BE KIND FARM - OUR STORY
From Homeless Vietnam Vet to Home Owner
Living in a Small Intentional Farm
Community of Amazing People and Animals.
A Sanctuary for mended hearts and former
homeless and abandoned people and animals.

It was a dream come true. It was a cold winter night in 2008 when I looked into my service dog, ZEUS ‘ s eyes and promised him I would never drink again as long as he were alive.

That was a turning point for this homeless Vietnam Combat vet. The unconditional love Zeus had for me started me on the journey from homelessness to becoming a home owner for him and me. How could I let someone down who loved and protected me so much ? I had to “grow up” and start trusting people I normally would not trust. One by one, step by step I came closer to my goal. I bought an older Winnebago and started living in it with Zeus. Then another miracle came into my life - PANDORA. She was 6 months old and gorgeous. The first time she met Zeus she literally leaped over him in excitement ! They became a loving bonded pair.

Then, thanks to Leon, a dedicated mortgage broker and minister and Pam, a tenacious real estate agent and minister, I got pre-approved to buy a home and began a serious search. I also slowly put aside the escrow money I would need. Then another miracle happened. I found a willing seller of a 2.8 acre fixer upper farm in Fort Bragg, California who wanted to sell to a veteran.

I put together a lease option to buy for $1,000 per month with Dennis, the owner, in March of 2015. Finally Zeus and Pandora had a real home with a forest, and gardens, a pond and wildlife to explore; all fully fenced ! Sadly, Zeus was getting on in age and died in my arms in May of 2015 in the farmhouse. I closed escrow in January of 2016. I kept my word to Zeus and to this day have not had a drink of alcohol. In his final days Zeus had a real home and land . . . . and PANDORA. He was surrounded by love during his final days. Pandora was saddened to loose Zeus, but happy for her home and the love she receives from us all. Then, in June of 2016 I found her a new best friend - LOBO! But nothing wonderful lasts forever and our beloved Pandora passed on the farm at 16. She is buried in the lush garden field.
I ASK MYSELF WHO RESCUED WHO . . .?

We were really worried about Lobo, who Pandora had raised since he was 6 months old. AND THEN . . .
two days later God answered our prayers and Bella showed up. Lobo and Bella are together constantly and very much in love. GOD IS GOOD . . . GOD IS GREAT . . . and GOD PROVIDES.

I named the farm BE KIND FARM and the giant barn on the property became the “PEACE BARN”. Be Kind Farm is certified a “Homegrown by Heroes” farm in the Farmer Veteran Network. Expert consultants have guided us to make super soil and organically grown and GMO free garden crops. Today two wonderful gardeners, Joanie and Lois, and our handy man Red, Lobo and his new girl friend Bella and Todd the gold fish live here. We are all rescues from homelessness and thank God every day for our home here at Be Kind Farm. Our lives are truly blessed. Flowers grow everywhere and the soil is teaming with life. Hummingbirds, butterflies, dragonflys, garter snakes and native bees live here.

You can help Be Kind Farm by donating to paypal.me/northofsf

We continue to work on the Peace Barn, our vegetable gardens and making the farm more wildfire safe. We want to convert the PEACE BARN and our wonderful well with a Solar Panel array, heavy duty invertor and battery back-up. Our goal is to raise $200,000. We also need to finish the outside of the barn, making it fireproof and hang a large door. It is a dream to completely remodel the Peace Barn and be able to manufacture a tiny house every 3 months. If you think you could help you could donate to the Be Kind Farm PayPal account at paypal.me/northofsf North of San Francisco is my travel website. You can visit it at http://www.northofsf.com You will also find a beautiful full color 96 page FULL COLOR guidebook about the Mendocino Coast on the home page for $14.95. I published this book because I heard children in Fort Bragg were going to bed hungry. I had to do something to strengthen our food and shelter safety network - hence the 5 main non-profits and 20 local churches featured in the back of the book.

Thank You and Blessings.
Robert, Pandora, Lobo, Joanie, Lois, Mary, Red and Todd the gold fish.

BE KIND FARM and the PEACE BARN

Contact Robert W. Matson
Robert@northofsf.com or call Cell 707-813-1206 Voice 707-522-0550
Visit our websites - http://www.northofsf.com and http://www.firesafefortbraggsouth.com
GOOD LUCK and TRAVEL WITH KINDNESS IN YOUR HEART