Our Ohana Story

In 2015, our family made a life-changing decision. Our youngest son, who has autism, was approaching adulthood, and we realized that our home environment was no longer the best place for him to grow and thrive. When a small farm in Willistown Township near Malvern, PA became available, we felt called to make a change. Land, space, and a few farm animals sounded like the fresh start our family needed.

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We moved in and named it Ohana Farm — inspired by our son, a Disney fan who reminds us often that “ohana means family, and family means no one is left behind or forgotten.”

 

On the property, we discovered an heirloom apple orchard that had not produced fruit in years. As we settled into farm life, we began to nurture the orchard back to health. Before long, “applemageddon” arrived each fall — more apples than we could ever pick, enjoy, or give away.

 

A friend encouraged us to turn this unexpected abundance into something meaningful. That idea sparked our first partnership with Melmark, our son’s school. Each week in the fall, students and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities come to Ohana Farm to pick, sort, wash, and help produce our small-batch apple cider and apple butter. They take enormous pride in their work — and we are proud to work alongside them.

 

As our mission grew, students from Hill Top School and Vanguard School joined our efforts, contributing their talents in production, scheduling, inventory research, and selling our products. Every task on the farm has a purpose, and there is a meaningful job for every ability.

 

Our hope is that Ohana Farm inspires others to create opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental differences. Chances are, you already have opportunities in your own life or workplace — and you might be surprised by how much inclusion can enrich a community.

 

To learn more about our mission and how you can help support inclusive employment, please visit our Home Page.