Why a farm…?
Thank you for following along as we share our story. This journey has been a long time coming with lots of twists and turns. Think of this blog as a novel in parts; some flashbacks, some peeks into our daily happenings, some dreaming and planning for the future, and all parts authentic. To kick off this blog, I’d like to start at what I think is the beginning: the way back WHY of the farm. Here goes!
As a little girl, I had no idea how different and special my family was. In fact, I was about six before I realized my sister didn’t act like everyone else. And it wasn’t until I was a parent myself, I truly understood what a gift and opportunity I had been given by being Shaina’s little sister. Shaina was diagnosed at infancy with cognitive impairment and autism. In our house, there was an understanding that people with disabilities belong in all places and circumstances. Our parents modeled this every day in their caring and advocacy for Shaina. From vacations to daily activities, she is a part of every aspect of our family. Watching Shaina interact with her surroundings and the impact she had on others around her solidified the importance of differences and advocating for the radical inclusion of all people.
Teaching was always my plan. Either that or dolphin trainer. And since I grew up in MN and didn’t see myself moving out of the region, I figured the chances for working with dolphins were slim. At 5, I wanted to teach ballet and by the time I was in high school, I was leaning strongly in the direction of teaching special education. As a senior in high school, I got a one of a kind on the job training experience as a teacher’s aid at a Montessori Farm Preschool. Every day, no matter the weather, we ventured outside to feed the animals, go on nature walks and to observe the farm around us. The wholeness and peace of teaching this way burrowed deep into my heart and took root.
Chris and I met in the first weeks of undergrad. The rest of that story, as they say, is history. I got degrees in special education and elementary ed. Nobody was surprised. During four off and on years of teaching special ed, I quickly developed a core belief that not only do all people belong in all situations but also that education should include all types of people working together in meaningful ways. I loved my students, their families, and my colleagues. But past experiences with my sister, my parents’ efforts to develop a meaningful life for her, and the feeling that teaching on the farm gave me didn’t lead me to believe that I was best serving anyone where I was at.
I saw a spark in my students outside the walls of the school during field trips and outdoor activities that didn’t exist within the confines of traditional education. Besides my growing inner conflict, my husband and I had started a family and the pull I felt to stay home for the fleeting moments of childhood led me to put my career on hold. It took more than twelve years and raising up four babies, but all that time, we were dreaming and planning for a big, bright future that would extend beyond the six of us.
Twenty total years in the making, in August of 2021 we finally bought five acres of pure heaven. A FARM! A special place for special people growing special food. We are working to serve people with disabilities in rural SE SD through events and education that will cultivate a deeper meaning in their lives, provide the skills for success at the farm and beyond, and sow our community together around radical inclusion for all.