Fostering Farmers operates under a succinct theory of change – pulling five levers towards are vision of a future where young adults aging out of foster care have everything they need to build independent lives.

Why Aging-Out Foster Youth?

• 23,000 youth age out of foster care each year in the United States.  
• 40-50% of former foster youth become homeless within 18 months after leaving foster care. 
• 88% of trafficking victims were in foster care. 
• Aged out foster youth are twice as likely to suffer from PTSD compared to US war veterans.  
• Almost 80% of inmates in our prison systems have spent time in the foster care system. 
• Only 27% of aged-out foster youth obtain their GED or High School diploma by age 19. 
• Only 6% go on for a 2- or 4-year degree.
• Former foster youth struggle with housing, education, employment, transportation, and money. 

Fostering Farmers wants to change this.

Why Farming?

Connecting with nature has the ability to heal.  Feeling the breeze and sunshine on your face, hearing Canada geese as they fly by, and having bare feet in the grass allows humans to center themselves and be present.  Farming is a way of connecting with nature on a deeper and more consistent schedule.  Digging in soil releases Mycobacterium vaccae, a bacterium found in soil, which has been found to trigger the release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter directly related to mood.  In short, playing in the dirt can increase your happiness!  

In short, playing in the dirt can increase your happiness!  

According to Mindy L. Walls’ 2015 thesis “Farm Work As Treatment for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder,” almost all of the 39 farmers found farming to be beneficial for managing their PTSD.  Walls continues to state that “Farming necessitates present-orientedness; having responsibility toward others, whether animals, individuals, or community; having the autonomy to create a safe environment, sometimes including solitude; and feeling connected with nature.”  

Fostering Farmers knows these findings are relevant on our farm as well.  We cultivate a deep sense of community while working on the farm as well as off farm activities, such as cooking meals and providing support while planning for the future.  While success in farming is dependent on teamwork, there are also many opportunities for one person jobs which will grow self esteem and confidence.  One of the goals of Fostering Farmers is actually two-fold; for our farmers to leave the program learning how to develop a healthy trust and dependence on others as well as develop a healthier way of being self-reliant.