Lemuria Farms

It all started after the last tower, built of what I held most dear to my heart, crumbled to the ground. The tower I had designed, tirelessly constructed, and lived in with three babies, after leaving an abusive marriage ten years ago, now ly in rubble all around me, and the worst part, I was alone. My babies were gone. My heart was gone. Its once steady beat was replaced with the sound of tears splashing in the flooded cavern where my heart once was, and I wasn’t sure if I would ever find, let alone put it back together again. All that surrounded me now was an inferno of flames, incinerating what crumbled pieces were left. Alone, desolate, and bleak, nothing but ashes and flames surrounded me. Like a zombie, I went through the motions, cry, eat, bathe, get dressed, try to figure out how to save my children, cry, sleep…I didn’t dare leave the pit of despair I had dug to protect myself from the fire. What if they came home while I was gone? What if I missed THE call telling me how to save them. Slowly after, what felt like a lifetime of days, hope began to return, and I wasn’t scared of the flames anymore. I realized they couldn’t hurt me; they were for me to protect me, my cocoon to protect me until I was ready, and then and only then did I begin to rise. The flames parted as I walked through the ashes of what was, And found what was meant to be. A few weeks later, I got my youngest daughter home! She was in bad shape, but I was ready and prepared to help heal her wounds while working to save my other two children. I was all fired up! Ready to redesign my life! Watch out, evil-doers; Bonnie 2.0 is here!

The end...

Well, That may have been the end, but the universe had other plans. Cue up the Global Pandemic! Coming out of nowhere, and eventually even shutting down the outdoors! No camping, no parks, we were locked in our houses, if we were lucky enough to have them, quarantined. Emails and phone calls were up 150%, and I won't even try to gauge the hours spent on Skype, face time, and every medial social account I never thought I would download. After everything I had gone through, this was just a tiny bump on my new path. Law school would have to wait, but I enjoyed homeschooling my daughter and began hosting zoom classes for the other kids in her class. I found that many weren’t as lucky as I had been. So many kids were struggling as their parents tried desperately to transition the parent-child relationship into a teacher/child relationship. It did help that I had spent the last decade and a half raising three kids, All birthed in 3 consecutive years and all born on the 17 of 3 consecutive months.. now, just down to the one. Also, it didn't hurt that pre-pandemic. I spent many years at elementary schools working with kids who hated school in a system that had all but given up on them, and most recently in classes with some of the very kids that attended my little zoom class now.

Then it happened. one moment of daydreaming with my daughter, of what our future lives will look like as we drive back into town, through the mossy forest at golden hour, to reenter quarantine after a day of sneaking off to be in nature, it hit me! One thought turned to dream. One small step (followed by many, many more steps taken and waiting to be took) in the direction of that dream, and my life would never be the same again...

And so begins my vision!

It is my dream- and heart's purpose to be of service to humanity by creating Lemuria Farms- a Sanctuary for folks to come and coexist in harmony with nature through life-changing experiences. I dream of creating a safe, supportive environment that celebrates diversity and gives space to find, honor, and share the unique gifts we all hold inside us—putting our hearts back together, filling the cracks with gold. My passion is to serve humanity and the earth by opening my farm for folks to come and enjoy the beauty and thriving ecosystems that flow freely through the Suislaw valley. Nature conservation and the preservation of the land and its history are at the forefront of everything we do and stand for on Lemuria Farms. The abundance of fish, fertile earth, and freshwater found on this land allows for the opportunity to share in its bounty and provide an unparalleled opportunity for health and connection for ALL. As a custodian of the land of Lemuria Farms, I care deeply about preserving the planet and believe that we can once again live in harmony with nature. I think fostering that connection in others by offering equal opportunity experiences for All to have access to healthy foods, support services, and educational opportunities regardless of your ability to pay is the first step. It is my dream to be able to offer a unique experience that not only supports the health and well-being of the individuals who visit here but also aids in the preservation of our planet. Adopting permaculture and other mindful organic farming practices proves not only beneficial to the crops and animals that will share the land but also serves the fertility of the soil, allowing us to grow more, increasing our yield year after year with ease, all while respecting and supporting the native ecology. It is our top priority as custodians of this land, too, to honor, repair, maintain the land while educating ourselves and others in the rich indigenous history and ecology of the area. We strive to pay homage to the past and honor the future by adopting a way of life that shows respect, gratitude, and appreciation for all life. I find my inspiration to follow this path as a student of life; to learn, grow and create positive change in ourselves and support others to do the same to empower ourselves and each other to share our gifts with the world. It is with great honor that I find myself in this purpose of being of service to the planet and humanity through this land and offering what I believe is critical to the health and well-being of the individuals and our world. Doing our part to ensure the Indigenous plant and animal species in existence will continue to flourish for the future generations to bear witness to the beauty while allowing all to benefit from their presence

Lemuria Farms-nonprofit eco farm-AKA; Land of Dreams(as my daughter and I call it) -Our sanctuary and one day soon yours too! Is located in a prime fishing zone along the Suislaw River, a few miles from sweet creek falls, and only a quick drive or boat ride to Florence, home to the infamous dune city. The lush land and Mediterranean climate zoning and rich soil make the land perfect for farming and an unparalleled opportunity for year-round recreational Camping. LF-aims to serve up equal opportunity good times and fresh food, for ALL folks in the community—by connecting to themselves each other and nature-through life-changing recreational activities such as camping fishing kayaking, swimming, hiking, horseback riding and youth educational services such as; workshops, camps, and field trips. Lemuria farms is working to offer a whole-self approach to health and wellbeing by putting a Priority on healing by regaining and deepening the connection with one's self and nature through the exploration of personal interests, whether it be art, recreation, meditation, writing, music, gardening, animal care, cooking or napping! Along with special added mental health services such as; victims support, trauma-focused healing, equine therapy and retreats specifically designed to serve and support victims of massive trauma and the marginalized and underprivileged members of the community, including the individuals and organizations currently working in service of these folks, a demographic that makes up the majority of the humans on our planet. Having our basic needs met and living a life of purpose, passion, and abundance is our human right; unfortunately, so is trauma; we come into the world through trauma and, for most, experience many more traumas throughout their life; I believe this is to show us the importance of learning to heal and grow through these experiences no matter how painful, brutal, heart and would crushing it may be. So we can see that it's not about how many times we have to pick up the pieces of our shattered hearts, it's that we do and most importantly what we use to put it back together and learn to fill the cracks with gold! knowing that our cracks don't make us broken or weak. In fact with the right tools, they make us stronger, wiser, anti-fragile and ready for anything afraid of nothing- for every crack we seal with gold replaces the porcelain that once took that space and suddenly being a reflection of your cracks is a thing of beauty, not a thing to hide. Connecting to nature through recreation, education, fresh food, and physical and mental health support is a fundamental human right and should be available to all, not some. It is through my experience healing and supporting others in their healing journeys that I began to see the desperate need we all share for healing. I believe healing happens naturally when our basic needs are met. Through cultivating a safe space for all folks to come and take a break from the struggles they face, reconnect with the earth, find joy and peace, we then free ourselves to expand beyond the restraints we face towards a life of flow, balance, and purpose.

-Be our guest and lest us take care of the rest!-

Thank you for your love and support in helping us make this dream come true!