We have lived in our neighborhood for 21 years. Our neighbors care for one another in beautiful ways.  We love walking and seeing horses, cattle, goats, sheep, and other farm animals. My husband and I always wanted to live in the country.  When his spinal muscular disease progressed to needing an electric wheelchair, we prayed and sought affordable undeveloped land so we could build to suit his needs. There was significant gain despite our many losses. I started an equine-assisted psychotherapy program using our horses, and my husband continued his work as a high school English and German teacher. Part of our college experience was in Germany.  Our stay in family homes with built-in apartments including a separate entrance, kitchenette, and bathroom for visitors inspired us to build a space connected to our laundry room for family, friends, and other guests.  We love how this feature has extended hospitality to our parents, friends, and guests while allowing for privacy. 

 Our biggest challenge after purchasing three acres was the cost of building a wheelchair-accessible home.  My husband borrowed an architectural program and designed the interior according to his needs.  I created the spaces for our horses and the landscape design so my husband could access all outside areas.  I even learned how to do tile work throughout the house and the brickwork in the sidewalks leading up to the entrance. We hired professionals willing to take our rough drafts and do the engineering and final architectural design.  Then, we were blessed to find a licensed contractor willing to take the risk of allowing us to organize and supervise the sub-contractors for the building while he made sure we were up to code and passed all the inspections. We created a construction team that finished the work within six months and stayed within our budget. Keith designed all of the wheelchair accessibility so seamlessly that even someone not needing a wheelchair could easily see themselves living in the spaces we created.

 Over the years, we have hosted many fundraisers for Wellspring Counseling Ministries, including Victorian High Teas and Frontier Days. We loved hosting retreats for couples using the horses and providing a place for Wellspring’s Unbridled Hope Equine Assisted Program. However, when I was diagnosed with a rare bone disease that threatened paralysis due to a spinal cord injury, I had three successful cervical spine surgeries. Still, new limitations required me to give up my beloved horses. 

The sorrow of this new loss turned into the joy of gardening! Friends gathered as volunteers and investors helped to start a local CSA (community-supported agriculture project). Our journey continued with the creation of Wellspring Charitable Gardens, which donates 100% of its proceeds to Wellspring Counseling, a local resource and referral program. The success of our CSA can be attributed to one key decision: hiring an experienced organic market gardener who professionally plans and plants our produce with staff and volunteers. She has taught sustainable farming practices and the importance of using natural methods and avoiding harsh pesticides and herbicides. This knowledge has empowered us and ensured the success of our projects.