I am Amanda, and I have been an animal lover my whole life. Here is our story — how we got here, why we do what we do and what we are building together as a family.
I have been an animal lover my whole life. Growing up I shared my home with dogs, cats, hamsters, fish, and a turtle. I even had a brief and memorable stint with a toad I caught in our backyard in junior high — I housed him in an under-bed storage tote filled with sand, rocks and water and kept the whole operation secret for about a week before things got noticeably aromatic. He went back to the yard safely. My mom did not find out about any of this until I was an adult and finally told her. As a newly married couple my husband and I had two Cairn terriers and 8 ferrets that we rescued from someone who couldn't properly care for them. We were able to get the ferrets healthy and find them new homes except for 3 that we decided to keep.
My first rabbit was a Netherland Dwarf I had around age ten. It would be a long time before another rabbit came into my life — but the love of animals never left.
Five years ago Boris and I moved our family to Birchbark Drive in Hanson, Massachusetts. We arrived two weeks before our daughter Makayla was born and we settled into what has become the foundation of everything Birchbark represents: a home full of life, love and a little bit of beautiful chaos.
Today our property is home to five kids, our family dog GiGi, a flock of thirteen chickens, a growing Holland Lop rabbitry and the headquarters of Gavi Hand Enterprise — a nonprofit Boris and I built from the ground up to serve our community.
About three years ago we adopted our first two rabbits as a family. A bonded fixed pair of Holland Lops, Mochi and Nugget. Unfortunately they were already older rabbits and 5 and 6 years old and after 2 years we lost Nugget but Mochi is enjoying life with new rabbit friends. About a year ago I started what has become a genuine breeding program focused on Holland Lops with extraordinary color genetics. What started as a rekindled love of rabbits has grown into a carefully intentional operation — tracking genetics, documenting litter development, building relationships with our rabbit families and raising every kit to be sociable and calm even in the midst of a sometimes chaotic family life. Our kits are handled daily from birth to guarantee they have the best temperment possible and our rabbits can be a calm pet to snuggle and take all your stress away.
The result is rabbits that arrive at their new homes eager to build bonds with their new owners and genuinely ready for family life. That is not something that happens by accident — it is the direct product of raising animals the way I have always raised animals. With attention, with intention and with a lot of love. When one of our rabbits goes home with someone I do not stop thinking about them. I want to know they are settled, loved and doing well. These are not transactions to me — they are connections. The families who bring a Birchbark rabbit into their home become part of our story and we stay part of theirs.
Noah is my most reliable daily helper in the rabbitry — making sure every rabbit has fresh food and water and bringing them out to the playpen on nice days. The rabbits know him and it shows.
Primary rabbit keeper, genetics enthusiast, animal lover since childhood and the person behind every kit that leaves Birchbark. Serves as President of Gavi Hand Enterprise and on the Fix-It Clinic team.
Built and manages the GHE website and technology infrastructure. Fix-It Clinic technician and the quiet backbone behind everything that runs.
Leads youth engagement for GHE, serves as a Fix-It Clinic technician and actively recruits high school peers for the Youth IT Shadow program where students volunteer, learn about computers and earn community service hours.
Noah helps to keep the rabbitry running day to day — fresh food, fresh water, playtime in the pen on nice days. The rabbits know him and trust him completely. He is also a key part of GHE using his designing skills to build organization signs and online aesthetic.
Maddie started making jewelry inspired by a trip to Maui where she played ukulele on the beach for sea turtles. Her handmade bracelets and jewelry are available through her own business — Maddie's Aloha Jewelry.
The youngest members of the family and arguably the most important part of the socialization process. Every kit handled by a toddler is a kit ready for anything.
Birchbark Rabbitry is more than a breeding program to me — it is a community program of Gavi Hand Enterprise, Inc., the nonprofit Boris and I founded. Every rabbit that finds a new home supports our broader mission of giving back to the Hanson community and beyond.
Here is what that looks like in practice now and in the near future:
Our flock of thirteen chickens produces more eggs than we need and I regularly give them to neighbors and donate them to the local food pantry. No charge, no expectation — just surplus shared with people who can use it.
Something I am really excited about — free monthly events where families come together to collect eggs, meet the rabbits and just spend time with animals. It is the kind of experience that is increasingly rare and I genuinely believe it matters for kids growing up without access to farm life.
I love this idea and cannot wait to make it happen — as a former professional photographer I want to give back with free seasonal photo shoots with our Holland Lops. Families bring their kids, our rabbits provide the charm and the memories last forever. Donations for the local food pantry will be accepted.
We are developing a partnership with Girl Scout troops to offer badge completion activities in animal care, responsible pet ownership and animal husbandry. Badges get earned the hands-on way and the kids get to hold a bunny. Everyone wins.
I am working on educational video content covering rabbit care, genetics basics and responsible pet ownership that will live here on the Birchbark website and through GHE's STEM Sparks program. Good information should be free and easy to find and I want to be the person that makes it that way for rabbit owners.
Animal husbandry, genetics and responsible breeding are science and I love that. Through GHE's STEM Sparks program we are developing youth learning modules that connect rabbit care with real biology, genetics and life science — designed for Scouts, homeschool families and curious kids everywhere.
Every rabbit that leaves this family has been raised with the same care and intention you have read about here. We would love to find the right match for yours.
Join the Interest List Get in Touch