Charlie’s Acres is a 501 (c)3 non-profit dedicated to rescuing farm animals.  They are currently at max capacity with 150 rescued animals.  They rely entirely on donations to stay running.  According to their website, their founder Tracy Vogt grew up rescuing dogs and cats at local animal shelters.  One of these dogs was a chihuahua named Charlie whom the sanctuary is named after. 

Charlie’s Acres offers regular tours where visitors can learn the stories of the individual animals.  They also offer picnic tours where they offer vegan Renegade Sausage and Miyoko’s Cheese as well as nuts, crackers and a vegan wine selection.  They have Goat Yoga and Sheep Meditation classes.  They are hosting a Barn Crawl BBQ in June.  

The sanctuary does a lot to educate the public about plant-based eating including a zoom class from their educational center.  On their website they explain that “the journey to a plant-based diet is not about giving up animal products, it’s about crowding them out.  Start by making plants the center of your plate and trying as many new foods as possible.”  

They also explain that going plant-based has positive impacts on water use, climate change, land use and promotes environmental justice.  A plant-based diet is also a health choice and the information on their website explains that “according to the American Dietetic Association, appropriately planned vegan diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.”  Charlie’s Acres recommends a lot of great vegan products including Beyond Meat, Gardein, and Oatly.

Charlie’s Acres is an amazing sanctuary that is leading the way in how we treat animals and how to eat sustainably.  It is a great place to visit if you want to better understand animals and learn how to improve your health and the health of the planet.