BREMEN — Apifera Farm, a nonprofit animal sanctuary in Bremen, is having a celebration of it’s newly built Healing Barn, Saturday, Oct. 19, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., rain or shine. All are invited.

The event is free but is also a fundraiser for the farm’s animals and mission. The farm adopts elder/needy animals [and some young ones], but they also share their animals with elder/needy people. The farm is home to horses, donkeys, ponies, goats, pigs, fowl, and llamas, elder cats and rabbits.

The Healing Barn was built in summer of this year and will allow the farm to provide healing encounters for guests amongst the animals. The animals can roam freely in and around the Healing Barn. Katherine Dunn owns and operates the farm, with her husband, Martyn, and she is also an artist/writer and plans to have various workshops in the barn that will focus on healing. Some of her illustrated animal books and other items will be for sale.

She also wants to work with grief counselors and caregivers to bring clients to the barn for healing encounters. These might just be quiet encounters where someone in grief can groom the horses, or read to the animals. She is interested in having music groups perform for the animals too-they really respond to music. Book groups could arrange visits too. 

Dunn has been taking her goats, ponies, llamas and bunnies to Cove’s Edge and other elder homes in Midcoast. She wants The Healing Barn to be a destination for elder care activity directors, caregivers and counselors. She has already had get togethers with several elder homes at the barn.

“Being amongst the animals and nature is a respite for those in grief, or for those who live in a retirement home and can’t have animals anymore. But the animals also benefit from these encounters,” says Dunn, in a news release. "Some of the animals have come from neglect or hard times and they need healing just like grieving people."

Harry the llama, Marcel the blind pony and his sidekick Sophie the turkey, Hannah the pig, Stink Cartright the pony and his donkey buddies, the infamous gang of goats known as The Goofballs, as well as intuitive healer, The Goose, will all be there, as well as many others.

Please do not bring pets. Park on front lawn. Children must be well chaperoned. The barn is wheel chair accessible.