monarch meadow carefarm

monarch meadow carefarm Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from monarch meadow carefarm, Nonprofit Organization, PO Box 490153, Everett, MA.

a restorative space in Massachusetts caring for rescued animals, the land, and providing community-based care and supportive counseling for traumatically bereaved humans.

food connects us to culture, to people and to memories, and of course, to our people who have died. 🍴food is communal.we...
06/23/2026

food connects us to culture, to people and to memories, and of course, to our people who have died. 🍴

food is communal.

we hope making and sharing meals will become part of our future programming, but until then, our executive director wanted to share one of her favorite plant-based breakfast recipes: tofu scramble.

before you scroll away because tofu seems disgusting, we promise this dish may change your mind if you give it a chance.

Nisha Vora at is a flavor master and hands-down this is the best we’ve ever had. our executive director loves to eat it with a delicious spread on bread or pairs it with bread, fruit, cherry tomatoes, sautéed potatoes, and avocado.

if you give it a try, let us know what you think!

the recipe can be found here: https://rainbowplantlife.com/eggy-tofu-scramble

[id: a photo of a dark burgundy square plate on a wooden table. the plate has a single slice of toasted bread, scrambled tofu, and sliced avocado, tomatoes, sautéed potatoes. the logo is all-white and features flowers and a monarch butterfly illustration above the words “monarch meadow carefarm.” the overall feeling is nourishing, balanced, and compassionate.]

children don’t learn emotional awareness quickly or in isolation. they learn it through repeated experiences of being ar...
06/22/2026

children don’t learn emotional awareness quickly or in isolation. they learn it through repeated experiences of being around emotionally-attuned and responsive adults.

if adults ignore, avoid, or try to “fix” feelings, youth learn feelings are not okay to feel.

however, if feelings are named and normalized, youth understand that feelings are okay to feel and they are indirectly given permission to be with their own experience.

for caregivers, this means that everyday moments become opportunities for connection and increasing a youth’s self-awareness and understanding that there are no “bad” or “good” feelings. they’re just feelings, and we are meant to feel them all.

when adults acknowledge, honor, and respond with care to a youth’s feelings, children build capacity to hold feelings and develop internal confidence to navigate their own emotions.

this way of supporting helps shape how they relate to themselves and others, long after the moment has passed.


[id: an 8-slide carousel post with 8 graphics. each graphic has a background photo of a cluster of daisy flowers in full bloom, text, and the monarch meadow carefarm logo showing an illustrated pink flower and orange butterfly above white text that reads "monarch meadow carefarm" is in the lower right corner of each graphic. the first 7 slides feature a white arrow with an oval orange background that points to the right. slide 1 text reads “helping children navigate big feelings - modeling & emotion reflection” slide 2 text reads “children learn about emotions by watching us. - youth look to trusted adults for cues on how to respond to grief, including sadness, anger, fear, and other overwhelming feelings.” slide 3 text reads “what is modeling? - modeling is showing children that feelings are normal and that there are helpful ways to respond to them.” slide 4 text reads “modeling sounds like: - "i'm feeling tired, so i'm going to rest on the couch.", "i'm crying because i'm feeling sad.", "i'm frustrated, so i'm going to take a few deep breaths." slide 5 text reads “what is emotion reflection? - emotion reflection helps children identify feelings they may not yet have words for. instead of assuming, approach with curiosity.” slide 6 text reads “emotion reflection sounds like: - "i'm noticing your hands are in fists. i wonder if you're feeling mad.", "you're holding on really tightly to me. i wonder if you're worried.", "you're jumping up and down and have a huge smile on your face. you seem so excited!" slide 7 text reads “follow their lead. - after reflecting the emotion and being with the feelings (don't rush this part!), you can offer outlets for the feelings, if useful: “would you like a hug?”, "would you like to create a picture that shows what this feels like?", “is there a song that we could put on and sing/dance to that might help with our feelings?”, "can we take 5 deep breaths together?" slide 8 text reads “children don't need us to remove difficult feelings. - they need caring adults who help them recognize, name, and find helpful outlets for their body as they feel their feelings.]

why does an animal’s presence feel so powerful during grief? animals don’t ask us to explain our pain. they don’t try to...
06/19/2026

why does an animal’s presence feel so powerful during grief?

animals don’t ask us to explain our pain. they don’t try to “fix” it. they don’t rush us toward “feeling better.” instead, they offer something many grieving individuals desperately need: a nonjudgmental, compassionate, and loving presence.

research on grief support has found that animals are often perceived as more helpful than many traditional sources of emotional support because they show up without expectations, advice, and simply listen (Cacciatore et al., 2021).

grieving individuals frequently describe animals as dear companions. they offer connection, touch, routine, a purpose, and unconditional acceptance. for many people, meaningful bonds are formed with animals of all kinds. whether through caregiving, daily interactions, time spent on a farm, or simply being in relationship.

when an animal dies, the grief can be profound. yet losses involving animals are often treated as “less significant” than other losses, leaving many people feeling unseen in their sorrow. this is known as disenfranchised grief. a grief that is real and deeply felt, but not always fully recognized or validated by others.

at monarch meadow carefarm, we have witnessed firsthand how animals create spaces for connection and comfort. their presence reminds us that support doesn’t always require words.

and when an animal companion dies, we believe that loss matters deeply, too. the bonds we share with animals are real, meaningful, and worthy of being honored and grieved.

🧡is there an animal who has provided necessary space for you in grief? feel free to share about them in the comments. if you’ve experienced the death of an animal, you’re welcome to share their name below, and we are glad to hold their memory with you.


[id: a photo of a man sitting off to the side with a dark brown/ginger hen at his feet and looking up at him. beside the hen is another lightly colored chicken, and behind the hen is a dark brown/red/ginger rooster walking in another direction. they’re in a fully enclosed animal area with wooden perches and a hanging water dispenser. the man is wearing tan pants, dark tennis shoes, a black smart watch, and a light grey/blueish toned t-shirt, a hat and sunglasses sit on his head, and he is looking down at the hen at his feet. a green rectangle in the upper left corner of the photo has white text that reads “the quiet comfort of animals” with the monarchmeadowcarefarm.org website directly underneath. the overall feeling is peaceful, calm, and accepting.]

“let me know if you need anything.” it’s one of the most caring things we think to say when someone is grieving.the inte...
06/18/2026

“let me know if you need anything.”

it’s one of the most caring things we think to say when someone is grieving.

the intention behind it it beautiful, but the reality is that many grieving individuals don’t actually know what they need, especially in early grief. or they may not have the energy to identify it or ask for it, and accepting help isn’t always easy.

instead of putting the responsibility on them, consider offering something specific like:
✨ “i would love to bring dinner over tomorrow. any allergies or food restrictions?”
✨ “can i take care of your laundry or clean your place this week?”
✨ “i’d love to come over and sit with you for a while. would you like some company?”
✨ “i’m headed to the store. what can i pick up for you?”
✨ if you offer one of the above and they decline, you can say, “no problem. i’ll check in again next week.”

small, concrete acts of support take less mental and emotional energy than an open-ended offer.

what are some meaningful ways others have shown up for you during difficult seasons of life and grief?


[id: a graphic with a light blue background and a daisy-like floral frame in the middle. inside the frame is an orange rectangle with text that reads “instead of saying
"let me know if you need anything...", “try saying:”, with a bulleted list with the monarch meadow carefarm’s butterfly as the symbol for each bullet that read "i would love to bring dinner over tomorrow. any allergies or food restrictions?", “can i take care of your laundry or clean your place this week?”, “i’d love to come over and sit with you for a while. would you like some company?”, “i’m headed to the store. what can i pick up for you?”, "if you offer one of the above and they decline, you can say, “no problem. i’ll check in again next week.”. the monarch meadow carefarm logo showing an illustrated pink flower and orange butterfly above white text that reads "monarch meadow carefarm" is above the monarchmeadowcarefarm.org website and both are centered at the bottom of the graphic. the overall feeling is compassionate, supportive, and nurturing.]

06/16/2026

one way you could consider caring for yourself today is by going for a short walk. see what you notice - sights, sounds, and smells. pause if you can to take them in.

sometimes stopping to smell and admire the flowers can be an act of love - toward the natural world and toward yourself.
[id: 55 second video with close-up video clips of bright peony flowers in full blown in the colors: deep burgundy, yellow, white, and pink hues. monarch meadow carefarm’s flower and butterfly logo appears in the upper right corner of the video. text appears on the bottom of the screen throughout the video that reads “one way you could consider caring for yourself today is going for a walk. see what you notice - sites, sounds, smells. pause if you can to take them in. sometimes stopping to smell and admire the flowers can be an act of love - toward the natural world and toward yourself.” an end-slide features the monarch meadow carefarm logo showing an illustrated pink flower and orange butterfly above the text "monarch meadow carefarm". the overall feeling is soft, peaceful, and nature-centered.]

dysregulation is a buzz-word, and it actually isn’t a bad thing, though it gets a negative reputation. we all experience...
06/15/2026

dysregulation is a buzz-word, and it actually isn’t a bad thing, though it gets a negative reputation.

we all experience moments where our nervous system is over or under-activated; it’s part of our body’s way of processing the world and our experiences. our nervous system lets us know when we may need some extra support.

for youth, they are often told to “calm down” or “use their words” when in actuality, it is far more useful to support them by:

-acknowledging their feelings (“you’re feeling really frustrated.”)
-help them to notice what’s happening internally for them (e.g., fast heartrate, fidgety, zoning out)
-find ways to direct (or redirect) their emotion and energy - because the energy and feelings need to go somewhere.

“calming down” bypasses the emotional processing and self-awareness process.

when youth are having intense and overwhelming experiences, they need to feel seen and understood by trusted adults as well as supported in finding helpful ways to move with and through their feelings because they often struggle to do it on their own.
[id: a graphic with a photo of a single drum with a stand in the background. the drum is in an empty room with white walls and wooden floor. the photo has a dark overlay. at the top of the graphic script text reads “what is co-regulation?” underneath is a outlined rectangle box with a red X symbol in the upper left corner and script font that reads “myth” next to it with more text underneath that reads “it is helping youth to ‘calm down’ amid dysregulation”. another outlined rectangle box is shown below, this one with a green checkmark symbol in the upper left corner with script font that reads “fact” next to it with more text underneath that reads “it is an adult who is ‘bigger, stronger, wiser, and kind’ who can offer comfort, connection, and help a youth to organize
their feelings and experience amid overwhelm”. at the bottom of the graphic large script text reads “how?” with smaller text beside that reads “help youth connect with their feelings and body sensations to find helpful outlets for releasing and redirecting energy and emotion”. even smaller text below reads “(sources: Circle of Security International, Synergetic Play Therapy)”. the monarch meadow carefarm logo showing an illustrated pink flower and orange butterfly above white text that reads "monarch meadow carefarm" in the bottom right of the graphic. the overall feeling is supportive, conversational, and educational.]

what is animal-centered design? 🐐🦆🐓at monarch meadow carefarm, we believe that caring for animals means more than just p...
06/12/2026

what is animal-centered design? 🐐🦆🐓

at monarch meadow carefarm, we believe that caring for animals means more than just providing shelter, food, and water. that’s why we’re exploring the concept of animal-centered design, an approach pioneered by Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge.

traditionally, animal housing has been designed around human convenience and productivity. animal-centered design asks a different question:

what would this space look like if the animals came first?

instead of focusing only on what is easiest for people, animal-centered design considers:
what helps animals feel safe and comfortable?
how do they naturally spend their time?
what environments encourage their species-specific behaviors?
what choices would improve their quality of life?

whether it’s providing opportunities to explore, rest, socialize, forage, perch, graze, or simply choose where they want to be, the goal is to create spaces that support animals as individuals with their own needs and preferences.

as we continue developing monarch meadow carefarm, we’re committed to keeping the animals’ well-being at the center of every decision.

because a truly caring farm isn’t built around human convenience, it’s built around helping animals thrive.

to learn more about animal-centered design from the folks at Piedmont, see here: https://www.piedmontrefuge.org/animal-centered-design


[id: a graphic with a printed photo in the middle that shows a sunset scene with a bright blue sky and soft stretched clouds throughout, bright sun setting in the distance with golden glow all around, treeline in front that stretches across the photo. a large field with green grass stretches along with a fence edge across. the front of the photo shows two ducks swimming in a pond with ripples in the water. a large animal enclosure sits to the right of them, with a soft landing area on the edge of the water. tall grass and plants stick up in the very front of the photo and cover part of the pond. small white text reads “photo credit: piedmontrefuge.org” underneath, a black text block has bold white text that reads “what a space looks like” with bold pink text next that reads “when animals come first.” the monarch meadow carefarm logo appears below. the logo is all-white and features flowers and a monarch butterfly illustration above the words “monarch meadow carefarm.” and the website monarchmeadowcarefarm.org. the overall feeling is peaceful, spacious, and inspiring.]

06/11/2026

we need to be seen by others in our grief.

these words from “Moving On Doesn’t Mean Letting Go” by Gina Moffa deeply resonate with us.

this quote encapsulates the environment we hope to provide for the bereaved at monarch meadow carefarm.

patience - the time and space to be in our experience without feeling rushed or hurried along.

belonging - neither you nor your grief are avoided. you can feel secure in knowing you are welcomed and loved without the need to mask or perform.

connection - your pain doesn’t make us uncomfortable. we move toward you with care, compassion, and understanding.

as for the interactions with humans, rescued animals, and nature at the carefarm, these are the companions who remind you that you aren’t alone, that you are seen in your heartbreak.


[id: a 22 second video of a woman with brown hair pulled into a low-bun standing in front of a fence gate attached to a fence post and square fencing with a brown cow behind it. large trees are in the background and are full of green leaves. a small path curves around the corner of the screen. the woman and the cow gently interact throughout the video. the woman is wearing a black tanktop, brown pants, tennis shoes, and has sunglasses resting on top of her head. soft background music plays throughout the video as a voice-over speaks. text appears on the screen as the voice speaks through the video. an end-slide features the monarch meadow carefarm logo showing an illustrated pink flower and orange butterfly above the text "monarch meadow carefarm". the overall feeling is tender, present, and understanding.]

join us: 8/30! Sunday, August 30 is National Grief Awareness Day - a day of education where non-bereaved people can lear...
06/10/2026

join us: 8/30!

Sunday, August 30 is National Grief Awareness Day - a day of education where non-bereaved people can learn how to support the bereaved and where grieving humans can receive support and care.

we invite you to save the date for a FREE in-person event held at Unity Farm Sanctuary in Sherborn, MA for folks of all ages, bereaved and non-bereaved.

monarch meadow carefarm will be partnering with Junie's Place, a nonprofit organization in Massachusetts started by a bereaved mother that provides grief education, policy advocacy, and free therapeutic support to bereaved parents/caregivers and their surviving children.

more details are forthcoming, but for now, mark this on your calendar! there will be communal and individual grief rituals, animals, resources for non-bereaved and bereaved folks, nature trails, and more. we would love to have you join us.

please invite others to this event as well!
[id: a graphic with a background photo looking up through tall tree canopy towards a bright sky, with dark tree trunks framing the edges. a large soft orange rounded rectangle shape sits over the center of the photo. in the upper left of that box, large bold dark green text reads "save the date!" below it, event details are listed with bold labels: "when:" Sunday, August 30 - with "National Grief Awareness Day" highlighted in an orange background; "where:" Unity Farm Sanctuary in Sherborn, MA; "time:" to be determined; "who:" folks of all ages, bereaved and non-bereaved. smaller text below reads "-RSVP required (link will be forthcoming)." along the bottom of the graphic, two orange rounded rectangles on either side read "sponsored by:" on the left and "hosted by:" on the right. between and beside them are two logos: the monarch meadow carefarm logo showing an illustrated pink flower and orange butterfly above the text "monarch meadow carefarm," and the Junie's Place logo showing a lighthouse above the text "A Guiding Light Through the Ocean of Grief." on the far right is the Unity Farm Sanctuary logo with a small red horse icon and the organization name in dark grey/black text. the overall feeling is communal, welcoming, and grounded.]

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PO Box 490153
Everett, MA
02149

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