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Sheep Not Goats, a 501(c) (3) charitable organization, helps people in a very poor Nicaraguan town through employment and by meeting other basic needs. Through Sheep Dreamzzz we sell baby blankets knitted by Nicaraguan women and they keep all the profits.
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Important Update
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By the end of 2024 we plan to be substantially finished with the Sheep Not Goats work in Nicaragua, and of greatest importance to have each of our workers set up for success without us. This means considering each person's interests and family situation, and making investments tailored to their specific situations. If you ever thought about making a tax-deductible donation but have not done so, now is the time.
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We moved to Nicaragua in 2012; a year later we built a farm which impacted the lives of over 100 workers+family members and others. We helped a lot of people to stick things out and remain with their families despite a very bad economy when many others took off for the US and elsewhere, almost always leaving spouses and children behind.
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We are a bit more worn-out now. When we began, there were no grandchildren in the picture - now there are eight! We're less able to do some of the hard physical labor, and Sandy's MS isn't too compatible with the hot (AC-less) Central American climate. In addition, the Nicaraguan government is regularly confiscating properties of outside organizations; if that were to happen all of our options would be gone.
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What's Been Done So Far...
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For Alejandra
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In early 2023 we built, with help from some of you, a small house for Alejandra, a worker who had been kicked from place to place after her husband (who also worked on our farm) died and his family threw her out. We bought a (very small) piece of land and built the little house you see below. It's in her name and nobody can ever take it from her.
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For Maria
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Maria runs much of our business in Malpaisillo, including all of the Sheep Dreamzzz knitting work. She's also in charge of the weekly breakfasts that are cooked for and delivered to older members of the Malpaisillo community.
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This summer we gave our house on the farm to Maria, along with the land immediately surrounding it. We needed a plan for the house and there is no real estate market in Malpaisillo (i.e. opportunity to sell). The town is full of the empty homes of people who have left for other countries. Some have given them up to coyotes in order to fund their trip. We don't like it but that's reality.
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The house is fully Maria's. When we visit, Maria moves to her mother's house for the week so we have a place to stay. We never asked for that but it's tremendously helpful and won't be needed for much longer. Maria will continue to oversee the knitting work which takes place in the (her) house 5 mornings a week.
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Sheep Dreamzzz
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Sheep Dreamzzz employs 7 knitters and will continue for as long as we are able to sell the baby blankets. We built just enough extra into our prices to pay for a trip down and back once enough blankets are ready, so it's self-sustaining if the blankets sell. If you are not familiar, please check them out. A Sheep Dreamzzz blanket, lovey, or gift set is a great handmade baby gift that makes a real difference!
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A new super-fluffy blanket made from yarn we normally use only for the fluffy sheep on our blankets. A big hit so far!
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Also Ongoing...
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In support of everything else that is going on, we plan to support the farm, restaurant, and Maria's house by keeping up our solar energy system and our deep well. Electricity is expensive in Nicaragua, and irrigation requires water that we have to pump up from 150 feet or so below the surface.
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Special needs will be addressed via special requests since we plan to cancel monthly donations at the end of the year. But eventually we will have to leave everything to the Nicaraguans. We've already made it easy to switch over from solar to street power. Steve will be doing maintenance on the solar setup next week.
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Others + Help Needed
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Here are some specific plans for 2024 that will set people up for the opportunity to continue working, earning income, and controlling their own destinies while remaining in Nicaragua.
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If you want to help financially, see the instructions at the bottom of this email.
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Josue and Maria
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Most homes in Malpaisillo do not have refrigerators, so it is common for individuals and families to pick up food or eat out at roadside stands or at small, inexpensive restaurants. People have commented about how our farm is so green and much cooler than the rest of brick-and-concrete Malpaisillo, so we plan to build a small establishment at the front of our farm. Maria and Josue will own it.
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First we'll build a small rancho (rectangular structure with wooden posts), plus a cooking area, bathrooms and ornamental plants, much like the image below except we're going with a tile roof so it never has to be replaced.
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The rancho will cost $3700 and can be built next week during my (Steve's) visit to Nicaragua. Maria's husband and Josue have already cleared the area.
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Other facilities, such as the cooking area, septic, and bathrooms will cost another $2500 or so. We'll also transfer ownership of the land, with some costs associated with that.
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We really want to get Josue and Maria serving customers as quickly as possible so they can work everything out while we are still able to help with unforeseen needs.
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Raúl
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Raúl has worked on the farm since early 2014 and has been Steve's right hand in Nicaragua since Bismarck died in 2020. He has a wife and 3 children - Raulito, Ester, and Elias.
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Raúl drives our pickup truck, is a good driver, and wants to provide transportation services like our friend Rolando in Managua (who some of you know), but he needs a vehicle. Rolando has an older "bus" that holds about 15 people and is willing to sell it.
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Raúl expects to get a contract with a nearby mine to shuttle workers but can't finalize that until he has his name on a title. He will also be soliciting other transportation business. At first the vehicle will be in both his and Steve's names; the mine has already OK'd that. Once Raúl pays back his part (50%) it will be all his.
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The vehicle is $14,000, which we have to pay up-front. Raúl will pay us back monthly until he has satisfied his 50% share. His payments will help us make it through the year and fund other projects.
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Raúl has agreed to meet our transportation needs in Nicaragua once we sell our pickup there and deliver Thursday breakfasts to the senior citizens in Malpaisillo for as long as that project continues. He'll work on the farm for a while longer as he builds his business but will move on completely before the end of the year.
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Want to Help?
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Donations can be made on the donation page of the Sheep Not Goats website or by sending a check payable to Sheep Not Goats at the address displayed at the bottom of this email. Donations are tax-deductible in the United States.
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