What is Neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity is a concept in which neurological differences are to be recognized and respected as any other human variation. These differences can include those identified with Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyscalculia, Asperger, Autistic Spectrum, Tourette Syndrome, and others. For more articles, programs, and talks about this movement, see resources.

Neurodiversity Awareness at Legacy Farms & in Our Community

The following essays and videos were written, filmed, produced, photographed, and voiced over by our apprentices, under the guidance of a mentor through a generous grant provided by The Murray Foundation. Our intention is to increase awareness of neurodiversity in the workplace and in our community, as well as to increase openness of communication among local employers and neurodiverse hirees.

The following videos, recipes, and essays could not have been made without the creative input of our apprentices. They are an example of what happens when we empower and integrate everyone in community!

Cooking Series

These videos were filmed in partnership with Roots to Rise. The recipes were created by our apprentices and the videos were edited and voice-overed by our apprentice to create the final series.

The Green Thumb Blog Series

The essays in this series are written by our Legacy Farm apprentice as part of a paid contract!

Blog
Another summer has come and gone!
Another summer has come and gone!

Another summer has come, and that means it’s time for another article from your favorite farm-centric non-profit blog.

New Year, New Growth
New Year, New Growth

Starting off with the most noticeable change, Legacy Farms greatly expanded their garden space at Temple Hall. Legacy’s plot of land has tripled thanks to a generous donation from Temple Hall.

Fresh Faces and Flowers
Fresh Faces and Flowers

When you really think about it, the new apprentices and flowers aren’t so different from each other. Both of them need help and structure in order to become the best buds they can be.

Farms on the Go
Farms on the Go

Having a summer job working in the garden and writing for the non-profit has meant a lot to me. I’ve met some great people, got to try new foods, worked hard in the summer heat, and I’ve even got some great job experience that’ll help me with my career path.

A Fruity Mash-Up
A Fruity Mash-Up

Have you ever thought about two foods being merged into one? It’s a crazy concept I know, but could you imagine something being born from an idea like this?

The Garden Guru
The Garden Guru

One way Ian stands out from the rest of the mentors is that he, like many of the apprentices, is neurodiverse. In his case, he has a learning disability. What I find interesting about that is that Ian wears his neurodiversity like a badge of honor because he believes it has made him a stronger person.

The Plant Harmonizer
The Plant Harmonizer

Fertilizing is a task I think a lot of people struggle with because it's something that is hard to do well. What I mean by that is, what should you ask yourself when fertilizing your plants?

 Looking Back
 Looking Back

While doing this, I find a topic to write about and start gathering information on said topic. Then over the course of the week I draft, edit, revise, and finalize my article. Then after all my hard work and mentoring from staff members, my article is published.

The Freshest Leaf in Town
The Freshest Leaf in Town

Let’s take a look at the freshest leaf on the chopping block: mint! Mentha or mint, is a genus of plants that reside within the Lamiaceae family along with deadnettle and sage. There are about 24 different types of mint leaves such as peppermint, spearmint, cornmint, and apple mint just to name a few.

The Tango of the Tomatillo
The Tango of the Tomatillo

Tomatillos have been cultivated for hundreds of years now. They were harvested by Aztecs and Mayans prior to Columbian colonization, and were considered important to the two groups because of their large populations and the amount of tomatillos that were yielded.

Neurodiversity Awareness Series

Here’s what our apprentices have to say about working at Legacy Farms, the challenges they’ve faced in other environments, and what they suggest employers consider when hiring and managing others.

 

“Keep an open mind…about everyone, really. Everybody has their own struggles and challenges in life. Everyone is going to react differently and respond differently…

“You not only have to figure out how you work in the environment, you have to figure out how other people work in the environment and learn to interact.”

 
 

“One of the biggest things about Legacy is: you learn to work hard, but it’s also a stress-free environment.”

”It’s nice to know that there are good experiences to be had.”

“The most important aspect of what we do is personal development. Working with our apprentices on leadership skills, organization, self-awareness, and ability to communicate with others…”

“Having to be somewhere, having people who depend on you. It’s a lot of useful life skills. That’s how I’ve grown.”

 

Your Support is Essential

Fund an Apprentice

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Your donation to Legacy Farms supports short-term, contract-based jobs for a mentor and/or an apprentice (ages 16 and up), learning real-world skills in gardening, media design, sales management or non-profit organizational development. The program is well underway, and we hired our first group of paid apprentices this summer!

Mentor or Hire a Legacy Farmer

Legacy Farms is always looking for local mentors and employers with whom to partner. If you wish to learn more about the benefits to your organization and how to support this effort, please contact us.

 
 
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