It’s easy to see why the rescued animals at Leilani Farm Sanctuary think they’re in heaven. They’re free to roam wherever they would like without fear of the abuse, neglect and abandonment that they experienced in their former situations. Home for them now is a beautiful eight-acre oasis of trees, ornamental plants and gardens of food crops.

Flourishing here are ginger, hibiscus, heliconia, bougainvillea, spinach, kale, papaya, pineapple, banana, avocado, mango and much more. The donkeys graze in rolling green pastures; cats scamper up their favorite trees (among hundreds); and ducks, geese and a swan play in a waterfall-fed pond.

The property didn’t look like this when Laurelee Blanchard, the sanctuary’s founder and president, acquired it in 1999. “There were no fences, barns, electricity or landscaping,” she recalls. “It has been a gradual but steady effort to transform the land into an ecological storybook farm.”

Gardener Andi Munsterman spends five hours per day, three days a week, monitoring and keeping the greenery in check. That’s a challenge in verdant Ha‘ikū, which records 59 to 78 inches of rain annually.

“I’ve been focusing on removing invasive plants and trees,” Andi says. “They’re so aggressive, they overcome the native species, which disrupts the balance of a healthy ecosystem. I collect the clippings for the goats to enjoy. It’s hard work, and I wind up covered in mud, scratches and sometimes poop. It’s wonderful!”

The sanctuary is guided by the principles of permaculture, which include reduced consumption of and dependence on non-renewable resources. No chemical herbicides or pesticides are used. Volunteers collect straw and manure from the barns and deposit them into bins to make compost for the gardens. They also help trim, weed and prune.

“It’s an honor to be part of the team,” Andi says. “I’m excited every day I’m at the sanctuary to help plants live better. Everything is thriving here. It’s a special gift to be able to see them say ‘thank you’ for receiving more sunshine and more room to grow. My life has been heightened with a whole new level of presence and appreciation.”

Come kōkua with gardening projects on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays starting at 9 a.m. The minimum age requirement is seven. It’s a good idea to bring bottled water and to wear a hat and closed-toe shoes. You can sign up by emailing info@leilanifarmsanctuary.org.