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Nestled within the serene landscapes of Abbeville, South Carolina, lies Our Farm, where the original seeds of the American Civil War were sown—it is a birthplace of new revolutions. Our progressive journey commenced in January 2023, as we acquired a sprawling 60-acre sanctuary. Fueled by a singular purpose, we set out to be a beacon of solace for those in pain, fostering a steadfast commitment to both our local environment and the human spirit. Here, amidst history's echoes of revolution, we embark on a new revolutionary mission—to restore harmony, ignite hope, and impart vital practical skills to all who seek refuge within our embrace. Welcome to the dawn of a new era where Our Farm stands as a testament to the enduring power of transformation, giving promise of a brighter tomorrow.
Through the use of our Dynamic Mastery Model, we use four innovative outdoor learning experiences - Equine Interaction, Developmental Art, Organic Gardening as a metaphor for life, and an immersion in Nature to emphasize and strengthen transformational outcomes; we aspire to cultivate a sense of renewal in every heart we touch. We help to guide individuals through the life cycles in their journey to self discovery and positive transformation. This journey requires knowledge and engagement followed by reflection and change. Our Farm isn't just a farm; it's a demonstration to the transformative power of compassion and community. Our Farm, where every step is a journey towards hope, restoration, and boundless compassion, we are empowered by the creation of practical solutions that make a meaningful difference in the lives we touch.
We believe that - It’s not enough to just give a person something to think about or something to do with their hands. You must reach the heart as well. It’s in the heart where true healing begins. It’s a healed heart that begins to open the mind to achieve our full potential.
OUR PROGRAM
At OUR FARM, our thematic courses seamlessly integrate the wisdom of God's creation with transformative experiences. Drawing from our rich history in dynamic mastery education, sustainable agriculture, and community engagement, each learning experience serves as a cornerstone in a journey toward holistic understanding and positive change. Mastery pathways dealing with Mindfulness, Preparation, Action, and Results lead our guests from "Roots of Support" to "Harvesting Healthy Outcomes," and our thematic courses blend practical skills with profound insights. This blending fosters a deep connection between the earth and oneself. With our innovative use of our four experiential learning modules, we help our guest to internalize the intended learning outcomes. This process helps to enhance the learning experience and amplify the shift towards healing and sustainable living; it empowers individuals to cultivate lasting change in their lives and communities.
EQUINE INTERACTION
Being at the heart of Our Farm, the beauty of equine interaction is the reflective emotional connection between the horse and the individual. Our amazing volunteers give our guests the opportunity to address deep places of personal healing as they experience the way that horses sense human emotion. Through simple but intentional tasks, we offer ways to become aware of and the ability to choose the path of personal healing by forging bonds of closeness with our beautiful horses.
GARDEN GROWTH ANALOGIES
In our garden, among a rich canvas of knowledge lies our foundational structure. It is here that we discover the profound essence of systems thinking—a philosophy that transcends mere gardening and becomes a way of life. We nurture minds through growth analogies found in garden metaphors. These metaphors help to foster transformative shifts in perspective with lessons that crossover into differing domains and aspects of life. Good soil vs poor soil, is vividly illustrated in a garden bed and easily transferred to life's lessons.
We interweave multi-disciplinary lessons with plant cultivation and the development of human skills. Through our proactive, regenerative farming approach, inspired by the principles of PROGENERATION and the BIHDEA gardening system, we aim to optimize yields while minimizing our environmental footprint. By nurturing soil microbial life and implementing creative planting techniques, we reduce water consumption, increase yields, and protect wildlife and the food supply from synthetic chemicals. Our methods demonstrate the potential for sustainable agriculture to enrich ecosystems and communities for generations to come.
DEVELOPMENTAL ART
In every endeavor, we impart life's invaluable lessons. Developmental art uses various forms of artistic expression and activities that focus on personal growth, skill enhancement, and creative exploration. It encompasses artistic, right-brained practices that aim to foster individual development, whether it be physical, cognitive, emotional, social, or spiritual. These exercises encourage self-expression, creativity, problem-solving, and critical evaluative thinking skills. We use various modalities to deliver this experience: art, music, sculpture, landscaping, wood and metal works, cooking, and physical fitness activities.
As an example of one of our Art Developmental sections, we find that when a student wields a pencil or brush upon a canvas in their art sessions, they harness the power of right-brain thinking to spark, nurture, and amplify their creative potential. By unlocking fresh pathways of thought, we unleash the forces of patterns, perspective, creativity, and imagination. This new mindset lays the groundwork for innovation to flourish. Through various artistic endeavors and team-building, we offer a myriad of creative activities designed to engage and develop the right brain. We sculpt not just artworks, but minds brimming with boundless possibilities.
REFLECTIONS IN NATURE
Surrounded by a canvas of patterns and characteristics, a walk on our Nature Trail provides the opportunity to observe. As you walk, slow down and begin to look closely. On Our Farm - Abbeville SC, you might see as a practical and positive interaction with nature, an ingenious Swale and Terracing system that previous owners built almost 100 years ago in the 1930’s. Conservationist built a series of terraces and channels that naturally capture water run-off used to sustain our pastures and forests. By preserving topsoil and increasing water retention, this system was designed to “seed” the springs and the creek that runs through the wooded acres of Our Farm’s series of Nature Trails. As guests leave the pasture, they enter the old-growth hardwoods and are encouraged to see beyond the obvious signs in nature, and look closer for details and patterns that can always be found. By habitually exercising our senses, we begin to reconnect with the sounds, sights, feeling, tastes, and smells that only nature can provide. It allows us to breathe deeply and experience freedom in the present and hope for the future.
EMPOWER
GROWTH
As we look forward, we see a bright future here on Our Farm. We see children and adults alike reveling in a new-found connection to the earth and joining hands with its amazing systems and flow. We see food in abundance, grown with care and intention, bringing an end to food insecurity in our community. And more than anything, we see the planet being restored, as hurting hearts find healing and freedom.
We hope you will join us; because we, together, make it OUR FARM.
