Agricultural Opportunities for Adults with Autism

Providing Loudoun with A Chance to Make a Real Difference in the Lives of Many

Legacy Farms is a nonprofit green care social venture dedicated to providing support services and agrarian based vocational training to adults with autism, as well as those with developmental and social challenges. In short, they teach farming and gardening basics, plus event organization to those in need and plan to help find them find work at local farms and vineyards through their ever growing connections.

Over the next 8 years 500,000 adults with autism will be transitioning out of school and into the workforce. Autism is growing at a record rate and the CDC states that as of 2014, 1 out of 68 children will be placed on the spectrum. With so many people in need, services like the one Legacy Farms is providing could make a real positive impact for those with special needs.

Recently, Legacy partnered with Temple Hall Farm in Leesburg, Virginia. They have donated an acre of land and will help with tilling and some maintenance. Temple Hall has always been a great supporter for the disabled community, offering to be a site for field trips and programs for local schools and families to learn about the diverse aspects of animal and crop farming.

“We are extremely grateful for the land they are donating and the help they provide,” Martha Schonberger states, “But when it comes to the garden, it’s all up to us.”

The Legacy Farms Garden Project has three goals:

1. Provide a teaching garden for adults with autism as well as those with developmental and social challenges ( such as vets with PTSD, or social anxiety)
2. Raise awareness of our cause by demonstrating our participants skills and educating the public about autism and the need for vocational solutions for adults with special needs.
3. Improve community resiliency through gardening education programs, workshops and a hands-on demo garden highlighting a variety of themed gardens.

• Shade garden
• Butterfly Garden
• Children’s Garden
• Edible Landscaping

“We need your help. We have a fence to build, landscape to design and plants to plant, not to mention tools and resources for the participants of the program.” Schonberger goes on, “ In return for your help with the garden, we will add your company name as a sponsor of the project to a banner that will be on site and add your company info to a page on our website titled “Friend of the Farm”, with links to your business and an explanation of how you helped.”

Your assistance in this project would be greatly appreciated and the reward for helping is one most felt in the heart. It goes much deeper than that though, and they invite you to join them at any time to see your good deeds in action.

To help with this particular project email Patrick Cox at pcox@legacyfarmsvirginia.org

How else can you Help

Legacy Farms has provided a variety of ways to help or get involved. They have partnered with The Cause Network, a virtual marketplace where you sign up, download an app on your browser and whenever you buy online, a portion of your purchase is donated to Legacy Farms. Sometimes as much as 10%, and it costs you nothing

Another way to help is to sign up for their monthly giving program through PayPal. Just log on and select your monthly donation, check the box for recurring monthly payment, and send. It will be deducted from your account every month and you won’t even notice.

Finally, volunteer help is huge. They will be holding a volunteer mixer at The Zone in Ashburn, Virginia. This will be a great opportunity to meet the board and learn all about the cause. There will also be advisory board openings that need to be filled, so if you have a service, skill or time to give, be sure to show up the The Legacy Farms Volunteer Mixer.

To learn more about Legacy Farms please visit their website at www.AutismInLoudoun or check them out on Facebook and Twitter.