Maple Farm Sanctuary

Love this place! Scheduled a private tour a few weeks ago and it was a wonderful experience! I agree with the reviewer below, every family should skip the zoo and visit a farm sanctuary that really cares about animals and is not looking simply for profit.
The tour takes you around the main farm area and you can interact with all types of beautiful animals — cows, goats, chickens, ducks, pigs, llamas, sheep… and I’m probably forgetting a few! All the animals are friendly and most will come right up to you to be petted. Our tour guide was fantastic and extremely informative. I was only visiting the Mendon area but will definitely be back the next time I’m in town.

My family and I look forward to our yearly visits to this magical place. Skip the zoo for a lot of reasons and come visit a truly special place with beautiful animals. My son, we all, know the names of the residents. A special mention of the sweet Tara Anne who has a very moving story like so many of the animals at the sanctuary. And give a donation to keep the magic going.

When I told friends how we were going to visit a farm sanctuary, one of the first questions was usually, «What is a farm sanctuary?»
A farm sanctuary is a kind of refuge for animals. Many of the animals are rescued from factory farms, from slaughter, abuse, or from abandonment. One of the things that distinguish Maple Farm Sanctuary is that it’s the only sanctuary that was formerly a working farm. Jim and Cheri Vandersluis had a dramatic change of heart and a move of conscious that made it impossible for them to raise animals for slaughter. Their story is told in the documentary Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home.
We visited Maple Farm Sanctuary on Father’s Day and honestly I wasn’t sure how my kids might respond. They’re incredibly unpredictable. Would they enjoy the Farm Sanctuary? Would they be disturbed? Would they be frightened? Would they be bored? Would they complain?
One of the things that make a farm sanctuary interesting and a sometimes troubling is that most of the animals have a story. Many of the stories are tragic and sad. These are stories of how the animals were often mistreated and treated inhumanely and how they eventually found a home here. It should also be said that while our guides at the Maple Farm Sanctuary were more than willing to share the stories of these animals in detail if asked, they were also sensitive to the presence of our small children.
One sheep Tara Ann was rescued from three women who were beating her with sticks. Apparently these women didn’t see anything wrong with beating an animal they were going to eat anyway.
A Holstein cow Cassie, was raised in almost complete darkness for much of her early life. Her owners were just waiting for the day when they could bring her to slaughter. In Cassie’s case, she did something remarkable, which rarely happens. She escaped the slaughterhouse by jumping a six foot high fence. One of the sad things about Cassie is that because of her experience, she suffered a great emotional trauma. As a result, she doesn’t like open spaces and doesn’t like spending time with other cows. Our guides shared about Cassie’s story and about her slow recovery. We enjoyed feeding Cassie some carrots.
Although, the stories of the animals were often troubling, it was somehow reassuring to know that they at least found a home here, where they can play, live and grow old. From my own perspective, the animals at the Maple Farm Sanctuary seemed genuinely happy. They were free to walk about and socialize and express normal animal behavior. The nature of life is that sometimes we don’t experience a happy endings, but for these animals they found something of that happy ending.
The animals that were most beloved by my own children were the goats and the llamas. The goats were incredibly friendly and affectionate. Although, you had to watch them, because otherwise they might nibble on your clothes.
Overall the entire family had a great time at the Maple Farm Sanctuary. In fact, our youngest who is never shy about complaining, offered her highest praise when she said that she wanted to come back again.

Maple Farm Sanctuary, located about an hour outside of Boston in Mendon, Massachusetts, provides «lifelong homes for abused, abandoned, and unwanted farmed animals while promoting veganism and respect for all life through public information.» Sound awesome? Well, it is.
The owners of Maple Farm, Cheri and Jim, are incredibly dedicated individuals. They are compassionate, kind, and serious about their work; and labor tirelessly, day in and day out, to maintain their facility and care for the animals they have rescued from intensely dire, often torturous conditions. Over 80 animals live in peace at Maple Farm Sanctuary, including cows, horses, sheep, llamas, ducks, chickens, pigs, turkeys, dogs, goats, and a miniature pony.
Like many non-​profits, Maple Farm operates on a shoestring budget and is always looking for a helping hand. Or several of them! While volunteering at a farm sanctuary is hard work, it is also a rewarding, wonderful experience that won’t soon be forgotten. For a fun, unique, and meaningful weekend adventure, I highly recommend getting a carpool together and heading over to Mendon.
Make a difference. And pet some cute animals while you’re at it.