WORTH THE DRIVE

Story and Photos by Charlotte Kovalchuk

Simple Sparrow: Learn + Grow + Heal

SIMPLE SPARROW CARE FARM • 1601 COUNTY ROAD 107, HUTTO 512-677-9102 • WWW.SIMPLESPARROW.FARM • PRIVATE VISITS START AT $45

Jamie Tanner chats with Dash, left, and Lindt.

Care Farm Provides Healing through Animals, Nature

Aanimals; chickens, rabbits, cats, dogs, and pigs. But t Simple Sparrow Care Farm, visitors get to endon’t miss their adorable and gentle mini horse, or joy feeding chickens and petting goats amid beautithe much different Jacopo; a grumpy but protective ful scenery. But, this nonprofit organization provides llama that guards the goats. more than just a wonderful taste of farm life. In a stressful world, Simple Sparrow is an oasis

Simple Sparrow collaborates with schools, —one simply cannot be stressed while cuddling a businesses, therapists, and other nonprofits to chick, petting a friendly goat or feeding a chicken provide therapeutic farm education for all ages, out of the palm of your hand. backgrounds, and abilities. “Our mission is to learn, grow, and heal, and we believe when people are equipped to take care of all living things—the aniHOW IT BEGAN mals and the land—they are better equipped to take When Jamie and her husband Eric bought the care of themselves and other people,” says Jamie farm in 2013, it was simply so Jamie could give her Tanner, founder and president of Simple Sparrow. children the same experience she had growing up

The farm also offers private tours to the public, in on a farm as a child. After years of hosting friends which groups and individuals can interact with 60 and family for events and meals, it became clear that

Little Red enjoys breakfast from Jamie Tanner’s hand.

others benefited from farm life, too. “We realized animals and nature can be healing,” she says.

Jamie began bringing animals to local schools to talk about compassion, care, and self-awareness. She also invited therapists and their clients who benefited from farm therapy to the farm. The community responded with overwhelming support and Simple Sparrow Care Farm became an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2017.

Today, everyone from at-risk youth and sex trafficking survivors to domestic violence victims and veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder receive help at Simple Sparrow. “Anybody who’s misunderstood and marginalized, anybody who’s cast aside and overlooked, that’s where my heart is,” Jamie says.

The farm is especially needed during COVID-19, she adds, because it’s a safe place for many people who live in abusive homes and have no place to go right now.

Jamie Tanner cuddles with Lindt while Jacopo, goat herd guard, keeps watch.

FALL FUN

Starting this month, Simple Sparrow will offer a new three-hour care program in addition to the one-hour visit. Both programs allow visitors to connect with nature in a meaningful and fun way. The one-hour tour allows visitors to explore the farm and interact with animals. During the three-hour visit, you can meet the animals, explore the farm, then participate in an art project led by local artists.

There is also a gardening project that includes seeds to take home or plant on the farm, or both. Jamie hopes visitors will leave with an understanding of how to leave an environmentally friendly footprint, and understand we are here not only for our own healing, but also for the

healing of others.

WHEN YOU GO

In the Texas heat, the best time to visit Simple Sparrow is in the morning. Fall and spring are particularly lovely seasons at the farm. After a 20-minute drive from Georgetown, guests will receive a warm welcome at the gate by staff, followed by directions to park on the driveway or the grass.

View the program schedule, directions, and register at SimpleSparrow.farm for a one-hour visit, which costs $45 per person, or the three-hour visit, $350 for groups up to 12 people. Visitors are welcome to bring snacks and drinks. Masks are required for compliance, and handwashing stations are available. For more information, call 512-677-9102.

S I M P L E S PA R R O W ACC E P TS M O N E TA RY, F E E D, A N D S U P P LY D O N AT I O N S AT S I M P L E S PA R R O W.FA R M/D O N AT E THEY ALSO WELCOME VOLUNTEERS • EMAIL MELISSA@SIMPLESPARROW.FARM