Farming With Friends: A New Local Community Farm that Fosters a Sense of Purpose
Recently, I talked to a teacher friend at the grocery store, and we were catching up on what we are doing this summer. I shared that I am blogging to provide resources for people with special needs and provide their parents additional support. My goal is to bring awareness and understanding to the population with disabilities, highlighting all the things they can do. She said she recently visited a new startup farm, and one of our former students works there. The program is called Farming With Friends, so I looked into it and found the Facebook page, “Farming With Friends.” You can read more about them at farmingwithfriends.org
On their website, I found this information:
Vision: To create a place so dripping with the love of God that people cannot help but encounter Him while there.
Mission: To restore God’s creation through regenerative farming, employment of people with disabilities, and community engagement.
Values: Home- You’re welcome here!
Dignity -You are valuable!
Together- Let’s do this together!
Play- Let’s have some fun!
These are terrific values that I fully support, so I investigated further. This farm is located at 1438 Center Road in Hinckley, Ohio. It is an 87-acre farm with 450 fruit trees in an orchard and 105 laying hens. Inside a greenhouse lettuce, tomatoes, basil, and squash are growing.
Some very forward-thinking people started this nonprofit. Tristan and Melanie Griffin have a daughter, Scout, who has a rare condition called Smith-Magenis Syndrome. It is a developmental disorder affecting behavior, emotions, and learning processes. They noticed she loves to be in their garden and loves their chickens. Thinking this would be a great way to help her in the future with employment opportunities, they found a solution to help her. When their friends, Brian and Alyssa Moore purchased this 87-acre farm, God called them to use it for His kingdom, and a business plan to employ people with disabilities on their newly acquired farm was developed. You can see why everything came together with Divine Intervention.
I emailed Tristan and asked about the farm. Tristan is the co-founder and the executive director of the farm. He said their farm store will be completed in late October/early November. Right now, they have a self-serve farm stand where people can purchase eggs and other produce as it comes into season. You can pay with cash, check, or Venmo. Farm tours can be arranged by emailing Tristan at tristan@farmingwithfriends.org. The tours are between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
I scheduled a visit to this farm and included my daughter and her three kids. Tristan, my former student Alex, and Caleb, a board member now working on the farm, greeted us. My heart was filled with pride as I listened to Alex explain the various areas of the farm, and how he helps on the farm. We admired the farm store which is currently being built and will open in the Fall, the orchard, and then walked up the hill to see where the berry patch and the different gardens will be. Alex explained what was growing in each area. We walked up the hill farther to see the chickens. This was the highlight for my grandchildren, as they love all animals, and had fun feeding the chickens. My youngest granddaughter who just turned 2, wanted to pet the chickens and tried her best to make new friends. At the end of the tour, she didn’t want to go home and talked about the chickens all the way home. I bought some eggs at the self-serve stand. It was easy to see the hand of God all over this place. From the way Tristan told me he came to this path, to the beautiful peace I felt going here. It is a powerful feeling when you meet someone whose life is so clearly orchestrated by the great Creator, knowing that the mission is His. We all enjoyed visiting the farm and felt honored to get a tour.
Fun on the Farm is a special event planned for October 5th from 11 am to 4 pm. They are calling it “An Ability Inclusive Event”. Eggs, produce and T-shirts will be available for purchase. There will be games, activities, and fun for the whole family.
Creating a farm to employ people with disabilities is a brilliant idea. Farming naturally has task-oriented activities on a regular schedule. There are animals to feed and plants to take care of, providing mental stimulation to learn about the different plants and animals and how to care for them. It gives a tangible sense of accomplishment which fosters positive self-esteem. There is a connection to nature to reduce stress and anxiety. A sense of community and cooperation helps build strong social bonds.
There are many ways to support this non-profit farm. On their website, there is a place for donations. I love what it says under the tab on the website that says donate today. “Inclusive farming not only fosters a sense of purpose and independence but also showcases the remarkable resilience and determination of those who overcome intellectual and physical challenges to contribute to the agricultural community.” You can stop at the farm stand and purchase eggs and seasonal produce. You can subscribe to their newsletter, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram so you know when they have events planned. You can pray for this mission and stop by the farm to see what a great job the people are doing. The Facebook page is Farming with Friends and the Instagram is@farming.with.friends. There is much to look forward to as this farm grows and prospers.