Philly Goat Project

A Peaceful Oasis in the City

Philly Goat Project

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Philly Goat Project is an innovative and inspiring nonprofit brings engaging, educational, and accessible opportunities to the community.

High on the list when visiting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  is stopping by  the Liberty Bell at Independence Hall, snapping a photo of the bright red LOVE sculpture at John F. Kennedy Plaza (aka as Love Park), and chowing down on a famous Philly cheesesteak sandwich.  There’s so much to see and do in the City of Brotherly Love.

Imagine the surprise when visitors and locals of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, discover a herd of lively goats on the grounds of Awbury Arboretum; a historic outdoor space in Germantown in the city’s northwest region. The property was once the summer estate of Henry Cope, a Quaker shipping merchant who enjoyed the lovely  location with his family during the mid-1800s. Since then, Awbury Arboretum has been a free and open public park, providing a tranquil landscape that includes English botanical gardens, woods, meadows, wetlands, and ponds. (www.Awbury.org)

The goats are the ambassadors of the Philly Goat Project, an innovative and inspiring nonprofit organization that aims to bring engaging, educational, and accessible opportunities to the community.

philly-goat-project
Breast cancer survivors

Creating the Philly Goat Project

The PGP was created in 2018 by Karen Krivit and her daughter, Lily Sage. Karen is a clinical social worker with 30 years of experience working with families and individuals challenged by disabilities and trauma. Lily is a funeral director and artist passionate about sustainable practices and participatory programming related to grief. Together with a dedicated group of volunteers, the two women have involved thousands of individuals in goat-centered activities that have touched lives and helped people heal and connect with the natural world.

philly-goat-project
Community Walk Fairhill by Simone Partridge

Together with the goats, they’re committed to providing opportunities to learn about the environment and sustainability through education and up-close encounters with the animals. The Philly Goat Project offers unique ways for children, teens, and adults of all ages and abilities to learn more about nature, science, history, and nurturing the earth.

In addition to field trips, the Philly Goat Project provides additional participation with their Teen Internship Program for city students ages 11 to 14. The goal is to help foster job skills while learning to care for the goats and assist at events. This is a critical age for developing self-confidence and knowledge in becoming empathetic, creative, and capable as one grows and develops into adulthood.

Ivy and girls at Mifflin
philly-goat-project
Photo courtesy of Taj Devore.
Nicetown kids with Violet
philly-goat-project
Photo courtesy of Taj Devore.

The Therapy Goats

There’s something about connecting with animals that accept a person no matter their physical or mental challenges, social status, or other conditions. Goats live in the moment, interacting with a sense of joy and playfulness that can relieve stress and worries from everyday life.

In today’s busy world, emotions can be stifled and ignored, causing significant stress on the body and the mind. Stepping away from the clamor of the city can soothe the soul in ways that only nature can provide.

The herd’s goats are of various breeds: Nigerian Dwarf, Oberhasli, Saanen, and Nubian. Each one comes from a trusted farm, ensuring they’re disease-free and have easygoing temperaments suited for engaging with people and one another. The goat baby arrives after being weaned, usually at three months of age, often as a group of siblings or cousins.

Ted and elderly woman

Upon arrival, each goat is nurtured and cared for by team members, helping them adjust to their new home and activities. Each one is taught functional commands, both verbally and with hand signals, helping them adjust to interacting with people and busy activities.

Like people, the goats have distinct personalities that endear them to the staff, volunteers, and visitors. The PGP website provides information and updates with photos and current activities.

Connecting on a Deeper Level

Witnessing how the goats respond and connect with people was apparent from the beginning when PGP first introduced them to curious visitors. It was as if each animal instinctively knew it was making a difference in the lives of children, teens, and grownups, especially those from the inner city, where encounters with nature and farm animals are rare.

Karen and Lily saw the potential for providing more ways to help individuals find comfort and solace in goat therapy, especially when experiencing a loss. Together with a grief counselor, they created a quarterly program that lets people to gather in a safe and gentle place in nature, allowing them time to remember and honor their loved ones.

Bereavement is the state of having lost a significant other to death, while grief is the personal response to that loss. It’s a journey of unchartered waters that affects each person differently and deeply. Having an opportunity to recognize one’s feelings can help, especially getting outside in the natural world.

philly-goat-project
Ruth and Holiday

The First Bereavement Program

The idea was welcomed wholeheartedly, with 46 people attending the first bereavement program in 2023. As they gathered in a circle of mindfulness and sharing, each person was given a pussy willow stem to hold onto as they ventured out on an easy-going stroll through the meadows and woods.

Joining the group were several goats on leads held by staff members as they moseyed along and stopped to take in the beauty and sounds of nature. Along the journey, there was a clearing next to the goat paddock where participants could sit and watch the herd munch on their morning meal in the sunshine.

Hector and Ivy

In today’s busy world, emotions can be stifled and ignored, causing significant stress on the body and the mind. Stepping away from the clamor of the city can soothe the soul in ways that only nature can provide.

That’s why the PGP is there — to provide an oasis among the steel and concrete with peaceful surroundings and gentle goats welcoming young and old to embrace the gifts of the natural world.

At the end of the gathering that day, there were hugs and words of gratitude from the participants, thanking Karen and the others for such an uplifting experience — one they will hold in their hearts forever.

Eli and Ted

Creating a Refuge

While waiting for the next bereavement gathering, Karen works with a gardener to create a special area filled with trees and plants specific to grieving, such as elderflower, hawthorn, linden, and lemon balm. It will be a tranquil refuge for reflection and remembrance that folks can visit anytime during the year.

As John Muir, the conservationist and preservationist, said long ago, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” He would be delighted to see this peaceful place in the midst of bustling Philadelphia, where a group of friendly goats invite folks to stop and smell the roses in their little slice of heaven!

Find out more about the Philly Goat Project: http://www.phillygoatproject.org

philly-goat-project
Kerri Hanson with Violet
Kerri Hanson and girls

CAPPY TOSETTI lives in Asheville, North Carolina with her three rescue dogs that help her with Happy with Cappy Pet Sitting. She’s putting things in motion to someday crisscross the country in a vintage travel trailer visiting draft horse and goat farms. cappyt@att.net

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *