Good things are happening at Harvesting Hope Acres, even if you cannot see rows of vegetables just yet.

We are so thankful to share that we received a $5,000 grant from NiSource Columbia Gas to support the creation of our accessible garden beds. This is an exciting step forward as we continue building a space that is designed for participation from the very beginning, not modified later to try to make it work.

Behind the scenes, our attorney is also making encouraging headway with the township. We received an in-kind accounting donation from Accounting Angels for bookkeeping and tax assistance. Also, another location organization has formally invited us to submit our grant proposal after accepting our LOI. Progress can feel slow, but every conversation is helping lay the groundwork to do this the right way.

You may notice that we talk a lot about planning, infrastructure, and design. That is intentional. Too often, spaces invite individuals with disabilities in after they are built, only to realize the environment itself creates barriers. We are choosing a different path. Every pathway, bed height, entry point, and program element is being considered from day one so that access is natural, not an accommodation.

Because the real question is not "Can they belong in these spaces?"
It is, "Why haven't we built spaces where they can?"

We are committed to creating something thoughtful, sustainable, and welcoming from the ground up so that when participants arrive, the environment already says, you are meant to be here.

Thank you for continuing to follow along as we grow this vision step by step. We are still planting the foundation, trusting that careful cultivation now will lead to a harvest of inclusion later.

Stay tuned, keep rooting for us, and remember that the best gardens take time to grow.

Cultivating change from the ground up,

Allison Hill
Founder, Harvesting Hope Acres Inc.
Harvesting Hope. Growing Possibilities.