Under the Weeds: Building a Sensory Sanctuary from Scratch
(Western Nebraska Observer – August 2024)
WeeShire Mains is no longer just an idea — thanks to Western Nebraska Observer, our journey got a spotlight in August 2024 in an article titled “Sensory Farm Starts To Take Shape.”
August 2024: A lot of weeds and an even bigger vision. This was right before we started moving the 247 blueberries into their new homes.
Reading that, I felt both humbled and energized. This piece captures where we were at: 247 blueberry plants, fainting goats, miniature donkeys, chickens and geese roaming, plans for a pond, a sensory barn, and space for people to breathe and explore under gentle guidance.
Here’s what hit me hardest:
We originally bought five acres in December 2021 after moving from Thornton, Colorado — at the time, most folks thought we were a little crazy.
Looking at the photo I’ve included here—me standing in the middle of a very unweeded field—it’s easy to see why people thought we were crazy. There were rows, buckets, and a whole lot of weeds. But in my head, I could already see the 247 blueberry plants that were about to call this dirt home.
The mission has expanded. What started to meet our own boys’ sensory needs is becoming a place for others with brain function challenges to heal, play, and connect.
There was a turning moment: on a blueberry farm in Arkansas, one of our boys stayed with the task of picking berries for 30 minutes — something we never knew he’d do. That sparked a lot of the ideas that are now taking root here.
We still have so much work ahead: building the sensory barn, setting up mound gardens, installing a pond, making self-guided animal tours real. But seeing all those statements in print — “Starts To Take Shape” — felt like someone believed in what we’re doing.
This article isn’t just media; it’s a marker. A reminder of how far we’ve come and the vision that pushes us forward. I’m so grateful to the Western Nebraska Observer for telling our story.
📖 You can read the original feature over at the Western Nebraska Observer:
Western Nebraska Observer
