Sanctuary Farms
Mission:
Land stewardship for the purposes and the glory of God.
Vision:
To create a place of living that is as self-sustaining and profitable as possible for the ultimate purpose of ministry.
Purpose:
The ultimate purpose of Sanctuary Farms is to build community and minister through the God-inspired and God-directed stewardship of the land on which it sits. This would be achieved primarily through returning to traditional farming practices in a self-sustainable system. Sanctuary Farms will seek to fill the void for a substantial food-production farming operation in the Forgotten Coast area. Food ministry and self-sustainability is the ultimate, long-term focus while also staying profitable in order to make greater ministry possible. In addition to the farming operation, land stewardship will be utilized in several other areas in order to maximize the full potential of all that the land has to offer.
The land stewardship of Sanctuary Farms would consist of 5 major departments:
1. Fruit and vegetable production and sales
2. Livestock production and sales
3. Timber Sales and Lumber Production and sales
4. Wildlife Hunting and Management
5. Establishment and Management of an Intentional Sustainable Living Community
Explanations of these departments:
Fruit, Vegetable and Livestock Production Through Traditional Farming
Produce and livestock production operations will cooperate in an integrated, self-sustaining and regenerative permaculture system. The focus of this approach is to largely eliminate the need for outside sources of input that cannot be generated from the land sustainably (I.e. chemical fertilizers, large amount of grains and animal feeds).
Improving, maximizing and maintaining soil health and vitality is at the core of this operation. As the overall health of the soil is improved, all areas of production will benefit. This will be done through several methods; creating and administering organic compost on a large scale, utilizing cover crops and implementing strategic rotations and patterns of livestock grazing areas. Livestock will be primarily raised on pasture to eliminate the need for large amounts of grains to feed, to promote the welfare and dignity of the animal, and promote a more balanced and diversified livestock production operation. Livestock species will consist of cattle, sheep, goats and poultry (egg and meat production).
The sale of meats, eggs, fruits, vegetables, nuts and other products of the farm will be achieved primarily through establishing a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. This will allow residents of the immediate community, Franklin County and beyond to subscribe to the harvests of the farm. Subscriptions will be largely customizable based upon the individual needs and budget of the subscriber. In return for purchasing a subscription, subscribers will receive a weekly or bi-weekly box of seasonal produce and other farm goods of their choosing. This system will put fresh and local groceries within reach of the consumer as well as allow the consumer to share the risk and the reward of farming with the producer. In addition it promotes a more community-based style of participation in our food production.
Timber and Lumber Production
The land contains virtually endless resources of timber and lumber if it is sustainably harvested, managed and protected. Sanctuary Farms would seek to sustainably utilize this resource through the sale of standing timber as well as establishing a sawmill operation on site to process, use and sell orders of sawn lumber sourced from within the property.
Wildlife Hunting and Management
Sanctuary Farms would seek to utilize the vast resource that is contained within it in the wildlife population that currently resides there. Guided and semi- guided hunts would be offered for wild hogs, deer and alligators and ducks. Fishing Charters would also be run out of the operation as well. This would be done ultimately under the umbrella of Sanctuary Farms but through a separate but affiliated corporation titled Apalachicola River Outfitters.
The potential for the leasing of portions of the designated hunting areas could also be utilized in order to generate more consistent cash flow as well.
Sustainable Living Community
Sanctuary Farms will seek to establish an intentional community of individuals and families to live on the farm and help steward over the land with us. The purpose of this effort is to build a non-discriminate community of people that is centered around living more traditionally and sustainably.
The community at Sanctuary Farms will strive to fulfill (3) goals:
1). To provide a place of residence for those who are working here on the farm. 2). To provide more affordable housing opportunities for working class people to live comfortably in Franklin County.
3). To provide a place of private residence for those who are seeking to live more remotely and sustainably here along the Forgotten Coast and enjoy the unique benefits that living on this piece of land has to offer.
In regards to housing, Sanctuary Farms will seek to offer “something for everyone” who desires to be a part of this operation regardless of their financial standing. In addition, Sanctuary Farms will seek to supplement the need for affordable housing in Franklin County. Opportunities for housing would range from long term rentals to purchasing of land and homes within the the farm.
A portion of land will be designated to contain long term rental homes available to anyone who meets basic rental criteria (credit check, background check, etc.) provided by management.
A portion of land will be designated to contain long term rental homes that would be reserved for those needing housing who are working on the farm. These tenants would also be required to meet basic rental criteria provided by management.
A portion of land will be designated to contain parcels of land available for sale to anyone.
For those who may desire a more private and remote setting, purchase of land/ homes within a designated private subdivision of the farm would also purchase membership into the private community there: The Ranch. Members of this subdivision of the community would pay yearly dues which would allow them to reap unique benefits that the land has to offer including (but not limited to): private access to a boat ramp and rights to a covered boat dock connected to Whiskey George Creek or Cash Creek, boat storage facilities, access to a private 300 yard shooting range, hunting/leasing opportunities within the farm and access to hiking trails within the farm and unlimited access to fishing ponds and docks within the farm. This subdivision would be in its own separate and designated area of the property exclusive from the rest of the community to provide the privacy that members may desire.
Where:
We are pursuing the purchase of a 2100 acre tract of land on Highway 65
approximately 7 miles north of Highway 98. Cash Creek forms it’s eastern border and Whiskey George creek forms it’s western border and it is encased to the south by East Bay. The land is currently listed for sale at $9,985,000.
When:
As soon as possible. Extensive amounts of land preparation must be performed to begin this operation. Getting the property ready for major food production is of highest priority and this process needs to begin as soon as possible. Land sales and development as well as timber sales may need to be carried out in order finance these operations.
How Can You Help?
The main obstacle that we face at this point is the securing of the land to carry this operation out on. We strongly believe that God has shown us the vision and the plan for how to carry out His will here on the land and that all we need is to secure control of it. Doing so financially will then enable the physical work to begin. We are seeking to partner with likeminded investors who see the same vision that we do and who will provide the finances to secure the land. At the same time we are also seeking likeminded people who will help orchestrate and carry the workloads of this operation.
Contact Us
If you are interested in partnering with us in some way we would love to hear from you.
Sanctuary Farms
