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Woodside: Goat farm finds temporary home

by Kate Daly

Lisa Green is hoping the new year will bring Goat Hill Farm a more permanent home.

Right now she and her son, Stone, 16, are keeping their herd of 21 goats, one llama, 20 chickens and seven water fowl at an "extremely temporary" location adjacent to Skyline Boulevard in Woodside.

Originally, the rescued and donated animals grazed on a hill next to the gas station in central Woodside. When the property changed hands in 2009, the animals relocated to La Honda. They've been back in Woodside for a couple of months now, and are expecting to move again in the next two months.

"We need to get these animals back on pasture," Ms. Green says. "We're looking actively with open space and Stanford," she explains, trying to stay "in Woodside, La Honda, San Gregorio, Pescadero and the greater coastal area."

"We're open to almost any possibility; we can live on the property and rent a cabin or cottage," or act as caretakers for other animals, she says. She works as a massage therapist in the Woodside area.

She admits it may take awhile, but her goal is to create a nonprofit organization centered on the herd "to bring the healing education and education value that animals can provide back to the community."

She tells how her son had health issues years ago and that his contact and interaction with a goat helped him with his healing. That's what gave her the idea to use animals for therapy.

She enjoyed the attention the animals attracted when they lived on Woodside Road, and would like to see more groups interact with them in the future, but that's not possible at the current location.

She says she's grateful for the "very generous" people who have recently made room for the animals in their backyard. The corral and animal shelters are nestled in the redwoods. The fence runs right along a public hiking and riding trail just north of the intersection of highways 84 and 35.

A sign posted on the fence encourages friends and fans to show their support by going to the GoatHillFarm Facebook page, emailing her at joywithintao@yahoo.com, or calling her at (650) 533-2828.

Aside from a new pasture, her wish list includes a truck and trailer, and legal expertise to help develop a nonprofit.