Fall Visitors to the Farm

We have had a lot of visitors to the farm this fall! It was a good opportunity to make some new friends and spread the awareness of Safe Haven Farms throughout the local community.

Twenty-two (K-5th grade) elementary students with developmental disabilities from three classrooms at nearby Madison Elementary School visited the farm for a field trip on September 13th, along with ten teachers, aides and volunteers. They had lunch in the picnic shelter, took a hay ride to the back pasture to pick pumpkins and stopped by the garden to pick some fresh vegetables to take home. Then they went to the barn where they interacted with our horses and alpacas and make an “alpaca people” craft in the viewing room. Everyone seemed to have a good time. We are hopeful that this experience will encourage some of them to join our equestrian program in the future.

Four parent advocates representing DD programs from several local high school districts came out for a tour and to learn more about our programs on October 18th. Lakota, Middletown, Princeton and Oak Hills school districts were all represented.

They viewed the houses, gardens and greenhouses, barns and Hatton Center and got a good understanding of the activities at Safe Haven Farms to take back and share with their parent groups in their districts. This could be a good pipeline for future day participants and equestrian riders.

On October 28th, five students with disabilities and five teachers and aides from Madison High School visited the farm for a few hours to enjoy the fall weather and experience farm activities. They had lunch in the Hatton Center, took a hay ride, collected pumpkins and vegetables and interacted with the animals.

It’s very satisfying to see visitors discover us for the first time. They are generally amazed at our farm and the opportunities it presents for individuals with disabilities in the area.

Rezone Provides Opportunities for Individuals with Any Disability

Safe Haven Farms is excited to announce that we are now able to accept participants with a variety of disabilities, not just autism, into our Day, Equestrian and Residential programs. When Safe Haven Farms was founded, a zoning restriction limited those Safe Haven Farms could serve to individuals with autism. We recently completed a rezoning process which involved presenting our request to three Butler County groups: the Zoning Commission, the Planning Commission, and the Butler County Commissioners. The process went smoothly, and, in fact, we were thanked by the Commissioner for our efforts to expand the population we are able to serve.

Registration is open for this year's "Walk On" for Special Riders

Registration is now open for this year’s “Walk On” for Special Riders, benefiting the Equestrian Program at Safe Haven Farms. We are delighted to have completed a zoning change in the past year which now allows us to serve not only individuals with autism but individuals with other developmental disabilities as well! Register at www.safehavenfarms.org/walk2019

Hydroponics on the Way

Thanks to a very generous grant last year and super volunteers from GE Avation, Safe Haven Farms will begin hydroponics production next fall. Hydroponics gardening is clean, no soil, weed-free, and will allow vegetable production all year at Safe haven Farms.

Bountiful Harvest Begins

Winter is not a time of relaxation at Safe Haven Farms. This winter and early spring Safe Haven farmers and Choices staff have been busy planning and planting. Tomatoes and peppers are particular favorites, and a record 4,000 vegetable and flower pots have been started and readied for spring planting.

Share The Love 2019

The fifth annual fundraising dinner welcomed over 200 benefactors to dinner at the historic Grand Finale in support of the mission and programs of Safe Haven Farms. We are grateful to the staff of the Grand Finale and to our event sponsors for contributing to the success of the event.

Registration open for 2018 "Walk On" for Autism

Online registration is now open for the 2018 "Walk On" for Autism at VOA Park Lake at www.safehavenfarmswalkon.myevent.com.

Broadening Safe Haven's Community Presence

We are making many friends and 'regular' customers at the Pendleton Arts Center veggie stand where several Safe Haven participants spend their Tuesday afternoons greeting customers and working on projects in the studio.  The farmers have been welcomed there, and some warm relationships have developed.

Case in point:  Enclosed with a recent donation from Pendleton artist Amy Baird, she wrote the following: "Our father has been changed and there is no doubt that he is a better person because of his relationship with [Safe Haven's] Pete Collins.  I have a studio in the Pendleton Art Center in Middletown and have been privileged to spend time with both the residents and the staff.  I have watched my father squirm as he has grown to know and love Pete and as he has learned more and more about autism.

"Thank you for not only what you do for the residents and participants at "The Farm" but for how one crusty old man at a time, you are changing the community for the better.  Peace to you!"

Recently Amy and her father, David Dohn, surprised farmer Pete by attending his birthday party at the farm.  

The weekly "feed run" is another example of an expanding community relationship.  Day Hab participants gather supply needs from all of the programs and go to Diver's Garden & Pet Supplies to fill the week's orders.  On a recent trip, one of Diver's employees commented that those Monday shopping trips "made his week" as he looked forward to his interactions with the farmers and getting to know many of them personally.

Thanks, Scouts!

Eagle Scout candidate Nathan Wendt from Troop 725 based in Trenton at Mt. Olivet Presbyterian Church recently reconstructed our fire pit for his Eagle Scout project.  Nathan's mom, Lori Wendt, volunteers in the Safe Haven equestrian program.  Nathan's project included planning and raising funds for materials, supplies, and tools.  Volunteers from Troop 725 and their family members helped mightily with the construction.  Nathan had leftover funds and kindly donated it to the equestrian program.  Double nice!

'Walk On' a Labor of Love

The third annual Walk On for Autism fundraising event was held over Labor Day weekend around the lake at Voice of America Park in West Chester.  Despite the blustery weather, the event brought out 110 walkers on a Saturday morning.  Walkers, sponsors and volunteers enjoyed miniature horses, craft painting, and balloon animals, with food and bottled water donated by Kroger.  The event planning committee extends deep gratitude to our Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors!  We look forward to seeing all our supporters in 2018 on September 22.