A Thousand Reasons
With the fires, evacuations, and deep concern for our oldest animals came lack of sleep, missed meals, fatigue, stress, the flu, and in the end, a three day hospital stay; it…
Inspiring Kindness and Compassion towards Animals, Our Planet, and Each Other
Emotional Blindness
When I was a child, it was so clear to me that animals were angels among us. They were here to love us unconditionally, witness us, and mirror back to us that we were loveable and perfect just the way we are. It…
Much More than a Drum Stick
Several years ago we had a turkey named Chloe who we had rescued from Thanksgiving. Her toes and beak had been cut off with a hot blade and she was filthy dirty. When…
Intelligence
I rescued my very first turkey the November after our grand opening in 1999. I was so excited! His family purchased him to eat for Thanksgiving but could not go through with it, so they brought…
Cuddle Turkeys
November is my favorite months of all time! Not just because of our Gentle Thanksgiving event, but because I get to talk about turkeys all month long! In each week’s newsletter…
Memories
April marks the anniversary of several exciting memories and events at The Gentle Barn, and I cannot help but think about them as I move through my day. A year ago, we embarked on a turkey road trip from California to Tennessee, saved the lives of six cows who had escaped a slaughterhouse in Missouri,…
Much More than a Drum Stick
Several years ago we had a turkey named Chloe who we had rescued from Thanksgiving. Her toes and beak had been cut off with a hot blade, and she was filthy dirty. When she came in, she was very angry. We thought that she would hate people…
A Pause for Humanity
I was at my son’s lacrosse game last weekend and while I love watching him play, it was two hours of sweaty teenage boys, burping, violence, injuries, and playing hard until one team won and the other team lost. In the middle of the game something happened that touched me deeply. One of the opposing…
A Gentle Thanksgiving Poem
A Gentle Thanksgiving
a poem by KC and Val Smith
To all the young turkeys, we wish to welcome you
To the Gentle Barn where your lives will start new!
A Turkey Helps A Girl Find Her Song
I can’t celebrate Thanksgiving without remembering a very special turkey who not only stole my heart but effected so many people in her lifetime. Chloe was rescued from Thanksgiving many years ago, but I will never forget her. Here is a story of one of the many remarkable things Chloe…
Upcoming Events
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Open Sunday in Missouri
We are excited to be open to the public again on Sunday, at The Gentle Barn: Missouri.
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Open Sunday in California
We are excited to be open to the public again on Sunday, at The Gentle Barn: California.
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Open Sunday in Tennessee
We are excited to be open to the public again on Sunday, at The Gentle Barn: Tennessee.