Cottontail Cottage Farm Sanctuary

Verified organization

cherryfield, ME, United States Website

43 campaigns 1448 contributions received $138,066 raised Member since August 2016

Cottontail Cottage Farm Sanctuary (www.cottontailcottage.org) is located on the coast of Maine, on a beautiful 50-acre historic farm. Our mission is to provide compassion, respect, dignity and love to rescued farm animals who have suffered severe neglect and abuse and give them a place to call home. CCFS is a vegan-operated 501(c)3, nonprofit organization, committed to the healing, rehabilitation, and security of every animal in our care. Guided farm tours provide a platform for education where lecture series and hands-on learning events are taught in an effort to encourage mindful-living for the good of the animals and the planet.

Cottontail advocates for veganism and demonstrates compassion for all creatures in the hopes that more lives may be saved by inspiring others to adapt a similar, cruelty-free lifestyle. It is our deepest hope that by sharing our animal stories, in person or through social media, people will make the connection that farm animals are feeling, emotional and sensitive beings capable of strong emotions such as love, happiness, fear and grief. CCFS strives to educate the public about not only the importance of animal care and welfare, but of living a vegan lifestyle in an effort to end animal cruelty and suffering.

CCFS is a magical place! “The Rookery" (a two hundred-year-old cape,) perches high on top of a knoll allowing co-founders, Jenny and Mathew Nichols, to keep a close eye on the over 75-animals who live here. The sanctuary is located down a long lane with lilacs and a single, magnificent Lombardy poplar. Behind the Rookery is an old-fashioned kitchen garden where vegetables and herbs are grown. Food growing and gathering demonstrations are a big part of our farm learning series and encourage plant-based eating.

Currently, there are over twelve different species of animals in our care, including, horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, bunnies and an array of waterfowls and birds. The forest farm is surrounded by a big, perimeter fence, permaculture hedgerows and a trail-system, where visitors can walk and observe the animals in their natural setting. While being diligent about our eco-system, the hedgerows

are created from wattles, branches, twigs and natural elements gathered while clearing for new pasture land. This thoughtful method not only eliminates noxious elements in the air from frequent burn piles, but allows the fallen wood to be reused and woven by creating a natural fencing system. At the same time, it provides a nesting place for native birds, and habitats for wild rabbits and other small creatures. As the “dead hedge” breaks down, enriching the soil - live, non-toxic, indigenous plantings like briar, willow and honeysuckle are introduced, creating a "living hedge" as popularly seen throughout the British countryside.

This unique farm sanctuary approach to land management adopts arrangements observed in flourishing natural ecosystems. It includes a set of design principles derived using whole systems thinking. As conscientious land stewards, principles are implemented such as regenerative agriculture, rewilding, and community resilience and, of equal value, animal waste management. Rather than have unsightly manure piles that are offensive smelling and attracts flies which can carry disease to the animals, we carefully cart and spread the refuse around the root systems of trees and specific eroding soil areas throughout the 50-acres. In this full-circle approach, the animal eats the hay; excretes the hay seed; where it is cultivated back into the earth; where it then sprouts. In time, new forage grasses will grow.

We are excited to welcome you to the farm and introduce you to all of our beautiful feathered and furry friends!

Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Cottontail Cottage Farm Sanctuary. CCFS is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) entity and receives no federal, state or local funding. The organization is entirely funded by donations, bequests, grants, and fundraising activities. Thank you for your fierce love for the animals and helping us give them a second chance!

Organization activity

Organization campaigns

Spring Fundraiser for Cottontail Cottage Farm Sanctuary

Dear Friends of Cottontail Cottage, We have some exciting news to share with you, although many of you who are on social media already know, we have moved to a new and amazing heritage farm, in Whitefield, Maine.

$850 raised of $3k goal
43 Hours running

Clone: End-Of-Year Giving - Please Donate and Help Us LEAP Into the New Year!

Dear Friends of Cottontail Cottage, It's that time of year again when we look back at all we've accomplished and remember our past joys, heartbreaks, challenges, and future dreams. It is also a time to thank our beloved supporters, without whom we woul...

$1,040 raised of $2.5k goal
144 Days running

Fall Fundraiser For the Rescue Animals at Cottontail Cottage

Dear Wonderful Friends, IT'S OUR ANNUAL FALL FUNDRAISER AT COTTONTAIL COTTAGE FARM SANCTUARY! PLEASE DONATE (from $5 to $500 it all adds up and is very much needed and very much appreciated) and help us get ready for winter. We need to restock our anim...

$2,805 raised of $3k goal
28 Weeks running

Fundraiser for the Rescue Animals at Cottontail Cottage Farm Sanctuary

Well, hello from Mathew and I and all your animal friends! It's hard to believe we are coming up on the end of August! Where has the time gone? I'm not sure but I thought I would give you a little update and let you know how things have been going here.

$2,335 raised of $3k goal
38 Weeks running

Help Keep Us Hopping! Animal Funds Needed at Cottontail Cottage Farm Sanctuary!

Our animal care funds are nearly exhausted. With donations down by 30% (due to inflation - sadly, this is affecting animal shelters across the nation) we need to quickly raise funds for food and supplies.

$4,450 raised of $5k goal
51 Weeks running

Heartache and Hard Times at Cottontail Cottage | We could really use your help!

Well, friends, it's been a rough start to the new year and we sure could use some help. It's an understatement to say that we are very glad to see the backend of January. We've had sick horses, sick bunnies, and mornings in the single digits. One minut...

$5,830 raised of $5k goal
67 Weeks running

End-Of-Year Giving - Please Donate and Help Us LEAP Into the New Year!

$1,157 raised of $2.5k goal
73 Weeks running

FALL FUNDRAISER AT COTTONTAIL COTTAGE FARM SANCTUARY

IT'S OUR ANNUAL FALL FUNDRAISER AT COTTONTAIL COTTAGE FARM SANCTUARY! PLEASE DONATE (from $5 to $500 it all adds up and is very much needed and very much appreciated) and help us get ready for winter. We need to restock our animal food cupboard, buy ha...

$2,720 raised of $5k goal
84 Weeks running

FRIENDS NEEDED FOR GINGER & PICKLES

A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE. PLEASE READ TO THE END. Dear Friends, They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Keep that in mind when I tell you the story of Ginger and Pickles. Or more accurately: don't tell the story. Because we can't. Because . . .

$1,706 raised of $2k goal
91 Weeks running

Help Keep Us Hopping! Cottontail Cottage Farm Sanctuary Needs Your Help!

Help Keep Us Hopping! Your support is needed. Thank you for pitching in and helping us care for the nearly 100 rescue animals who reside at Cottontail Cottage Farm Sanctuary! You are the BEST!

$2,859 raised of $5k goal
95 Weeks running