This June, Care Farming Network was excited to spend time in North Carolina visiting three inspiring care farms: Seawind Farm, Peacehaven Community Farm, and the Farm at Penny Lane, and co-hosting a Social Care Farming Tour at Blawesome, a flower farm located in Chapel Hill.
Seawind Farm
Founded in 2017, Seawind Farm, has developed a space for farming, gardening, exploring and crafting with nature, engaging with livestock, birdwatching, flower gathering and exploring new foods/smells/sights. Weekly sessions bring together young adults with and without disabilities to learn new skills, explore the outdoors, and build friendships.
On its 21 acres, they have developed trails, wooded areas for shade, and multiple gardens where they grow strawberries, potatoes, turmeric and ginger to sell at their local farmer’s market. Participants also help care for horses and turkeys and are actively involved in the life of the farm. A new program space is currently under development and will include a certified kitchen and indoor gathering area, opening up opportunities for processing value-added products like granola and hibiscus tea.
Founder Tammi Watson envisions Seawind as a mixed residential/housing community for people with disabilities and is eager to connect with other social care farms that operate as LLCs.
Peacehaven Farm
Nestled on 89 acres in Whitsett, NC, Peacehaven was founded by two families raising children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). They envisioned a place that would solve for isolation by cultivating community for people of all abilities. Since its founding in 2007, Peacehaven has been connecting people of all abilities through inclusive living, learning, work, and play.
Peacehaven hosts a 20-week job preparedness program (RISE & SHINE) for adults with I/DD where participants gain agricultural work experience maintaining garden beds and selling their produce at pop-up markets. The farm creates an inclusive community by hosting gardening workshops and workdays and currently has a group home on its property.
We were warmly welcomed by Taylor Williams (Lead Educator), Dana Roseboro (Director of Programs), and Neal Sharpe (COO), who shared their long-term vision for Peacehaven, including a new community center, arts space, additional housing, recreation areas, expanded farming, and a multidisciplinary healthcare clinic tailored to individuals with I/DD. These will be created to serve and appeal to people of every ability while addressing the specific needs of those with an I/DD.
Farm at Penny Lane
We had a wonderful conversation with Jeff Neer and Jessamine Hyatt at the UNC Farm at Penny Lane, where we learned more about their innovative programs and explored ways to connect with others doing similar work across the country.
Located on 40 acres, the Farm at Penny Lane takes a holistic and sustainable approach to improving the quality of life for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, as well as those in recovery. The farm provides opportunities for participants to grow healthier and more self-sufficient through hands-on, therapeutic experiences.
The site features a large growing area, heritage-breed chickens, beehives, a learning kitchen, and a scenic walking trail. Its recovery-oriented programming complements traditional therapy with a wide range of nature-based and expressive modalities, including horticultural therapy, yoga, breathwork and movement, music, expressive arts, and healthy cooking.
Most recently, the farm completed construction of 15 single-occupancy tiny homes to provide housing for veterans and others in need of stable, supportive living environments.
Blawesome
Our North Carolina visit concluded with a care farming meetup and social care farming tour at Blawesome, a flower farm located in Chapel Hill. Attendees included care farmers in the area, parents of a child with IDD and folks who were interested in learning more after watching the PBS video featuring Blawesome.
Raimee and Rebecca led a fantastic tour of their flower farm. Raimee opened the visit with a poem and an invitation to be present and mindful throughout the experience. As he guided us through each of the flower fields, he spoke about the different varieties in bloom and how they are harvested. Rebecca shared the story of how she and Raimee co-founded Blawesome, including how they partnered with Vocational Rehabilitation to secure grant funding to support their vision. We also had the chance to visit their impressive dried flower studio, a creative and colorful space showcasing the farm’s artistry. After the tour, attendees stayed to connect, ask questions, and learn more about post-harvest processes, like how flowers are carefully stored in refrigeration to preserve freshness.
Overall, it was a joy to visit these care farms across North Carolina, learn about their unique programs, and build connections around shared needs and practices.
