CARE FARMING NETWORK BLOG

August 1, 2023

Lynchburg Grows

Providing meaningful, important work for people with disabilities has been part of Lynchburg Grows’ mission from the beginning. We currently employ four individuals with physical and/or mental disabilities. Our Farm Coach helps them stay on task and encourages them throughout the day.

Our employees deserve the credit for the farm’s harvest of more than 47,000 servings of food in 2020. The harvest supplies our community supported agriculture program, The Veggie Box, and our other programs that help provide access to fresh, healthy food in our community.

The Farm Coach program seeks to expand opportunities to bring more volunteers with disabilities to the farm to work alongside our farmers and Farm Coaches. This allows members of the community who have disabilities to benefit from our programming, open doors for us to hire new farmers should a particular volunteer show promise for farm-related work, and create an environment for our employees to engage in leadership and mentorship opportunities. A focal point of the program is making sure the farmers are able to facilitate independence, with an emphasis on expanding social and leadership skills. Ongoing coaching has helped farmers improve their efficiency, confidence, and motivation while allowing the Lynchburg Grows team to more fully identify learning edges to work on as our farmers move towards full independence. Reviews and adjustments for each farmer are implemented on an as-needed basis, and continues to provide job training that enhances the lives of our farmers and their participations in the local community.

July 31, 2023

Madison Fields Care Farm Tour

On June 27th, 2023, Madison Fields hosted The Care Farming Network for a special farm (and soapery) tour!

participants in front of red barn Madison Fields sits on 400 acres of beautiful farmland in the Agricultural Reserve of Montgomery County, Maryland. Madison Fields’ programs support their mission to strengthen their community by creating a safe, accessible, and inclusive agricultural environment where people of all abilities join together to participate in meaningful work, enjoy respite and healing, and engage with the natural world. Madison Fields program includes Equine-Assisted Services, Job Readiness Program, On-site Soapery, and Agricultural Education.

On the day of the farm tour, we met at the front of the farm and did introductions. We met our tour leaders: Nancy Frasche, Job Readiness Program Manager at Madison Fields, and David, Job Readiness Program Participant at Madison Fields. Then, we walked up the hill of the farm and met some of the horses (and a donkey) in the fenced pastures.
3 people standing, petting 2 horses

At the top of the hill, we visited the miniature horses in their enclosure, and we heard about their adventures in animal-assisted therapy at local schools, hospitals, and more! We then explored the Equestrian Center, where we saw horse riding lessons in action through the viewing window. David told us about the special connection he had with his primary riding horse, and about the beautiful displays they make to commemorate the horses after they pass away. Nancy gave us some insight into the different programs that the horses are a part of, including the Therapeutic Recreational Horseback Riding and the Equine Assisted Learning, as well as the processes for prospective (human) participants to get into these programs.

After that, we walked down to the chicken coop and learned about the chickens’ roles as a newer addition to the farm— we even got to take home some farm fresh eggs!

Throughout the tour, Nancy and David showed us the different components of Madison Fields’ multifaceted Job Readiness Program, including Equine Care (grooming, feeding, cleaning, paddock maintenance), Barn Maintenance (sweeping, arena care), Goat Care (milking, feeding, mucking, and soap making), and Chicken Care (feeding, cleaning, collecting eggs).

We finished off the tour in Madison Fields Soapery, where we saw (and smelled) the huge variety of soaps made by Job Readiness Program participants using goat milk from the farm. Nancy showed us some incredible animal-inspired soap carvings which were made by one of the participants.

After the tour ended, we all headed to the Milking Parlor for a delicious potluck dinner!

Participants inside a soapery

July 27, 2023

EQUICENTER

EquiCenter, at the William & Mildred Levine Ranch, is a premier accredited member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH), and a 501(c)(3) non-profit facility serving those with disabilities, veterans and at-risk youth. Equine-related programs currently offered include therapeutic horseback riding, horsemanship, and Heroes for Horses, a program that uses a variety of equine-related therapies to help war veterans and their families. Our riding instructors are internationally-certified and our volunteers and horses have been carefully selected and trained for their vital roles.

EquiCenter fosters growth, wellness, and educational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities through the power of equestrian, horticultural and outdoor experiences.

EquiCenter continues to expand its range of therapeutic activities to fit the equally diverse needs of our community. Other programs include therapeutic horticulture on our 3-acre organic farm and farm-to-table culinary classes. Our purpose through all our programs is to foster the personal growth and achievement of all we serve.

At EquiCenter, we use a wide range of therapeutic equestrian and horticulture programs to foster personal growth and individual achievement. Our facility includes many physical adaptations to make riding possible for individuals of all abilities, while our serene enviroment offers respite and healing from mental anxieties and challenges. We offer individualized lessons in private and small group settings. Our HEAL (Horticulture and Equine Active Learning) program can accommodate larger groups from schools and area organizations as either a single visit or a multi-week session.

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