Two years later…who we share it with

We have had such a wonderful, challenging, joyful, stressful, enlightening, disappointing and fulfilling two years at Songyard Farms! Yes, you read that correctly. There has been much disappointment, many challenges, and oh so much stress over the past two years while we build this farm. There have been seasons over the past two years that I have questioned the decision to take on this project. There have been moments that I’ve considered turning back. I believe that is all just part of the process. However, I truly have never encountered these negative emotions and in the way I have encountered them here. I’ve read about people who do, but have never been one! Each stressor, disappointment and challenge has been educational. Each one has been held up and surrounded by joy, wonder and beauty. Each moment of doubt was fleeting. My regrets and mistakes were learning experiences, not shameful ones. I have regrets over purchasing more plants than I can get in the ground within my time limits, regrets over our irrigation planning (or lack thereof!), and about invasive toxic plants we did not tackle early in the season. We made fencing mistakes, which led to a few funny encounters with our wonderful neighbors and our animals. We made bedding mistakes that led to tougher chores. I overestimated how much I could accomplish in one growing season, and stretched myself a little thin. I had huge learning curves with rain water harvesting, and assume I will encounter more as winter arrives. I regretted a few purchases and building decisions. My biggest regret, however, is not sharing more of this journey with others! I have been waiting to build the farm to the right capacity, productivity, etc before sharing it with the community. That, after all, is our motivation and our goal for this endeavor! I realize also that all I am learning can be an education for others who want to learn more about farming, gardening, sustainability and self sufficiency. Why not share my successes and mistakes along the way?

So on this dark morning after a gloomy day of rain, I am snuggled up on couch with both my cat and my dog, reflecting and dreaming of ways to share this journey to build a care farm with others. In case you’re not familiar with the term, a care farm is a working, productive farm that also uses agricultural activities to provide therapeutic care, rehabilitation, and social or educational services.

Whenever I start something new, I like to begin with a clear vision. I like to see the big picture and the details clearly in my mind before I get started. I draw, I write, I make lists and plans and spreadsheets. I crunch numbers. My calculator and my spreadsheets are the most calming tools I have when I feel overwhelmed with any project! Mind maps, outlines and charts run a close second (and are prettier too!). So of course, I have a few of those to share with you here to illustrate what we have been dreaming about, building and striving for at Songyard Farms!

                                       Illustration of how our farm can contribute to caring for our community

While there have been challenges, there have also been successes! We have had the wonderful privilege this fall of hosting a weekly vocational group, girl scout troops, and high school volunteers. We have also been active at our local farmer’s market and will continue to be a vendor for the indoor winter market. Our wildflowers flourished. Our first milking operation with our goats went beautifully and just as planned. The resulting soap is sudsy and fabulous. Our microgreens are growing strong, and our breads and baked goods just keep getting better. During the month of October, our fall festival got a little busier each weekend, and was such fun for us and for our friends and neighbors. Our social media pages on Instagram and Facebook (@songyardfarms) have pictures of all the fun! We plan to expand these activities in the spring of 2025. Take a peak at what we hope to offer!

The most exciting piece of all of this that I just can’t wait to get started? Our partner non-profit, Cultivate Youth Services! We want our farm to remain in our family, our animals to remain under our care and our land to remain under our stewardship. However, we want to share our farm and property with others to offer nature based educational, vocational and therapeutic services to children and teens. Cultivate Youth Services will make that happen! While we are starting the organization, we look forward to involving many local professionals to make it come to life. Cultivate will offer programs for children who thrive in nature-children who are neuro-typical and those who are a bit neuro-divergent. If your brain takes in all of the sensory information around you and processes thoughts and emotions in a helpful and productive way, then you are likely neuro-typical. If your brain over processes or under processes these thoughts, feelings and sensory information you may be neuro-divergent! We often hear labels such as ADHD, anxiety disorders, autism, mood disorders, sensory processing disorders and so on to define neurodivergence. Cultivate hopes to support any child or teen who enjoys nature, animals, and gardening and farming. Most importantly, Cultivate will be able to fund services for children who often fall through the gaps in mental and behavioral healthcare.

You will learn more about Cultivate if you follow Songyard Farms, but can also follow it soon on social media independently! Stay tuned.

As for the farm, we promise to keep you updated on our weekly endeavors. If you’ve ever hoped to have back yard chickens, a few goats, a garden, an orchard, or a new business of your own, please follow our journey and learn from our successes and mistakes as we grow! After all, as the song says…

Times and places
Are all in who you share 'em with
And it's life, and the point is
Enjoyin' who you share it with
Joy is who you share it with

~Who You Share It With, Layup