ongoing called Goat Fund Us has done well, bringing in close to $100,000 to date.
The newest donation option for supporters is sponsorship programs, which can be gifted for MotherB次元官网网址檚 Day and come with a special certificate and photo of the sponsored animals. For more information on donations, visit .
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