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?

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.

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.

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.

This needs to change.

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.

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.