HOOD
TRIBE
EVERYBODY NEEDS A
by BRENDA WINTRODE Photograhy by MARY ELLA JOURDAK
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bout a half dozen farmhands sit at café tables in a small kitchen space at Langton Green Community Farm’s Millersville ranch house. They are sorting and bagging the day’s harvest, about 50 pounds of sweet peppers, for distribution to the nonprofit’s 34 residences. Dani Ierardi, farm program manager, who facilitates farm work programs and art classes for adults with different abilities, says everyone helps with the ever-changing list of farm chores. She considers all of the program participants part of a team, “It doesn’t matter if you have a disability,” she says through the boisterous talk of those around her. Soon, the crew will plant the fall greens. The goats, pigs, and chickens must be fed. Animal cages need to be cleaned and hen eggs collected. And that’s just some of the work undertaken on the farm.
Langton Green, first established in 1984 as an alternative to traditional institutions, bought the 13-acre property seven years ago. The residential and vocational programs provide independent living support and job training for adults with intellecutal and developmental disabilities. The farm provides a piece of the nonprofit’s mission— empowering individuals to reach their full potential through meaningful work—by teaching them all aspects of harvesting and processing food, landscaping skills, training community volunteers, and working with others. Donations supply the farm workers’ minimum-wage pay. Director of Operations John Iaquinta says the team did their homework before diving into the nonprofit’s newest venture. He looked at similar vocational farm programs across the state and scoured the county, looking for a reasonably priced agricultural property. And he’s satisfied Diana Davis holds freshly laid eggs.
66 | Winter 2021
