Vision & Mission
Our Vision
We envision a world where healing and growth blossom through connection with nature and community, creating a future filled with hope, accessibility, and access to nourishing food grown with care and respect for the Earth. A world where everyone, regardless of their background, age, or abilities, thrives in a vibrant community nourished by sustainable food systems and accessible green spaces.
Our Mission
To create accessible green spaces and educational programs that foster healing and empower individuals with all abilities, and communities.
To advocate for and implement disability-inclusive practices in agriculture and the food system.
To cultivate a supportive network of farmers, advocates, and allies who share our vision of a just and sustainable food future.
Our Values
Compassion: We believe in treating everyone with kindness and understanding, recognizing the unique challenges and strengths each individual brings to the table.
Equity: We strive to create a world where everyone can thrive, regardless of their background, ability, age, or socioeconomic status.
Sustainability: We are committed to practices that preserve the health of our planet and ensure food security for future generations.
Innovation: We embrace new ideas and approaches to overcome challenges and create a more inclusive and equitable food system.
Collaboration: We believe that working together in partnership is the key to achieving our goals and building a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
Inclusivity: We believe that everyone deserves access to the healing power of nature and the bounty of the land.
Respect: We treat each other, the land, and all living things with love, acceptance, grace, and compassion.
Healing by Growing Farms goes beyond cultivating crops – we nurture a culture of personal and community growth rooted in discipleship and servanthood. These are not just words; they are the guiding principles that drive everything we do at Healing By Growing Farms.
We believe that food is more than just sustenance; it is a bridge that connects us to each other, to the Earth, and to our own inner well-being. Sanando Our Brain, Our Spirit, and Soil. We invite you to join us on this journey as we work to create a more accessible, nourishing, and inclusive world, one seed, one sprout, one garden at a time. Thank you for being a part of our story!
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Healing By Growing Farms stands upon the ancestral lands of the Quinnipiack people. For generations, these lands echoed with the life and stories of the Quinnipiack. They built their villages along the harbor, nurturing a deep connection with the land and its bounty. Their skilled hands harvested seafood, hunted for sustenance and warmth, and cultivated maize, the heart of their diet. Their legacy lives on in the whispers of the wind across the fields, a reminder of the enduring presence of the Quinnipiack people who first stewarded these lands.
A Message From Our Founder Dr. Ivette Ruiz, Ph.D. MHS, HS-BCP
From Trauma to Triumph: My Journey to Healing By Growing Farms
The summer of 2020 was not just about preparing for Hurricane Isaias. It was about facing a storm within myself. A fall, a devastating Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and suddenly, my life as I knew it was gone in a blink of an eye. My professional career, once a source of pride, felt like a distant dream. Yet, amidst the darkness, a seed of hope began to sprout.
Nature has always been my sanctuary, and in those moments of uncertainty, it became my lifeline. I knew I had to pivot, to reimagine a new path forward. So, I did what felt most natural: I listened to the still small voice and the whispers of the earth and Healing By Growing Farms was born.
It is not just a farm; it is a haven for trauma recovery and a green therapy-based retreat educational powerhouse. As a survivor myself, I understand the isolation, the rejection, the daily struggles that can feel like insurmountable walls. I have been there, in the dark, lost in the labyrinth of unemployment, suicidal ideation, and food insecurity. But through it all, I had faith and knew there had to be a way out, a light at the end of the tunnel.
This is why Healing By Growing Farms does not just offer solace, it offers a lifeline. We provide free services to brain injury and trauma survivors, from emotional support and education; supportive animal encounters to vocational training and healing spiritual retreats. We create accessible green spaces for reimagining, healing gardens that nourish both body and soul, and a Farm to Home (F2H) program that delivers culturally appropriate greens to food insecure survivors in the comfort of their homes.
But my journey does not stop there. I know the power of knowledge and connection, so I offer consulting, coaching, and training to agricultural government organizations, aspiring farmers, farm service providers, environmental groups and communities seeking to be more inclusive. Together, we can raise awareness about accessibility, accommodations, and TBIs in the farming world. We can make mental health, brain injury, and trauma visible, not just when it is too late.
And because healing knows no borders, we are expanding our reach. Through our HBG Healing Gardens Alliance Ambassador Partnership Program, we are building communal spaces, memorials, food production plots and healing gardens in farms, homes, schools, organizations, and communities around the world. We are creating a web of hope, one garden at a time.
In 2023, we hosted the 1st Northeast Disability and Agriculture Conference, a testament to our commitment to accessibility and suicide prevention. With close to 200 registrants, it was a powerful step towards breaking down barriers and creating a more inclusive agricultural landscape.
To support our mission, we also offer fee-based consulting and training services, agri-tourism experiences, like farm tours, firsthand farm encounters, and private healing retreats in our off-the grid shoreline Casita. These experiences allow us to continue to provide No Cost services to survivors and to connect with supporters while sharing the blessings of Healing By Growing Farms firsthand.
This is not just my story; it is my testimony, it is my ministry and a call to action. I invite you to join me in expanding accessibility, building healing spaces, and shrinking food deserts. Let us be the voice for the voiceless, together.
My life was saved by potatoes and whips (baby trees), literally and figuratively; the first crops I grew after my injury. Now, it is my turn to give back, to save and inspire as many lives as I can. Remember, "If you ate today, thank a farmer for what you consumed." And if you are reading this, thank you for being a part of my journey.
Much love and blessings,
Dr. Ivette Ruiz,
Ph.D. MHS, HS-BCP