1. Buy a Water Buffalo. It’s OK if you don’t live on a farm – you buy it, or another animal, to help families living in poverty achieve self-reliance. Heifer’s water buffaloes, which go for $250 apiece, provide draft power for planting, milk for protein and manure for fertilizer and fuel to families in poor Filipino villages.

2. Tour Their Green Headquarters. Heifer’s LEED Platinum building features a 30,000-gallon rainwater collection tower and glass-encased stairwells cantilevered over water for passive cooling and ventilation, among other things. The free guided tours are designed to give you an in-depth look at the future of construction in an environmentally conscious world.

3. See the World. The Heifer Village shows visitors what life’s like around the world for populations less fortunate than our own. Inspiring interactive exhibits describe how individuals can help end hunger, poverty and environmental problems. It’s learning from the experts – in 2008, Heifer had 869 active projects in 53 different countries and 27 U.S. states.

4. Shop With Purpose. Inside the village, Shop@Heifer carries products from around the world that are ethically sourced and artisan friendly. Each item has a story about where it came from and how it was made. And, a portion of the proceeds go toward Heifer’s mission of ending hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth.

5. Grab a Bite. Café@Heifer boasts a beautiful setting, thanks to a floor-to-ceiling glass wall and enticing patio, and the breakfast and lunch dishes come in large portions. The prices are affordable too – the Mediterranean salad goes for $5.19 and the flatbread pizza Margarita is $5.39, for example.