Building connections, Belonging and Community
Bringing people together creates opportunities for connection, belonging, and meaningful relationships. Our farm aims to provide welcoming, inclusive social opportunities for neurodiverse individuals, including autistic individuals, to engage in shared activities, explore new interests, and build relationships within a supportive community.
For individuals who may experience social isolation or have limited opportunities to connect with others beyond their home, these shared experiences can foster a sense of belonging, support emotional well-being, and help build lasting friendships.
There are many ways to participate at the farm. Individuals can volunteer in our ongoing land restoration efforts by maintaining
native trees and shrubs, contributing to the health of our local ecosystem while working alongside others toward a shared purpose. For those who enjoy spending time with animals, the summer months offer opportunities to feed and interact with our sheep, goats, and llama.
We also bring individuals together with their families, friends, and caregivers through periodic community gatherings. These events may include arts and crafts, drum circles and other creative, collaborative activities that encourage self-expression and social connection.
At the heart of our work is the belief that everyone deserves a place to belong, opportunities to contribute, and the chance to build meaningful relationships. Through shared experiences and a connection to the land, we hope to cultivate a community where people feel welcomed, valued, and connected to one another.
Community Integration
Creating social engagement opportunities
Through collaborations with organizations and individuals across a range of interests and causes, we create opportunities for our neurodiverse community to engage with the wider community through shared experiences and meaningful participation.
Our events have included planting native shade trees and learning about habitat restoration, skirting wool from our sheep and exploring regional natural fiber systems, and participating in arts and crafts to express individual creativity. Each gathering offers an opportunity to try something new, develop skills, discover new interests, and gently step outside one’s comfort zone in a supportive environment.
But it is about more than the activities themselves. It is about showing up, working alongside one another, sharing experiences, and building relationships. Through these shared moments, we foster a sense of belonging, strengthen community connections, and create space for everyone to contribute in their own way.
A collaborative bench-building project created and donated to the farm by high school students from Winston Preparatory School
Hedgerow planting with the STRAW team and Sonoma County students to support habitat restoration and biodiversity
No-stress, inclusive art groups that encourage creative expression, hands-on participation and meaningful social connection
Developing a sense of purpose, confidence, and community through meaningful volunteer work
Annual sheep shearing where everyone pitches in to skirt freshly shorn wool and celebrate our local fiber system
Hands-on learning in habitat restoration, native plantings, and wildlife observation, facilitated by Point Blue Conservation Science
Volunteer tree-planting day in partnership with ReLeaf Petaluma to expand native tree canopy and restore local habitats
Collaborative grazing practices with our neighbor to strengthen community ties and support resilient local ecosystems
Social gatherings for friends and families of neurodiverse individuals to connect, build friendships, and grow a supportive community
Experiential farm visits by adult transition program students to engage with animals and build confidence through meaningful participation
We participate in pop-up events to showcase our farm yarn, share the story behind our fiber and farm, and raise awareness about the neurodiverse community that sustains it
Greywater system installation and fruit tree planting with Daily Acts to promote water conservation and climate resilient practices