We often think of Charity As an Action. But HOOF thinks of Charity as a State Of The Heart.
At our organization, we truly believe in the power of kindness and responsibility. Through our carefully designed programs, we have seen wonderful changes in many children. They learn about the importance of taking care of animals and the environment. This knowledge not only impacts them personally but also spreads to their families and friends. By encouraging empathy and responsibility from a young age, we are shaping a brighter future where everyone respects the world around them. It's rewarding to witness these transformations!
Our programs are not just for children; we also reach out to seniors and individuals with disabilities. Each of our initiatives is tailored to meet the unique needs of these groups, ensuring that everyone can be part of making a positive change. With adaptive activities and inclusive teachings, we create an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered. It's inspiring to see people of all ages and abilities come together, learning about kindness and the environment, and making meaningful contributions to their communities. Together, we can all make a difference!
People helping animals, animals helping people…we are all “helpers of our farm”.
Homestead Farm | Education | Nonprofit
History and Mission
Helpers Of Our Farm (HOOF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization centered around farm programs that enrich the lives of the community with hands on learning and therapeutic experiences. HOOF’s mission is to provide intriguing educational programs and therapeutic programs through farm animals. With the help of these animals and Greenlands Farm, where HOOF is located, HOOF teaches homesteading skills, environmental science, animal science, and animal welfare. HOOF’s hope is to create a better world for animals and the environment through knowledge. HOOF is a platform for the community to learn, grow, and volunteer.
Greenlands Farm started a petting farm in 2011 with a vision to provide a an educational platform for the community. Greenlands Farm friends established Helpers of Our Farm (HOOF) in 2016, a not for profit organization that focuses the educational and therapeutic programs they provide. We are “Helpers of Our Farm” not only because these animals depend on humans to help them, but also because these animals help us by teaching us how to love, care, and learn from them. They perform an important task of educating visitors during our tours, petting farm, and farm classes. The goal has always been to integrate education into the lives of our community through the lives of these animals.
Animal Science & Animal Welfare Education
At Helpers Of Our Farm (HOOF), our passion shines through in everything we do. We genuinely believe in the power of education and how it can change lives. Our animals are not just adorable companions; they play a vital role in teaching our community about compassion and respect for all living beings. By welcoming our visitors, we help them understand the importance of animal welfare, and in turn, they become ambassadors for this important cause. Together, we can spread kindness and awareness!
Homestead Farming
Homestead Farming is a style of farming which takes a full circle approach to all aspects of the farm (rain water catchment, composting, chicken tractor), enabling the farm to ultimately become self-sufficient. Examples of this practice include: nutrient cycling from animals to plants and vice-versa and preserving of excess crops via fermentation/pickling/drying. We also cover the low-impact development (LID) of the farm, and how protecting our waterways affects everyone in your watershed. LID processes storm water on site, through natural rain garden systems that filter out biological and chemical hazards. We will touch on the history of Agriculture in North Carolina, and how our farming practices differ from conventional/mechanized methods. Greenlands Farm has won recognition and an award for their outstanding stewardship of the land with their “green” and sustainable stormwater design.
Who We Serve
Helpers Of Our Farm provides education to the North Carolina regions of Southern Coastal, Southern Coastal Plain, Central Piedmont, and Southern Piedmont but is open to any visitors from around the country. Our educational programs and rescue animals reach children and adults of all ages, walks of life, health, and special needs.
Donations and Grants
The support we receive from our friends, volunteers, and the surrounding community is invaluable. Every kind word, extra hand, and visit they contribute helps us grow and make a difference. We are thankful for businesses and media partners who believe in our mission, as they help us reach even more people. Each person who walks through our doors brings their unique energy and perspective, enriching our community and reinforcing our commitment to creating a better future for both animals and people. Many grants allow us to advance the care we provide and give us the resources to provide more educational opportunities for our visitors: educational boards, interactive learning boards, natural play areas, and more.
Volunteer Program
We have many opportunities for volunteers to get involved in what is happening at HOOF. This is a busy operation and your help makes us a success. We are believers in people and working together to achieve something for the good of all: animals, our environment, you, me, the members of our community. Discover a hidden talent that may change your view on your self worth, you’re valuable and you have a chance to impact the community you live in!
From the Organization’s Leader
Do you have a best friend? I do, a human one (her name is MaryDavis) and I also have a whole lot of furry ones. Why? Because they sometimes make better friends than humans (even though MaryDavis is the best girlfriend you could ask for). Did you know that animals are capable of great depth of emotion and complex systems of social cooperation, and that they can care for each other and for humans? This is what I think about when I interact with an animal. I want to be their voice and their platform for showing people how to love them. Why is this important? Because we are all human and humans can evolve. With the right education and the touch of an animal’s nose on a cheek, humans can evolve into a more loving, more compassionate, and selfless individual. This can open doors to all kinds of good! That’s my philosophy and my passion.
Go snuggle up to a willing animal and see how good it feels!
Love, Maud
Maud’s Bio
If anyone knows Maud, they know one thing about her…she loves animals. Maud grew up on a small sustainable farm taking care of and raising rabbits, chickens, geese, and goats. These weren’t just farm animals to Maud; they were her friends who often accompanied her on walks, a game of hide and seek, and a swim in the pond. She was also the kid that begged for a pony every gifting occasion. A childhood pony didn’t happen for Maud because the family didn’t have the space for one or the financial resources. Her family’s circumstances actually taught Maud about ownership responsibility and would be applied to her life and help her make good decisions when considering animal ownership. Over the next number of years, Maud volunteered to ride horses and gave her time to any place that had animals with a program that provided a connection to people with these animals. Animals did something special in her and she wanted to be a part of something that did that for other people. This actually opened the door to her finally getting that pony she dreamed about when she was 29 and she has been an avid equestrian since. Little did she know all this would lead up to her starting a farm teaching and sharing animals!
Maud’s vision for the farm was to create a place that taught and connected people to animals. Humans are more likely to learn something when you are able to reach the senses: sight, hearing, touch, and smell. Her hope is to create a serious impact on people’s lives with interactive educational and therapeutic experiences.