Maple Farm Sanctuary: You Can Make a Difference

I first learned about the Maple Farm Sanctuary when I was looking to volunteer at Farm Sanctuary, a national farm animal rescue organization. Farm Sanctuary has two locations in NY and CA.  I was delighted to see a smaller and local farm animal rescue had been established in MA. 

Max was the first animal I saw when I got to the Maple Farm Sanctuary.  Check out the landscape and the

amazing life he now has.  You would never guess that he was neglected so badly that he is now blind because of an infection.

I first reached out to Cheri, Maple Farm Sanctuary, on the phone several months ago and filled out all of the paperwork to go visit the farm.  But after my accident, I had been delayed in be able to visit the sanctuary.  Last weekend, I finally got to go and work on the farm.  There have been few times where my consciousness and purpose for being a vegan have been strengthened.  I feel like this experience re-affirmed my commitment to veganism, but also my pursuit of fair treatment of animals.

Jonathan is a 500 lbs pig who was so ill when he was rescued that he he had stopped eating and drinking all together.  He underwent

hernia surgery immediately and now lives a happy live on the farm where he enjoys fresh veggies (esp. tomatoes) and mud baths

Cheri and her husband Jim founded the Maple Farm Sanctuary, both former farmers, goat and dairy respectively.  In talking with Cheri, it was interesting to hear her progression to veganism and then to the founding of Maple Farm Sanctuary.  She truly is an inspiration.

Love is tried apples.  The goats LOVE them.  Just ask Melissa!

The Maple Farm Sanctuary is home to about 80 animals who have previously been abused, abandoned or neglected.  From providing forever homes to llamas, to cows to goats to promoting awareness, veganism and respect for all life- Maple Farm Sanctuary is a gem in MA, yet few people even know it exists.

One of the many llamas on the farm.  While we were cleaning the stalls, this fellow came in and kept us company.

For all the good that Cheri and Jim do, their efforts are often unnoticed and the sanctuary is usually just making it by.  They are desperately in need of volunteers to help run the farm, as you can imagine it is a ton of work for just two people.  Volunteering on the farm is so rewarding.  Tasks range from cleaning stalls, preparing meals and general bonding with the animals.  I developed a special relationship with a certain goat who followed me around all day and even put his paw on me multiple times to get my attention, much like my dog. 

My boyfriend Luke.  I heart this guy like WHOA!

Giving of one's time can often be hard, I get that, especially if you need to drive to Mendon.  But everyone can make a difference.  A gift of any size would make a huge different to this great effort.  Even $10 can provide care for a chicken for a whole month.  That is two Starbucks' coffees, you can totally handle it. To make a one time or reoccurring gift, please click here.  Maple Farm Sanctuary also has a wish list and you can send them a care package if you cannot drive to Mendon.  Here is what they need:


Kling (rolled gauze)
4x4 Gauze Pads
Vet Wrap
Neosporin + Pain (any brand will do)
Digital thermometers
Mineral Oil (used to treat "bloat" )
Baking Soda
Old Blankets, Sheets and Towels
Stamps!!


Supplies can be sent to them directly at:
Maple Farm Sanctuary
101 North Avenue
Mendon, MA  01756

Farming is hardwork!  Skip the gym and come help!

 Maple Farm Sanctuary is also desperately in need of food donations.  They do receive weekly donations from Whole Foods, but it is not nearly enough.  In volunteering, park of my job was to help prepare meals.  Half of the food was rotten and inedible and the remaining food had to be rationed among the animals.  Are you a member of a CSA? Ask them consider sending the food that they would not put in your weekly package to Maple Farm Sanctuary.  It would make a world of difference.

Volunteering is so rewarding.  Look at all the love you get!

To say that the Maple Farm Sanctuary is a treasure to MA would be an understatement.  To have a place for animals to go that have been forgotten, that have been neglected and have been abused is something that many of us take for granted.  I truly hope that you will consider helping in whatever way you can.  Every little bit makes a difference.

As for me, I can't wait to go back and I hope to bring a fleet of volunteers with me!  If you are interested, let me know.  I also want to plan a fundraiser for this wonderful place.  Raising some money for Cheri and Jim is only a minor way that I can think of to help thank them for dedicating their lives to kindness and these amazing animals.  I hope you will join me when this goes down.  In the meantime, I thought I would share some pictures of my amazing day with Cheri, Jim, and the wonderful animals at Maple Farm Sanctuary.

A gentle giant. Cassie was diagnosed with agoraphobia. Agoraphobia arises from an internal anxiety condition that has become so intense that the suffering individual fears going anywhere or doing anything where these feelings of panic have repeatedly occurred before. She was at a slaughterhouse when she jumped a 6 foot fence to escape the torture and inhumane conditions. Cassie's fear was so intense that she originally only felt comfortable in a dark stall with no windows. Cassie has received so much patient love and kindness from all the workers at the Farm and her friends the Chickens that she has allowed Jim to make her a window. Now, she actually ventures out of her stall into the barn for a few minutes at a time. Cassie receives holistic treatments and has been comforted by music therapy.

Max is the gentle beauty you saw at the beginning.  He is a 2,000 lbs cow that had an infection which was left untreated.  As a result, he is not completely blind.  Max is a love and it kind of daunting when he stands next to you.  He is over 6 feet tall.  He now has a peaceful life at Maple Farm Sanctuary and loves to have his back scratched, with a rake!

This one of the many chickens at the sanctuary.  Cheri told a story that happened recently where someone had ordered live chicks in the mail and then refused them on delivery.  The post office didn't know what to do with them and was going to destroy them.  Cheri said NO WAY and rescued all 20 chicks which are now full grown chickens.

Dover the llama is amazing.  She has something wrong with her that requires her to be seperated from the other llamas, but that doesn't get her down.  She loves attention.  Cheri taught me that llamas are often skiddish when first meeting humans and to let them smell your hair and skin by putting your face against theirs.  It was scary at first, but the second that Dover nudged me back I knew I was in.  I LOVE this little lady.

Some other awesome friends from the Maple Farm Sanctuary.  At this wonderful farm, every animal is a treasure and treated with compassion and love.

Lucky is perhaps the saddest story for me.  Lucky is a breed of horse that humans have created-the miniature. They’re adorable and have a loving attitude. Lucky suffers from dwarfism and has various musculoskeletal defects, the most obvious being his front hooves and his overbite. The problem with his hooves is often mistaken for neglect, for not being trimmed properly. In reality, the bones in his hooves are turned outward, only allowing the hooves to grow sideways.

Lucky was rescued from a local miniature horse breeder who had left him to die in a pen with many other neglected miniatures. Someday his deformities will cause him arthritis. Maple Farm Sanctuary will continue to provide him with a high-quality life and medical treatment he needs for the rest of his life.

Please consider however you can.  Every little bit helps and you CAN make a difference in the lives of these animals.  Stay tuned for more information about a possible fundraiser here in Boston.