Volunteer Projects

Animal care activities include feeding the pasture animals, performing health and safety checks on them, and herding them to different pastures. You will need to be comfortable with animals as small as a few ounces (50 grams) to over 1600 pounds (725 kilograms). While all of the animals are sweet, it is imperative to handle them appropriately for their safety as well as your own. A few of the animals have been domesticated from the wild, so they appreciate a commanding presence whilst in their space.

Feeding

We feed the dogs once in the morning and the cows and jack donkey three times per day. All other animals are fed twice a day between 7 and 8 AM, and one hour before sunset (5 PM in the winter to 7 PM in the summer). Feeding can take about an hour, but we welcome you to spend more time with the animals, interacting with them, cuddling them, performing health checks, and cleaning their feed and water troughs and bedding.

Health Checks

It is easier to keep an animal healthy than to restore their health. Health checks include (but are not limited to) checking that they come for their feeding, monitoring each animal's gait, trimming the hooves of the smaller ruminants, checking for anemia, administering medicine and dewormer medication, and performing fecal analysis.

Safety Checks

Part of ensuring an animal's health is making sure they live in a safe environment. You can improve the safety of these animals by walking the fenceline of each pasture to inspect gaps between the ground and the fence, removing obstacles and obstructions along the fence and within each pasture, clearing electric fencelines from weeds and other objects that could short them, checking for construction material that could injure them, and making sure that no animals from outside the sanctuary come in and ensuring the sanctuary animals do not escape.

Plant care activities include planning, planting and feeding vegetation, inspecting them for health, noting the progression of producing plants and subsequent harvesting of them, and performing pasture revitalization practices.

Permaculture Practices

We implement permaculture into our vegetation design. From ethics to companion planting to four-dimensional design, we encourage the plants and trees to grow stronger together. The sanctuary is in growing zone 11A, with an elevation of 1540-1620 feet (470-495 meters, and an average rainfall of 210 inches (5 meters). These factors shape the diversity of vegetation in the food forests and gardens.

Korean Natural Farming

We incorporate some Korean Natural Farming (KNF) techniques into our soil health. Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ), Indigenous Micro-Organisms, and Lactobacillus Acidophilus (LAB), Water Soluble Calcium (WSC), and Sea Water are the simplest concoctions to make or collect. These concentrates are diluted in water and applied to the soil and compost piles as needed to encourage healthy mycelial and bacterial growth in the soil, thereby improving the health of the surrounding plants.

Plant Care

Before creating new planting areas, we concentrate on building up existing ones so they can be more self-sustaining. Regular health checks on the vegetation will let us know of problems before they get critical. We check the vegetation for signs of distress, which can be anything from feeding insects, mold, and fungal diseases to invasive weeds, water levels (too high/low), storm damage, animal damage, and age. Depending on what is harming the plants, we address the cause of the problem and treat the surrounding area so that the problem does not affect the other plants.

Plant Identification

Due to the ravages of the sun, wind and rain on the land, our plant identification signs often in need of repair or replacement. Regular inspection of the plant signs will help us know what the plants are, and how to care for them.

Several of our artistically-inclined team members have taken to painting murals. Their colorful expression is left on the shelters, lanais, and other buildings around the sanctuary. Some have designed flags, incense holders, trays, and other unique crafts that make the place more enjoyable. If you have an idea to contribute to the developing character of the sanctuary, we would love to see your work.

Besides plant and animal care at the sanctuary, we also take on light construction projects. With the large volume of rain, and intense sun that we get, structures are often in need of repair.

Fence Construction

The sanctuary has perimeter fencing and containment fencing that requires ongoing maintenance. Occasionally, new pastures are created or subdivided, requiring new fencing. The wood posts rot. Wire fencing and T-posts rust. The electric fence can get shorted out by weeds. Maintaining the fences keeps the animals safe, and makes the sanctuary look more welcoming to guests.

Shelter Construction

The animals need protection from the weather elements and a place to feel safe. The shelters are designed to keep the animals comfortable and healthy. We use reclaimed pallets to construct the smaller shelters. Their flooring is typically plywood. Larger shelters use sturdier lumber, with dirt or gravel flooring. The roofs collect the rainwater for the animals to drink. The bird houses are PVC hoop structures with a sturdy tarp covering them. These structures require little maintenance, excepting replacing the tarp every few years.

Land Clearing

Clearing the land can sometimes use the help of heavy machinery and chainsaws. These more rigorous tasks require the use of someone who is comfortable using such devices.

FPG Plant & Animal Sanctuary has several vehicles and landscaping equipment that we use. Some equipment helps to cut back the brush and prepare the soil. Others help us move around the sanctuary and haul items as needed.

Diesel Engines

There is a skid steer on property that requires regular maintenance to keep it running. Knowledge of diesel engines and hydraulic systems will help make repairs go faster.

Gasoline Engines

We have some ATVs and a Cushman that have regular transmission issues. Someone skilled in transmissions would be ideal in keeping these vehicles on the trails.

Small Engines

Brush trimmers and weed whackers keep the property neat and tidy.