The sounds of roosters and sheep are music to Mia White’s ears.
These animal noises are part of the soundtrack of a past, reborn on Loma Alta Drive, where she and her family built a life and a micro-farm with dozens of animals. She and her Altadena family were rushed out of their home along with the 70 animals during the devastating Eaton Fire. Now, they’re rebuilding and looking ahead.
“It provides energy, and I think that is something that is really appreciated by all,” White said.
Experience Fable, a family business run by White and Joey Chavez, continues to rebuild thanks to the help of a $10,000 grant from LISC LA’s Wildfire Relief Grant program, supported by Wells Fargo. Those funds have helped bring in new fencing and a new space for more than their animals, the majority of which were saved as the Eaton Fire destroyed the family’s land and home.
The $1.5 million program gave $10,000 grants to 150 fire-impacted small businesses, according to an LISC LA spokesperson.
“That grant came at the perfect time,” White said. “Most of what you see here is what we had. All these guys have been on quite the journey,” she added, speaking about the chicken, sheep, rabbits, goats and other animals now back in Altadena.
Following the chaos during the evacuation, the animals were housed at different sites from loved ones and volunteers who stepped up to help the family. White said their first stop was Venice Beach at her mother-in-law’s home.
“We literally had turkeys in (my mother-in-law’s) carport and on the side of her condo, and then we had goats and sheep at the LA Equestrian Center,” White said.
Eventually, they ended up in San Diego and the bulk of Experience Fable was operated out of there. Now, the rebuilding process has allowed for comfort and community.
“That’s the next step, is to find the right place to put all these guys so people can come to us on a regular basis,” White said. “This is home. Somewhere here in the foothills, nature, beautiful place, that’s the next step,” she explained.”
Experience Fable is expected to be open once a week for small, local groups until a more permanent location can be found in Altadena.
For more information on Experience Fable, click here.
Source: NBC Los Angeles
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