Greene’s Goats & Gardens
Greene's Goats & Gardens is a Connecticut-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to creating a place where rescue, gardening, and inclusion grow together.
Our Mission
To provide meaningful opportunities for our community to engage in plant-based food production and compassionate animal sanctuary service, with a special commitment to creating inclusive experiences for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Bring Purpose to all Communities
The drive for purpose is an innate human trait. Goats & Gardens aims to fill a need in providing opportunity for purpose to adults and children of all ages with special considerations for the developmentally disabled community, beyond safety and entertainment.
Rescue Animals
Most humans love animals. Spending time with and caring for animals can lower stress and anxiety, while boosting our mood and feeling of belonging. Animals can be a source of motivation, inspiration and learning. Goats & Gardens rescues farm animals from circumstances of neglect and mistreatment in order to provide them with a safe, loving forever home.
Connect With Our Food
In a world with increasing health and environmental issues there has never been a better time to be in touch with and understand the food we are using to fuel our bodies. Goats & Gardens grows vegetables in sustainable and planet friendly ways with a goal to help others become more involved with their own food journey.
About Us
Greene's Goats & Gardens was founded by Meredith and Anna Greene, whose shared passion for service, community, and compassionate living inspired the organization’s creation. Believing that the most meaningful lives are rooted in helping others, they built Goats & Gardens as a place where people can connect with one another, care for animals, cultivate food, and contribute to their community with purpose.
Inspiration Behind the Project
Greene’s Goats & Gardens is inspired, in part, by Elizabeth (Liz) Greene. Liz was Meredith’s aunt and friend. Filled with endless knowledge of Star Trek and cats, Liz was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (now recognized as Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder) before much was known about it. She struggled to succeed in social, professional and personal endeavors and did not have access to the type of purposeful opportunity Goats & Gardens provides.
Further inspiration comes from Steven Greene. Steven is Meredith’s cousin and for whom she is the guardian. He is a loving, excited man with unending zeal for taking out the trash. It was his joy in completing this task for himself, his housemates and surrounding community members that initially inspired Goats & Gardens. Seeing the fulfillment Steven experiences when he accomplishes this chore invited the question of how to provide more opportunity like this.
