Sometimes this journey feels a little like planting a seed and waiting for it to grow. We water, we wait, and then just when we expect to see green shoots, we find another rock in the soil. That is how the last few weeks have felt with the farm plans.

At the very beginning, the Township told us our land was agricultural. Later we learned it was not. They then asked us to apply for a special exception as a facility under Residential B. We did, but that application was denied, and now they are saying we would need to go through a full variance process.

And just as we were trying to wrap our minds around that we found out some new information. Our property does not sit in only one zoning district. It is actually split between Residential B and Residential AA, with the garden portion falling in the AA section. This is where it became clear that a facility is not permitted as a special exception in Residential AA, but a club is. And when I thought about it, a club really does describe us much better than a facility.

We are not creating a large institution. We will be a small community of friends who come together to garden for a few hours during certain seasons on the property. The "work" would take place off-site at Farmer's Markets.

This roadblock has been discouraging, but we believe God has planted this vision for a reason. Please pray with us for favor, for the special exception approval, and for the strength to keep going when the soil feels hard. We are trusting that even when the path takes unexpected turns, He is making a way forward.

With rocks in the soil and hope for the harvest,
Allison Hill
Founder, Harvesting Hope Acres, Inc.
Harvesting Hope. Growing Possibilites.