Fallen Pine to Fresh Start: Our Journey Rebuilding After the Tree Collapse

[Please read and SHARE!] Life on a sanctuary is full of surprises, and sometimes those surprises come in the form of a towering pine tree crashing down onto your packhouse. Back in early December, a healthy and massive pine tree snapped, crushing the entire main floor of our packhouse and obliterating its contents. Miraculously, the basement survived, though not unscathed, as it sustained significant water damage.

The first order of business was removing the enormous tree so that our insurance company could assess the damage. I contacted several professional tree services who came to estimate the cost of the tree removal. All of them acknowledged the challenge, citing the need for a crane, but none followed through. Despite multiple calls and messages for updates, I never heard back.

You can't see the building for the tree - that tree was much larger than we realized when it was standing

We had no idea what to do next, then we remembered that one of our amazing volunteers had recently started a tree service. I reached out, asking if he could assess the situation and determine if it was something he might be able to handle. Early the next morning, I heard the unmistakable buzz of a chainsaw. Our volunteer had arrived and begun tackling the enormous task.

I immediately spoke with him, emphasizing that if the job seemed too big or unsafe, we would completely understand. Safety is always our top priority. He assured us that he would proceed only as long as he felt confident in his ability to do so. Soon, Mimi’s boyfriend Cody joined in, bringing additional manpower and another chainsaw. Together, they carefully and skillfully removed the tree—no crane needed.

The building was crushed and everything in it was destroyed.

With the tree removed, we moved on to the next phase: dealing with our insurance claim. Thankfully, this process went as smoothly as could be expected. Once the claim was processed, we hired a contractor to begin the rebuild. It’s been almost two months since the tree fell, and while progress has been slow, it’s visible and we’re starting to see the beacon of light at the end of the tunnel

So far, the tear-down and debris removal have been completed, the framing is finished, and the roofing and siding are nearly done. There is still much to do—installing electric wiring, outlets, and lighting, crafting and hanging a new loft door, adding rake boards, gutters, and leaders—but the end is finally in sight. The sight of the rebuilt structure taking shape is a testament to the resilience and dedication of our sanctuary family.

Seeing the framing nearly complete was very exciting for us!

This experience has been a humbling reminder of the incredible community we have here at Serendipity Farm Sanctuary. From volunteers stepping up above and beyond expectations to help in our time of need - to the slow but steady progress of rebuilding, we’ve seen firsthand the power of teamwork and perseverance. As we continue to move forward, we are grateful for every helping hand and every bit of support that has brought us to this point.

Thank you to everyone who has stood by us during this challenging time. We can’t wait to share updates as we complete this journey and move into the next chapter of sanctuary life!

Our animals come to us for a new start at life. This building was an authentic vintage packhouse from the 1950s. While devastated to see the damage, we're viewing it as another new start here at Serendipity Sanctuary. <3