Farming with Friends was founded by Tristan and Melanie Griffin in honor of their daughter, Scout. Born with a disability that would affect every aspect of her life, Scout’s future was filled with uncertainty. Like many parents, the Griffins wondered: How will people see her? Will she be included in her community? What opportunities will she have to work, connect, and contribute meaningfully?

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From an early age, it was clear that Scout found joy and peace in the garden. More than any other activity, gardening gave her a sense of purpose. This connection isn't unique to Scout. Research shows that horticultural therapy significantly boosts mental, emotional, and physical well-being, while also fostering social connection and inclusion.

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Inspired by their daughter's experience, the Griffins envisioned a place where people of all abilities could work, grow, and thrive together. In 2023, they founded Farming with Friends, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), to create a welcoming farm environment that offers meaningful work, friendship, exercise, and community — not just for Scout, but for others like her.

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According to the CDC, more than 1 in 4 adults in the United States — nearly 29% — live with some form of disability. Too often, they face isolation and a lack of opportunities to engage with others in everyday settings. Meanwhile, the general population rarely has the chance to connect with people with disabilities outside of support roles.

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This needs to change.

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While people with disabilities may require support, they also offer deep and lasting contributions. Anyone who knows and loves someone with a disability can speak to their capacity for resilience, patience, determination, and hope. When people with disabilities work alongside their typically-abled peers, it breaks down stigma and builds empathy.

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Farming with Friends is more than a farm. It’s a space for connection, growth, and mutual learning — a place that strengthens families and builds a more compassionate community. It is, at its heart, an organization rooted in love.