‘Love, Kindness and Goats’: How Two Surprise Gifts Inspired a Healing Miracle
When chef Alice got 2 goats to make cheese, she never expected them to change thousands of lives
Key Takeaways
- What started as a surprise gift to make goat cheese turned into a community sanctuary.
- Therapy goat sessions have helped nonverbal visitors speak and improve physical mobility.
- Sales of 25,000+ annual goat milk soap bars keep therapeutic farm sessions completely free.
When chef Alice Clarkson was unexpectedly gifted two goats, her first thought was that she could use them to make cheese. But she soon discovered the animals had a far deeper impact, lifting spirits in unexpected ways—it inspired her to change course and dedicate her life to helping others. Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World.
Alice Clarkson’s eyes widened in surprise as her husband, Richard, excitedly approached her.
“Happy Mother’s Day!” he exclaimed, holding two adorable goats under his arms. “I thought maybe you’d like to make your own goat cheese!”
Alice was raised in a cooking family and became a caterer once her two sons started school. It was a busy life that also included taking care of their farm in Colden, New York, where they had alpacas, donkeys and a very old quarter horse. Yet Alice enjoyed her little goats, naming them Luna and Miss Beetle, and loved making her own cheese and yogurt with their fresh milk.
Before long, after experiencing their sweet and affectionate nature, she and Richard decided to get more goats for the farm.
I don’t know what it is about these sweet animals, but my heart tells me God has a plan, Alice’s soul whispered.
A healing haven
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Alice’s friend, whose son was struggling through the shutdown, asked if he could come out to the farm and spend time with the goats.
“Absolutely, yes!” Alice responded with excitement.
When the boy arrived, the goats were drawn to him right away. The fuzzy creatures offered love and comfort and made him so relaxed that he laid with them and took a nap.
Once word got out, more and more families with kids who needed to experience a connection that was hard to find during social distancing came to the farm. Alice was also contacted by a recreational therapist who worked for a day rehab program.
“Could this be a place where group homes can come?” she asked.
It was something Alice had never considered before, but she now realized there was a real need.
“Yes, we would love to bring them!” the therapist replied.
When chef Alice Clarkson was unexpectedly gifted two goats, her first thought was that she could use them to make cheese. But she soon discovered the animals had a far deeper impact, lifting spirits in unexpected ways — it inspired her to change course and dedicate her life to helping others.
“There will never be a time when love, kindness and goats aren’t needed,” says Alice Clarkson, who started an animal therapy farm to heal hearts.
A new calling led her to start a therapy goat farm!
Faith on the farm
Leaning on her faith, Alice sent up a hopeful prayer — and she soon got the miraculous opportunity to revamp their old barn to make it accessible. Within eight weeks in 2021, the barn was ready for those in wheelchairs and Rowandale Therapy Goats officially opened.
Alice wanted to keep goat sessions free of charge, but she had to find a way to fund the farm. She remembered that her son had recently purchased goat milk soaps.
“I have mama goats producing milk!” she exclaimed. “Why not make soap?”
The first batch of goat milk soap was just 10 bars, but now she and her son make more than 25,000 bars a year, enough to pay for the farm and goat therapy for all.
Goat cuddles are beneficial for everyone — from tots to seniors. To date, the farm has 32 adult goats consisting of five different breeds and sees more than 150 bookings per week.
Alice now works with more organizations, like the Wounded Warrior Foundation and children from mental health centers and area schools.
“Every client leaves changed,” Alice beams. “I have seen immovable hands move to reach out to pet a goat and I have heard the nonverbal speak to them. There will never be a time when love, kindness and goats aren’t needed. We can change the world with those three things.”
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