About the farm
Stardust Farm is a non-profit dedicated to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. Located in the Twin Cities East Metro, the organization seeks to build community and create spaces healing, as well as teach about fiber arts, conservation, and mental health.
Why is this work important? Surveys show that LGBTQIA+ youth, and particularly transgender youth, are the most at risk students in our schools for bullying, harassment, and suicidal ideation. As anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric increases across the country, organizations such as the Trevor Project have seen increases in negative mental health outcomes among LGBTQIA+ youth. However, having safe and supportive relationships can decrease these negative outcomes. The benefits of art as well as animal caretaking on mental health have also been well-documented. Additional resources can be found on our resource page.
Our Mission
Stardust Farm seeks to provide a care farming experience to members of the LGBTQIA+ community through interaction with farm animals, fiber arts education, and connection with nature. Stardust Farm also seeks to create a community space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly LGBTQIA+ youth, to feel safe and supported in their identities.
OUR HISTORY
In 2021, as Kelsey was running for re-election to School Board, her non-binary child was outed by a group of community members. Kelsey and her family shared their story with CNN, becoming one of the most engaged with news stories of the year. Shortly after, they moved to a new home in order to find a place to heal.
The farm began with three chickens who were left behind by the previous home owner. Waking up each morning to take care of the chickens helped Kelsey get out of bed each day as she was suffering from depression and PTSD. The farm was quiet and it felt safe, something the family desperately needed. In November 2022, the Waits family rescued 36 rabbits from a breeder who could no longer care for them and Stardust Farm was created.
Since beginning in November of 2022, the farm has added 10 rabbits and is now also home to 7 alpacas, 20 chickens, and four dogs. In December 2023, Stardust Farm was incorporated as a 501c(3) non-profit care farm serving the LGBTQIA+ community.
We are frequently asked, “What do you do with your alpaca fiber?” Alpacas are sheared once per year, generally in May. After shearing, the longest, softest alpaca fiber is sent to a fiber processor to be cleaned. From here, we can choose to have the fiber turned into yarn, or left as processed fiber to handspin into yarn. Kelsey generally blends the alpaca fiber with angora before spinning in order to make a beautifully soft and incredibly warm yarn (alpaca and angora are 5-7x warmer than wool).
As alpacas age, their fiber becomes more coarse, but coarser fiber is still usable and can be used as yarn to make rugs. Shorter fibers that were not processed can also be used in gardening to help hold moisture in the soil, or it can be used as fiber for felting.
About the Prairie
Stardust Farm is small but mighty. On our five acres of land, approximately two acres is devoted towards animals while 3 acres is being restored to native prairie habitat.
Prairie restoration can take 3-5 years to complete as ongoing work is needed to ensure the native plants are established and invasive species are controlled.
