Horses. Farm fresh eggs. Alpacas, baby goats, a curated garden and peaceful shaded patio, green, green acres. If I'm looking for a term to describe my visits to Mandy's Farm, I'm going with Idyllic. The property is true country livin' and from what I understand, that's exactly what this nonprofit that assists folks with developmental disabilities -- chiefly, those on the autism spectrum -- is going for. What an incredible organization.
And when you think about it, of course, simplifying is the solution. Individuals on the spectrum tend, generally, to really struggle with the peripheral, what's going on around them, ambient noise and motion and shadow, and the urban everyday is absolutely clattering with these distractions. Mandy's Farm provides a permanent residence -- it's a home, first and foremost -- for people who need to take shelter from the storm. Residents learn to simply live, whether that's cooking or growing food or riding horses, the main facility includes a specially designed swimming pool for rehabilitation, the farm provides tactile experiences and interactions with nature. How friggin' genius, man. Essentially, the story goes that the farm was named after Mandy, her parents were concerned about what Mandy would do as she matured and they got older, if she might struggle to handle the busy world around her, and so they built this farm, and Mandy started her own little business, E is for Eggs (she loves Sesame Street), and the farm has grown to support many people, a job training program, and produce they sell to local growers markets.
You can experience the idyllic by volunteering your time, any time of the year. Just contact them. read more