We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniel Sweig and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniel, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Like all of us, I had a lot of time to think as the pandemic shut-down “business as usual.” I was in chronic pain from a series of car accidents I was fortunate to survive; I was also suffering from chronic depression after years of surgeries. I was alone, without hope, purpose or community. I finally asked myself some important questions; what’s important to me, and what do I want to do about it. What sprouted from these question was hope, purpose, (and once I decided to move back home to Boulder, Colorado), community, and New Earth Sanctuary.

What should our readers know about your business?
New Earth Sanctuary’s mission is to re-examine how we engage each other, animals, our food, and housing while both addressing climate change, and mental health. We currently have four senior horses, three senior goats, and one rooster. We also rescued a donkey who had been by herself her whole life, and is now living her best life with another donkey and two ponies.

Starting a nonprofit has been the single greatest learning experience of my life thus far. It takes a lot of patience, perseverance, paper-pushing, and a good team to start a nonprofit, but even when it feels hopeless we kept pushing. In the process of developing New Earth Sanctuary, the chronic pain, and depression has left as it was replaced with hope, purpose, and community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First I would take them to the sanctuary, and to visit Sage (the rescued donkey). Then we’d go get lunch at Foolish Craig’s Cafe before heading to Valley View Hot Springs in Southwest Colorado.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
All the volunteers and community that has made New Earth Sanctuary possible, thank you! It really does take a village to build a New Earth!

Website: www.newearth-sanctaury.org

Instagram: @new_earth_sanctuary

Twitter: @Newearthsanc

Facebook: New Earth Sanctuary

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCabpXo86NmhZTMUP5vykhXA

Image Credits
Elliot Trout took the picture of me on the blue stairs with blue hair

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