Bleating Hearts Sanctuary

A Collection of Photos from Planting Day

The revegetation project was implemented in June 2023 in an outdoor space belonging to a rescued group of chickens at Bleating Hearts Sanctuary in Golden, Colorado. All of the individuals occupying that space at the sanctuary have lived cooperatively together in an area surrounded by a vast and lush forested area in the mountains which is 9,000 feet in elevation. The project allows greater self-sufficiency with food for the residents and for wildlife within their outdoor living quarters, an increase in biodiversity, a lessening of financial burdens on the sanctuary to obtain needed resources, as well as a plant restoration component since we would plant species that are already present in the forest surrounding the sanctuary.

The chickens will have natural shelters and less visibility to predators as well as much-needed shade. Planting a variety of native plants will support the already rich soil health. Seeds and starter plants will be locally sourced, untreated, and non-GMO and/or organic. The plants are mostly native, safe for chickens, can sustain themselves in a more moist mountainous region, and thrive at a higher elevation. 

Our long-term goal was to increase biodiversity by planting native perennials and native grasses, reducing the need for outside inputs for resources, implementing smart utilization of natural precipitation, creating opportunities to support the soil health, increase non-treated and organic fresh food availability for residents, restore native plant-life that was previously on site and use measures to keep plant and residents safe.

For this particular project, we relied on the forest to guide us in what to plant. We centered revegetation and revitalizing the forest area where plant life was limited. All plant species were carefully reviewed online to ensure that they are non-toxic to residents. Hundreds of nonhuman animals are projected to benefit, including the wildlife and insects that occupy the area and outdoor living space around the area where bird residents reside. There will be numerous humans that benefit including those that are participating in animal care at the sanctuary.

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