My Dream

My name is Michelle and I have a dream……

First I think I should tell you a bit about me, you already know my name, I am 38 years old, I weigh 25 stone and I suffer from bouts of often severe depression.

Contrary to popular belief being 25 stone does not mean you have to be bed ridden or lazy as you will see later in the article. With these facts in mind please read on.

My dream is to open a non-profit charity running an organic, eco friendly working farm/smallholding with farm animals, poultry, horses, bees, flowers, fruit, vegetables and herbs and to use this to help people who suffer from depression, suffer homelessness, suffer weight problems and who are recovering from addictions.

These people will be invited to volunteer as and when they feel able, on the farm in exchange for a hot meal. Whilst there they will benefit from fresh air, gentle exercise and natures therapy. They will learn new skills and use old ones they had forgotten. All this will be beneficial to their health and give them something fresh to add to their C.V. when applying for work.

My biggest hope is that I will be able to offer these people a safe environment to work, rest and play, THERE WILL BE A ZERO TOLLERANCE OF DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND VIOLANCE ON THE FARM AT ALL TIMES. I aim to offer camping barns or something similar, all they would need to bring is their clothes (and their dog if they are homeless),we would supply bedding, toiletries etc if needed and laundry facilities. It would be open to people from all over the UK regardless of sex, race or religion, a complete change in surroundings from their normal life would mean an escape from the demons that drive them into emotional over eating, the temptation of  friends who take drugs, stress, abuse and neglect. The saying “a change is as good as a rest” seems very fitting in these circumstances. Fresh air, making new friends, a good meal and a warm bed will make all the difference to these people, I want to be a part of that difference and I will keep going until I succeed.

The problem with my dream is money. The entire project is starting with a bank balance of £1, I am not a rich person, I have never inherited a fortune or won the lottery, I don’t have a high powered job in the city, I am just me, 1 ordinary lady trying to make a difference – determined to prove it can happen if you keep trying.

I hope that if I raise enough awareness of what I am trying to do it will happen.

My fundraising plan so far is this

1) I am going to do mad things and people are going to sponsor me (more about that in a bit).

2) I am going to apply for every available grant I can find.

3) I will look for “friends” of the charity.

Friends of the charity will be asked to pay £1 per month and will receive an e-mail every month to see how we are doing. They will also be invited to our opening.

4) Our “In for a 1p in for a £1” campaign

This is a brain child of mine, people volunteer to ask all there work mates for the change in their pockets up to a maximum of £1. Once I receive the money I write to the boss thanking him for his staffs generous donation and asking if he will match it.

Now the mad bit, I am planning sponsored events all year for me to do but as it stands at the moment there are 2 ready to go. Firstly I am doing a sponsored slim, I need to loose 15 stone, recommended sponsorship pledge is £1 for every 7lbs so it would be a maximum outlay of £30, obviously this is a suggestion only and any amount would be greatly received.

The second thing I am doing is a long distance walk. From the 1^st May 2011 I am walking the South Downs Way, this is 100 miles in each direction. I am aiming to do it 10 miles a day and suggested sponsorship for this is £1 per day/10 miles meaning the maximum cost would be £20 but again any amount will be gratefully accepted.

Obviously we also need land for this project, I am rather cheekily asking for a donation of land preferably with accommodation rent free (I don’t mind if its in a bad way as I can get it fixed up) .I promise to give it back in better condition than I take it on in.

I do have a plan for finance in the future, once we are up and running we will sell all our produce from a farm shop and local farmers markets. I would also like to write a book about our meagre beginnings and our eventual success. Once we start making a profit this money will go into opening new units elsewhere.

If you would like to help us with donations or fundraising, seed or equipment, offers of land or livestock, services or time, if you would like more information, or if you would just like to tell me what you think then please e-mail me

greenharmonyfarm@hotmail.co.uk and i will reply within 24 hours.

Michelle