The Farm: Where Living Things Grow, Inc. is an educational, mental health, preventive program for youth and families of all ages. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable organization with donations tax deductible and was founded in 1997.

THE FARM’S VISION:
Our vision is to help youth and families learn, grow, and heal from traumas to create a healthier community. The Farm was created by two psychologists who saw the need for a program that would provide a place for people to grow, develop assets/skills, and healing from traumas to become healthy and productive citizens of the community. The Farm does this by working with animals, plants, and nature (eco-psychology) in our programs and activities as well as the more traditional methods of therapy.

The Farm works provides opportunities for individuals, families, and groups to learn to make healthier choices through increasing assets, skills, competencies, self-confidence, self-esteem, leadership as well as healing from other life challenges.

POPULATION SERVED:
We work with individuals of all ages, cultures, faiths, and walks of life who want to learn, heal and grow. The Farm provides professional services for schools, faith-based organizations, civic clubs, agencies, businesses, as well as community and professional organizations.

A STORY ABOUT SONNY, THE DONKEY AND ECO-PSYCHOLOGY:
The Farm is a place where people as well as animals can come to heal and grow. Sonny is The Farm's miniature donkey, an endangered breed. He came to us after being rescued from being severely abused and neglected. He had no hair on his long wonderful ears as they had been scarred and damaged. One of our favorite “Sonny stories” is when he first came to The Farm. He had just arrived and was beginning to settle into his new home when we had two visitors to The Farm’s Nature Center. We had been told he was gentle from Donkey Rescue (a rescue organization for donkeys where Sonny came from), BUT we didn’t know him yet. One of the visitors had just been diagnosed with cancer; the other had ridden horses for years. We thought Sonny would probably connect to the past rider; however, Sonny had other ideas! He immediately went to the one with cancer, put his head on her chest and nickered at her! He knew which person needed it, the one with cancer! He and this person still have a close relationship and she has since recovered from cancer. This is the work of eco-psychology - people, plants, animals and nature coming together to heal and grow.

THE FARM WORKS TO PREVENT:

• Abuse and neglect
• Teen pregnancy
• Juvenile delinquency
• Substance abuse
• Violence
• Undeveloped potentials
• Family conflict

THE FARM WORKS TO DEVELOP:

• Strong youth and families.
• Value of life
• Fully functioning individuals
• Individual/family potentials
• Learning, healing & growing
• Stronger, healthier communities.
• Leadership/teamwork
• Healthy Families