Despite being severely bullied as a child, an autistic single mum has risen against adversity to rescue animals and support herself through a unique business venture.
Darcy Dolan, otherwise known as Farmer Darcy, has saved animals since she was 14 years old and has lived just outside of Meadows for five years.
Growing up in the city, a family move to Mount Compass at age 12 saw Farmer Darcy get her first pet lamb ‘Pebblestn’ – a “dream come true” – and she has since raised hundreds of lambs and other animals from goats, alpacas, deer, kangaroos, piglets, cattle, rabbits, chooks, ducks, and guineapigs, to dogs, cats, mini ponies, axolotls and more.
“Growing up autistic, I never fit in and was bullied badly and just couldn’t find my place,” she said.
“I was always drawn to animals and had a great passion for them, rescuing birds and lizards as a kid.
“My mum called me ‘Darcy Dolittle’ and… animals are and always have been my comfort, my calm, a special interest and a gift I have had.”
Coming into adulthood, the now 29-year-old was paired with autism assistance dog ‘Indy’, who is always by her side.
“She has helped me become independent, confident and to deal with the many struggles I face,” Farmer Darcy said.
“I was struggling to find work that suited me and my needs.
“Some days I would be working and every couple of hours sneaking out to my car to bottle feed babies or administer medications to rescue babies and it wasn’t ideal, so I needed to find something to do where I could have the animals in my care 24/7.”
The idea for a travelling farm came to Darcy when she was at the Mount Compass Christmas Pageant with her two goats ‘Connor’ and ‘Dash’.
“They were dressed as reindeers for the pageant and someone asked me, ‘do you do birthday parties’?”, she said.
“From that stranger’s question I came up with the idea of travelling around to birthdays with my animals to share their stories and my passion and love with others.”
Following assistance from a government NEIS program and a support worker, Farmer Darcy started off with an old VT commodore and a small, rusty trailer and now, 10 years later, has two professional set ups and a team of employees.
“I strongly pride my business on being disability friendly, neurodiverse and welcoming to all,” she said.
“I take the animals around to do animal therapy in nursing homes, disability centres and also attend schools, childcares, birthday parties of all ages, weddings, hens parties, fairs, shopping centres and more, while I give my 100 per cent to farm work, animal care, office work and my baby daughter, ‘Tullulah’.”
Rescuing countless animals over the years, Farmer Darcy has had many different cases from animals who have encountered awful abuse and neglect to blind, unwell or wheelchair-bound animals, to those born with defects and deformities.
“Animals come into my care and I rehabilitate them and if or when they are strong enough, they become a part of the travelling farm or I find them a suitable, loving, forever home,” she said.
“I also tend to keep disabled animals or those with life-long treatment needs on my farm as well.
“I am very lucky to have worked closely with some amazing vets who have taught me so much and am set up and trained to administer IV fluids, stitches and medications, I can incubate, tube feed and perform procedures and also have skills in plastering and splinting as well.”
Farmer Darcy has received a number of awards for her animal care and is seeking more workers and volunteers to support her business.
To help with Farmer Darcy’s Travelling Farm visit her Facebook page or email (farmerdarcy@hotmail.com).
People wanting to make a donation can do so at Adelaide Hills Landscape and Fodder, Meadows.