In 2008 a dedicated group of parents and professionals came together to fulfill a dream of providing enriching day services for their adult children with autism.
After 18 months of planning and fundraising, the Hiram Farm program opened in June of 2009 on a 120-acre organic farm under lease from the Couch Farm Trustees. Six adult workers with autism were served by the program at that time. In the first year, a one-acre organic garden was planted, twelve small garden plots were made available to gardeners living in the Hiram community, the livestock program began, and a small greenhouse was constructed.
In 2010, the program grew to serve 16 workers, a second greenhouse was built, and construction began on our barn. The livestock program grew to include chickens and pigs, in addition to the sheep and goats that were raised the previous year.
By our second anniversary in June 2011, the program expanded to include 22 adults with autism. Construction work on the barn continued and the farm purchased a house adjacent to the existing property to serve as the administrative offices and program space. Meanwhile, our community garden project doubled in size and the Hiram Farm participants and staff developed a number of craft projects and grew seedling plants to sell to the public.
2012 brought many changes to the farm. The new barn was completed, the farmhouse opened for business and we added two therapy cows to our growing list of pigs, chickens, sheep, and goats. The farmhouse began art therapy, weaving and ceramics programs. In addition to functioning as the administrative offices, the farmhouse was opened as a public space where the participant’s crafts would be sold.
Over the years, our facilities expanded and we began to welcome adults with other developmental disabilities, in addition to autism, into our programs.
In 2017 we welcomed our 31st individual.
This period of rapid growth has been challenging and rewarding. Our hope is that the Hiram Farm Living and Learning Community will be able to provide the employment opportunities and therapeutic activities to people with autism for many years to come.