Welcome to the Selah Carefarm
A compassionate community where grief and love, pain and beauty intersect.
The Selah Carefarm just outside of Sedona, AZ is the first carefarm for the traumatically bereaved in the U.S., founded in 2016 for day clients and our on site housing, Andy’s Sanctuary, opened in 2020. We now have 6500 square feet of housing facilities, four large open-air barns, and absolutely beautiful spaces- filled with both love and sorrow- all around the carefarm.
The Selah Carefarm is a very special place on 20 acres of beautiful farmland where bereaved family members can come to both give and receive connection, compassion, and understanding. All the animals on the carefarm have been rescued from abuse, neglect, torture, or homelessness. Our grieving families know what it means to suffer, and so do these animals.
OUR HISTORY
In April of 2015, Dr. Joanne Cacciatore, founder of the MISS Foundation, rescued a pack horse in the Grand Canyon from horrific torture and abuse. She named him Chemakoh. Grieving clients with whom Dr. Jo worked were deeply moved by Chemakoh and found their time with him to be ineffable- very powerful. She eventually began to research an idea: Connecting tortured, abused, and lost animals with traumatized humans in a therapeutic carefarm environment. That’s when she met Dr. Rich Gorman in the U.K., who was already researching care farms. The two of them met in Sedona, Arizona and for two weeks planned the first carefarm for traumatic grief in the world. Now we have more than 50 animals rescued who live in our sanctuary and welcome grieving people and families from all around the world including Thailand, Canada, Ghana, and Egypt.
OUR COMMUNITY
Our amazing team of regulars and part-time staff and volunteers are committed to helping others during the longest, darkest nights of their souls. We have research and clinical interns, specially trained in traumatic grief by Dr. Joanne Cacciatore, counselor, researcher and bereaved mother, in addition to grief counselors, yoga teachers, and meditation teachers all available to meet with individuals, families and groups.
If you would like to schedule a visit to the carefarm, please visit this page below:
Support Our Efforts
Thank you for supporting us! There are many ways to contribute that help us continue our important work. Giving to the Respite Center Fund provides much needed operational support to our newly built family guest house. The house allows grieving individuals and families to stay on the carefarm property as they receive counseling support. Contributing to the General Carefarm Fund helps with land maintenance, supplies and the general operations that are so important to keeping the carefarm running smoothly. Funding through Animal Adoptions provides the necessary food, supplies, veterinarian services and overall care necessary to keep the beloved rescue animals happy and healthy.
FILL PORCELINA’S PANTRY
We are so excited to announce Porcelina’s Pantry, a meaningful way to give the gift of delicious food to traumatically bereaved individuals seeking grief support at the Selah Carefarm, as well as our beloved carefarm rescue animals.
GENERAL CAREFARM FUND
We are always in need of support funds that help maintain the farm, create new gardens, grow healthy food, develop meaningful spaces for bereaved families, and sponsor a grieving family in need of support services and counseling.
ANIMAL SPONSORSHIP
We have a wonderful opportunity to directly sponsor our rescue animals at the farm. Please read their compelling stories and consider a contribution today to support our beloved rescue animals.
Selah Carefarm Press
Find out about the latest news at the Selah Carefarm from local and national feature stories about what we do to help people suffering from traumatic grief to our own informational updates about everyday happenings.
NPR “All Things Considered” Features the Selah Carefarm
CBS National News Features the Selah Carefarm
Associated Press Highlights the Selah Carefarm
Selah Carefarm News
Find out about the latest news at the Selah Carefarm regarding what we do to help people suffering from traumatic grief to our own informational updates about everyday happenings.
Order your Selah Carefarm Calendar for 2024!
Order your Carefarm Calendar for 2023!
Help Us Fill Porcelina’s Pantry!
Our First Rescue, Chemakoh
Dr. Jo’s first rescue, Chemakoh, was the horse who started it all, leading to the establishment of the carefarm and the rescues of 50 animals. Today, Chemakoh is a healthy, happy, well-fed horse loved by many. Learn more about his rescue from starvation and severe abuse.