CARE FARMING NETWORK BLOG
At the farm, we don’t just grow produce. At our core, we serve people with developmental disabilities – adults, young and old, who live with Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down’s Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, etc., who were born with chronic conditions and were dealt a hand in life that no amount of money, hours in the field, or boxfuls of tomatoes will ever erase. However, what we can provide for the individuals that we serve is LOVE – and how we share the love is special. It’s through a paycheck. It’s through prayer. It’s through conversations between rows of peas in the field on a sunny day. It’s through friendship. It’s through making sure that they feel seen, heard, valued, and respected.
Farm in the Dell of the Red River Valley was founded in 2012, by a group of parents of children with disabilities that were concerned for the future of their children. These parents wanted their children to continue to thrive, learn, and be as independent as possible after they aged out of the school systems. After learning about Farm in the Dell International, these parents advocated bringing a Farm in the Dell to the Fargo/Moorhead Area. Since that time, due to the incredible support of our community, our very dedicated volunteers, and the tireless efforts of board members, our farm has grown quickly and continues to develop. We currently have a 30-acre farm located 5 miles north of Moorhead. On this property, we have a greenhouse, a strawberry patch, a large pole barn, and a 6-acre garden.
Contact Information
Address: 7426 40th St N, Moorhead, MN 56560
Founded in 2012
Cultivating wellness and connection through honey bees. Half Mad Honey is not just another beekeeping farm, but an urban organization that is rooted in education, growth, peer support, and recovery. At Half Mad Honey, we believe connections and healing happen around a hive. We love honey bees and want to share that love and lessons from our pollinators with the community around us.
The founders Amelia Mraz and Natasha Pham are the beekeepers behind this organization. Their overall goal is to empower people with mental illness through the therapeutic realm of beekeeping.
Amanda’s story: I fell in love with beekeeping in 2016 when I impulsively signed up for a beekeeping class at Temple University. I was really struggling with my mental health at the time, and beekeeping grew to become a meditative and grounding practice for me, and true therapeutic outlet. As a psychology student and mental health worker, I believe that therapy needs to be expanded outside of clinical settings. Half Mad Honey is dedicated to creating awareness surrounding mental health and wellness, and providing a safe space for all people to learn about bees, build confidence, and connect with peers and nature.
Natasha’s Story: I’m Natasha Pham and I have been a chef for almost 20 years, from fine dining to resorts to camps and now private school. Amelia and I met in 2018 and she got me hooked on bees! We started Half Mad Honey in 2021 to support mental health awareness and apiary therapy. Most people with mental disorders are labeled as “mad”. There is also a reddish, deep amber honey called ‘MAD HONEY’, from Turkey, known to cause hallucinations and lightheadedness. We wanted to incorporate both beekeeping and mental health to destigmatize the ‘madness.’ The value of real food, such as fruits and vegetables, can only be produced through pollination.
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Address: The Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Year Founded: 2020