What a day! On Saturday, September 26th, care farmers and those curious about care farming gathered at 21 Roots Farm in Grant, Minnesota for our Midwest Meetup and Farm Tour. 21 Roots Farm provides nature and agriculture-based programming for people with developmental disabilities, with a focus on helping participants build a sense of purpose and community. Their work centers on inclusive connections rooted in everyday life, along with the opportunities, resources, and support people need to develop their gifts and reach their full potential.
The group reflected the many ways people find their way to care farming. Some folks came because they are interested in volunteering at a care farm, other attendees were in the early stages of creating their own farm, some were mental health practitioners, and others were parents of growers.
We started with a tour of the farm and met every one of the animals: goats, sheep, chickens, alpacas, donkeys, cattle, and a pig named Tiny Bean. They all went a little wild for the apples we picked from the orchard. The farm’s 100+ year old barn was standing tall and looking beautiful after a recent paint job, and the raised beds were full of late-summer greens tended by participants in their Community Garden program. That program welcomes participating farmers ages 16 and up alongside their caregivers, with 21 Roots staff leading part of each session and plenty of free time to walk the farm, visit the animals, and work on garden tasks.
We also learned about 21 Roots Farms’ programming, including the Agriculture Institute and the Work Experience Program. And then there’s the Animal Pen Pal program, where you choose an animal pal, send them a letter, and wait for a little farm mail to arrive in return. I mean, getting a letter from a goat, alpaca, or donkey is pretty great!
We all sat down to enjoy a delicious baked potato bar lunch, as people swapped stories, asked questions, and made connections that we know will be carried forward. We were also treated to a cider press demonstration, using fresh apples from the orchard.
It was inspiring and helpful to hear from the staff and growers who make 21 Roots what it is. Co-founders Amy Peterson and Brittany Wiitala have been with the farm full-time since 2018. Amy leads farm operations with a deep appreciation for animals and the ways they enrich our lives, and Brittany has built programming around meeting people where they are and creating opportunities to learn meaningful skills. As Amy and Brittany step back, Alyssa Paulson is moving into the role of Executive Director, bringing a background in social work and nonprofit leadership and a longtime dream of working on a care farm. Georgia Meyer is 21 Roots’ Agricultural Supervisor, who joined in 2025 with a background in local food systems and sustainable agriculture and a passion for supporting adults with developmental disabilities in meaningful, hands-on work. Chase and Ryan, Farm Activities Supervisor and Facilities Manager, were on hand. And a HUGE kudos to the best farm tour guides,Molly and Ellen, who showed so much pride, knowledge, and dedication to their farm.
If you’d like to keep up with 21 Roots, their social media is fantastic. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram. And if you want to show some support, you can order the cutest donkey t-shirt here.
Thank you to everyone who came out. Gatherings like this are a reminder of how much we have to learn from one another! A huge thank you to the whole 21 Roots team for opening their farm and being such generous hosts.
If you’re looking for a care farm near you, visit our Find a Care Farm page, and we hope to see many of you at the 2027 Care Farming Network National Conference in Raleigh this January.
