RELEASED AND READY

            Thank you everyone who responded to my inmate farmer story.  Today I received my favorite letter from inmates:  HE'S OUT!"

             One I've corresponded with in Minnesota just got released under the Compassionate Release program and is at a half-way house ready for his next step.  His dream is to establish

 REDEEMABLES RETREAT AND REHABILITATION FARM

             Is that not the coolest thing ever?  Rather than a half-way house in the middle of a city, this would be a transition place for newly released inmates on a farm, in a rural setting, far away from drugs, gangs, and urban influences.  With immediate meaningful chores and an encouraging team, new releases have time to sort out their next move while engaged in an affirming, quiet, massaging atmosphere.

             Here is his question:  "Due to my new circumstances, have you had any farmer in Minnesota recently ask you if you knew someone to take over their farm?  I am very interested.  They could stay on for free in their home as long as they like and the rehab farm would bear their name.  Just hoping."

             I'll write him back later today and let him know I posted this to my tiny universe.  This is not the first inmate to present this idea to me, but he's the first one out, or at least the first one who followed up with me after his release.  Here's a guy with a noble dream, a sacred calling, and I want to shout it to housetops, hoping someone out there knows someone who knows someone who knows someone--you know how it is. "I know a guy" is the most wonderful networking phrase ever uttered.

             Most of the time, all we need for dreams to become reality is "I know a guy."  Or a gal.  It's all about connections and shared interests.  I have the fellow's address and am glad to hook anyone up with him.  If you "know a guy, or gal" contact me through the polyfacefarms@gmail.com  website and I'll put you in touch with him.

             If you've read my book YOUR SUCCESSFUL FARM BUSINESS, you know that I go out on a limb in there about future agriculture opportunities in the therapy field.  From mental illness to wounded warriors, I believe therapy farms will be a wave of the future, especially if government regulations will let entrepreneurs in this space flourish and innovate.

             As a commercial farmer, my heart is in food and fiber production.  But if that can also produce healing for bruised souls, isn't that a greater benefit?  Being around plants and animals soothes the spirit, affirms meaning in life, and encourages contemplation in the midst of biological mystery.  Few environments yield this many benefits and I hope we can find my newly released friend a place to fully leverage his heart and experience steering and salvaging bruised souls.

             Do you have a farm healing story?