Loma Vista Farm improves a brick at a time
Trees all sold, now onto alpaca barn
“Four rascally goats, three new alpacas, two snouty pigs, two wooly sheep, two friendly horses, two aging cows … and too many chickens for anyone to count.”
A sequel to “The 12 Days of Christmas”? Nope. Call it “Every Day at Loma Vista Farm,” Vallejo’s educational bevy of barnyard animals that are pretty lonely these days, what with the pandemic lockdown and all.
Still, it’s not always quiet on the four-legged front. There’s a Master Plan in gear and grim year or not, it’s still happening with the long-awaited new alpaca barn for the new alpacas arriving any day on the hooves of a finished goat hill and a banner Christmas trees sales season.
And, up and running with no expiration date, “tribute bricks” are being sold for last-minute gifts and beyond.
“People can buy a brick for a loved one for Christmas, for a favorite teacher, for a birthday or anniversary or in memory of someone,” said Julia Allen, Loma Vista farm executive director. “It is one of the fundraisers we will continue to support.”
There’s plenty of room to put the tribute bricks down, acknowledged Farm treasurer Connie Klimisch, joining Allen on a conference call.
“There’s so much land on the farm, running out of space is not something we need to worry about,” Klimisch said.
The bricks are offered in three sizes depending on the number of letters or artwork needed.
The goal is 1,000 bricks, Klimisch said, with the hopeful revenue for “delayed maintenance.”
“The bricks will be here as long as the barn is here,” said Allen.
The board members were tickled that the Christmas trees went so fast.
“There were plenty more who wanted them. We could have sold 400,” said Klimisch.
Regretfully, Loma Vista’s supply was limited to 190 trees because of the Oregon fires.
“We were fortunate to be able to get the trees we got,” Allen said, lamenting the taller Douglas Firs and Nobles selling out in a week.
While much of the world came to a screeching halt with the pandemic, Allen and Klimisch were grateful the farm kept on its Master Plan path.
“The facilities committee doesn’t believe in putting anything on hold,” Klimisch said. “They’re very aggressive.”
Any day now, a pre-fabricated alpaca and sheep barn arrives. It’s more good news 22 months after three farm alpacas were killed by two neighborhood dogs.
Two months after the mauling, the 5-acre farm welcomed JoJo, Calvin and JellyBean.
There may be more new furry faces in the near future, with the cows reaching elderly status.
“We’re thinking about bringing in some calves,” Klimisch said.
For more about Loma Vista Farm and the “tribute brick” program, visit lomavistafarm.org.