Important: The Initial Goal is $30,000 USD, which is 300,000 NOK. Conversion rate is about 100 NOK to $10 USD. (Click here for exact numbers)
The Olavsbråten family in Norway are not the type of people to ask for help. They are beyond humble, hardworking, and truly believe that God will see them through any situation they face.
This campaign was not their idea. But instead, it’s my idea. My name’s Erin Weidner. I’m a born-again Christian in America with a passion to “be the hands and feet of Jesus.” I’ve been connected to this family for a while now and I’m inspired to help
I’ve continually seen people step up to the plate to support our brothers and sisters who need us. Whether they live here or abroad. Supporting others is built into the American spirit. I wrote this message to see what we can accomplish together.
The Olavsbråten family is believing their farm and church can be saved—despite what life has thrown at them for the past 5 years.
They believe in miracles.
Let’s see what we can do to partner with God to make a big miracle happen for them and His kingdom.
This battle goes beyond the physical–it is deeply spiritual because of how they have decided to operate and utilize their farm. Read below to learn more about what I mean…
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Their Story
Bjørnstjerne and Veslemøy met at a farm school, fell in love, and decided to devote themselves to a partnership both in marriage and farming.
In 2014 they decided to take on the challenge of reviving Veslomoy’s family's 7th generation farm–deep in fjord country north of Oslo in Norway–with passion and faith in God. This farm had not been renovated or upgraded much in the last 80 years.
Starting from scratch, through old fashion systems and manual labor, the primary barn and home had almost no functioning electricity or running water. But they believed they could be dedicated and persevere through the challenges to bring their dream to life. Sure, electricity and a modern system would have been nice, but they had always planned to keep the actual farm equipment simple for the sake of high-quality dairy products anyways.
Their primary focus since the beginning has been grassfed raw organic cheese and dairy products, and to make a living through what God would provide through their surrounding resources.
They named their farm Sansegården.
In English, “The farm for your senses.”
This is a farm that goes beyond food and feeding people.
Every dairy product they produced then and now is created through old-school methods by hand that allow the dairy to be created and preserved at a peak level of purity and nourishment. Even if it means the process involves much more time from start to finish. This internal compass for food production is based on their faith and belief that real and clean food truly heals the body.
Driven to further establish the farm, they collaborated with professionals in 2021 to design a new barn that would be the heart of their movement. This is where they would house livestock after they pasture, do milk production, make cheese, and all of their dairy products. Also, with the fruit of all of this labor, they would finally have a large space to welcome God’s people to worship as a church.
This has always been a part of their ultimate plan—to gather people around a table that goes beyond feeding their bodies with a nourishing meal.
This is a destination where your soul will also be nourished, where people can taste and see that our Creator is good and they can receive the holy communion around the table after an organic meal made with local products.
They’ve had incredible success within their community, as well as Michelin starred restaurants who order their farm products. This farm is one of the few organic raw options in the entirety of Norway. And the only organic sheep milk producer.
What they are doing through their small-scale (and honestly, more difficult) process for dairy and farm production is beyond valuable for their customers. Beyond this, most importantly, it honors God because they believe when we are eating food in its purest form, we are honoring God’s dwelling place.
Unfortunately, while in the process to build their barn, the Ukraine war began. The cost to build the barn almost doubled overnight. Their loan interest rate almost doubled as well. The cost for their barn and dream suddenly became astronomical.
The barn development was already in progress and they knew how important this project was for their production and even beyond the farm. They believe it is important to create an infrastructure for sustainable food production, for their community and also for the entire society–to have food means somebody has to produce it.
Along with this, it is also important to keep the traditional ways of farming and food processing alive.
Their farm has a great opportunity to welcome volunteers that want to experience and feel into what this lifestyle is all about. Which is also important: They are willing to share their wisdom and knowledge with the world.
With the barn’s increase in price, the only two choices they were faced with at that point was to either abandon the project, which would cost them the farm, or to get another loan to cover the elevated cost.
They decided to take out another loan. They chose to believe that God would help them with a financial miracle. While faithfully waiting and doing what they could, they worked hard in the background to keep things running the best way possible. They are devoted to the work that God has put in front of them and they love their ministry, and what it brings to the world and community around them.
During the creation of the barn, their family had to find a new place for milk production, which included renting facilities and also another home for their family of four. They were stretched thin but still determined.
By the time the barn was ready for animals to move in - two years later in December of 2023, they were already behind on the significantly-high monthly payments for the loans. Because during the building phase, they were unable to ramp up production to make enough money to pay for the monthly debt for two years. They had always known there would be a delay in production but the elevated cost had not been expected.
In November of 2025, they were happy to finally be moving into a half renovated home on the farm. They were grateful to at least have three electrical outlets and to be on the same property as their animals again.
At the start of 2026, there was another unexpected surprise.
They lost their farm insurance and they still don’t know why the company dropped them. To activate a policy with a new insurance company it will cost $10,000 for the new plan and they will be required to fix the electrical components of the farm–this is another $20,000.
They are also in need of food for the animals for the winter,as well as putting in insulation for the micro dairy that they are still in the process of building.
As you can imagine at this point, they do not have the resources to make any of this happen. They are currently stuck in a cycle of being behind with their finances and holding onto the hope that there will be a miracle to save their farm and their church.
They have a vision for both of these to grow. But right now it just isn’t possible.
Veslemøy shares that, “We’re doing well and feel at peace because Jesus is the prince of peace. We won’t give up. We want to show the world how great and powerful God is through what we do and what he does right here in front of our eyes. Us making it this far is a miracle. We’re always ready for more miracles. Nothing is impossible with God.”
They want to continue to build on the conviction that the book of Genesis is true—God created food for our healing. Raw milk, live cultures, animals free to pasture, and a community that breaks bread (and drinks kefir) together in worship.
If this vision speaks to you, we invite you to partner with us as we strengthen the farm’s foundation, grow it, and establish a place of solace for followers of Christ.
Here are resources to learn more about the farm:
Website
Magazine Article
If desired, they are happy to provide their nonprofit Articles of Association.
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What is needed as soon as possible:
Goal #1 - Farm Insurance
Their electrical system needs to be completed in order to get a new insurance policy for the farm.
- The cost to fix the electrical components is $20,000 USD
- The cost to get the insurance after that is $10,000 USD
This is $30,000 USD
Goal #2 - Insulation for the Micro-Dairy and Chapel Room
To keep the dairy production after October, when it gets cold, they need insulation for the micro-dairy and the chapel room for winter services.
This is $10,000 USD
Goal #3 - 8 Months of Animal Grass
Animals need 8 months of good grass for this fall/winter.
This is $12,000 USD
Goal #4 - Bring the Barn Debt Up-to-Date
They were in a position where they needed a new barn, and during the building process, prices doubled. The only option was an unsecured debt in order to keep the farm and pay the building company. They are currently behind on payments and need help to be in good standing.
This is $50,000 USD
The total for these first steps of our vision is $120,000 USD.
After stabilizing these aspects of their farm, their vision is to build a guest house to serve people on a larger scale. This will be a special space for guests and volunteers to have accommodations.
They also desire to finish the dairy farm infrastructure so it can be 100% up and running as planned, along with a butchery on the farm.
Thank you again for your support and God bless,
Erin Weidner
