Organizational Development Archives - Care Farming Network https://carefarmingnetwork.org/topic/organizational-development/ Mon, 12 Jan 2026 21:56:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://carefarmingnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/cropped-cropped-CFN-logo-site-icon-01-1-32x32.png Organizational Development Archives - Care Farming Network https://carefarmingnetwork.org/topic/organizational-development/ 32 32 Imagine That Farm: Organizational Timeline & Strategy https://carefarmingnetwork.org/resource/imagine-that-farm-organizational-timeline-strategy/ Mon, 05 Jan 2026 15:31:13 +0000 https://carefarmingnetwork.org/?post_type=resource&p=10740 When starting a care farm–or considering a new organizational strategy–learning how others have navigated challenges and stewarded organizational growth can inspire fresh ideas. Amy Grace, LMFT of Imagine That Farm has generously shared a detailed organizational timeline with our network. Amy writes: “From the start, collaboration was central. As program strategist, [I] built systems, partnerships, […]

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When starting a care farm–or considering a new organizational strategy–learning how others have navigated challenges and stewarded organizational growth can inspire fresh ideas.

Amy Grace, LMFT of Imagine That Farm has generously shared a detailed organizational timeline with our network. Amy writes: “From the start, collaboration was central. As program strategist, [I] built systems, partnerships, and curricula designed to grow beyond one farm and reach regional scale.”

Walk with Amy from 2019 to 2025 through building a partnership with Children’s Home Counseling Services; creating a replicable approach to integrating new therapists into care farm settings; and building a multi-farm regional network.

View the Timeline Here.

About Imagine That Farm

Imagine That Farm connects mental health agencies and farms to create care farm therapy. We partner with professionals and organizations to integrate nature- and animal-assisted therapies into their work, providing expert guidance to launch care farms and foster meaningful collaborations.

Our trainings blend hands-on, nature-informed methods with clinical expertise, equipping practitioners to deliver deeply connected, life-changing care. Whether you’re building a new care farm or expanding an existing practice, we guide you every step of the way.

Learn more about Amy Grace, LMFT and Imagine that farm on their website.

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]]> Supporting Your Farm Employees with Physical and Mental Disabilities: Legal Obligations for Injuries and Disabilities on the Farm https://carefarmingnetwork.org/resource/supporting-your-farm-employees-with-physical-and-mental-disabilities-legal-obligations-for-injuries-and-disabilities-on-the-farm/ Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:13:13 +0000 https://carefarmingnetwork.org/?post_type=resource&p=7515 Content and webinar created by Farm Commons Webinar Recording Link Learn more about supporting your farm employees with disabilities through Farm Commons’ guides. The law prohibits discriminating against people with disabilities. This webinar is designed to help you understand how to support your employees and strengthen your management skills. That’s Unreasonable! Making Sense of the […]

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Webinar Recording Link

Learn more about supporting your farm employees with disabilities through Farm Commons’ guides. The law prohibits discriminating against people with disabilities. This webinar is designed to help you understand how to support your employees and strengthen your management skills.

That’s Unreasonable! Making Sense of the ADA on the Farm

Accommodation Strategies for Farm and Ranch Employers

This program will also touch on how to optimize donations or sponsorships rather than forming a social benefit business structure. Presented by Farm Commons Executive Director and Attorney Rachel Armstrong, Esq., this webinar will be full of practical information.

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]]> Managing Conflict and Emotions on the Farm: Practical Strategies for De-escalation + Co-Regulation https://carefarmingnetwork.org/resource/managing-conflict-and-emotions-on-the-farm-practical-strategies-for-de-escalation-co-regulation/ Mon, 10 Feb 2025 22:10:15 +0000 https://carefarmingnetwork.org/?post_type=resource&p=7153 Conflict and difficult emotions are part of life, no matter how much we try to avoid them. Whether it’s a friend, family member, colleague, or participant in your farm programs, there will be moments of frustration or anger that need to be addressed. In farm environments, these challenges may arise with employees, volunteers, or program […]

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]]> Conflict and difficult emotions are part of life, no matter how much we try to avoid them. Whether it’s a friend, family member, colleague, or participant in your farm programs, there will be moments of frustration or anger that need to be addressed. In farm environments, these challenges may arise with employees, volunteers, or program participants. At the 2025 Care Farming Network National Conference, a panelists from care farms shared practical, easy-to-remember techniques to de-escalate emotionally charged situations.

Presenters:

Nataline Dunn of ServiceNet’s Prospect Meadow Farm (MA) View Presentation Here!

Jamie Sumague of TALMAR (MD) View Presentation Here!

Jamie Tanner of Simple Sparrow Care Farm (TX) View Presentation Here!

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]]> Training for Inclusive Work with Neurodivergent Employees https://carefarmingnetwork.org/resource/training-for-inclusive-work-with-neurodivergent-employees/ Mon, 10 Feb 2025 20:09:24 +0000 https://carefarmingnetwork.org/?post_type=resource&p=7143 How can you effectively train neurotypical staff, volunteers, and interns to work alongside neurodivergent employees? In this session presented at the 2025 Care Farming Network National Conference, care farmers shared best practices and resources they use to foster inclusive work environments. This session provided valuable insights and practical tools for creating a more inclusive workforce. […]

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]]> How can you effectively train neurotypical staff, volunteers, and interns to work alongside neurodivergent employees? In this session presented at the 2025 Care Farming Network National Conference, care farmers shared best practices and resources they use to foster inclusive work environments. This session provided valuable insights and practical tools for creating a more inclusive workforce.

Presenters:

Mallory Dockery of Bittersweet (OH) View Presentation Here!

Becca Roe of Red Wiggler Care Farm (MD) View Presentation Here!

David Cloniger of Old School Farm (TN)

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]]> Organizations CFN Follows https://carefarmingnetwork.org/resource/organizations-cfn-follows/ Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:43:56 +0000 https://carefarmingnetwork.org/?post_type=resource&p=5867 Building strong partnerships is essential to our success. Many organizations are engaged in efforts tangential or closely related to care farming, each bringing a unique perspective and focus. Below is a list of organizations we follow and whose work we respect.

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]]> Building strong partnerships is essential to our success. Many organizations are engaged in efforts tangential or closely related to care farming, each bringing a unique perspective and focus. Below is a list of organizations we follow and whose work we respect.

  • AgrAbility– The vision of AgrAbility is to enhance quality of life for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities, so that they, their families, and their communities continue to succeed in rural America.
  • American Farmland Trust-We created the conservation agriculture movement, which speaks for the land—and for the people who grow our food. As the movement’s leaders, we have three priorities: protecting agricultural land, promoting environmentally sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land.
  • Autism Housing Network-A project of the Madison House Autism Foundation, the AHN aims to provide a central hub of housing information, developer tools, and resources in order to build more neuro-inclusive communities.
  • Beginning Farmers– Beginning Farmers offers information on how to start a farm, plan a new farm, fund resources, and find land to start your farm on. 
  • Black Urban Growers-BUGs is committed to building a strong community to support growers who cultivate in both urban and rural settings. We nurture Black leadership while honoring the joys and the sores of land-based stewardship.
  • Center for Rural Affairs-The Center for Rural Affairs is a nonprofit, mission-driven lender focusing on underserved communities, primarily to rural, Latino, Native, and other communities that mainstream finance doesn’t traditionally reach. We are a Community Development Financial Institute, certified by the U.S. Treasury.
  • Farm-Based Education Network-The FBEN is a free member network established to strengthen and support the work of educators, farmers, and community leaders who provide access and experiences on working farms.  
  • Farmer Veteran Coalition-The Mission of Farmer Veteran Coalition is Mobilizing Veterans to Feed America/We cultivate a new generation of farmers and food leaders, and develop viable employment and meaningful careers through the collaboration of the farming and military communities
  • National Council of Nonprofits-The National Council of Nonprofits is the largest network of nonprofits in North America. We champion, inform, and connect organizations across the country to score big wins for nonprofits and the communities they serve.
  • National Farmers Union-NFU represents family farmers, fishers, and ranchers across the country, with formally organized divisions in 33 states.
  • National Young Farmers Coalition-We shift power and change policy to equitably resource our new generation of working farmers.
  • Root In Nature- Root in Nature™ offers accessible, affordable, and practical training. Through our growing suite of online courses and our international community—the GrowTH Network (Grow Therapeutic Horticulture)—we help practitioners feel confident, supported, and equipped to create engaging, client-centered therapeutic gardening programs.
  • Social Farms and Gardens (UK)-We are a UK wide charity supporting communities to farm, garden and grow together.
  • Together for Choice-Our Mission is to unite to protect and advance the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to live, work and thrive in a community or setting of their choice.

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]]> Effective Nonprofit Board Governance https://carefarmingnetwork.org/resource/effective-nonprofit-board-governance/ Mon, 05 Aug 2024 17:27:58 +0000 https://carefarmingnetwork.org/?post_type=resource&p=5703 CFN’s August Monthly Member Gathering included a discussion of board roles and responsibilities, financial information for board members, recruiting new board members, hosting effective board meetings, and more. Click the image above to watch the recording. View the slide presentation here. Link to resources shared during the discussion **The links below were borrowed from Propel for […]

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]]> CFN’s August Monthly Member Gathering included a discussion of board roles and responsibilities, financial information for board members, recruiting new board members, hosting effective board meetings, and more. Click the image above to watch the recording.

View the slide presentation here.

Link to resources shared during the discussion

**The links below were borrowed from Propel for Nonprofits. They have many FREE resources, including webinars, downloadable documents, and videos.

Board Roles and Responsibilities

Financial Information and Your Board Primer Video

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Template

Recruiting New Board Members

Board Profile Worksheet– A tool for nonprofits to identify and track desirable board skills and characteristics, spotlighting what to seek from new board members.

Financial Self-Assessment– Use this checklist to assess your organization’s financial management practices and identify areas for improvement.

Budgeting: A 10-Step Checklist– This 10-step budgeting checklist helps guide the budgeting process, which typically should begin at least three months before the end of the fiscal year to ensure that the budget is approved by the board of directors before the start of the new year.

Board Member Agreement– Can be used to create your own agreement to scope and clarify board members’ roles and responsibilities.

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