Planting Seeds of Advocacy: Peachtree Farms’ Mission to Promote Independence and Dignity Despite Disability

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a seed was planted in the Twiner family.

20 years before, the youngest Twiner child, Mary Quinn, was born. She was diagnosed with verbal apraxia, which affected her speech and language. She’d been attending a school for people with disabilities, but it was almost time for a change. 

“She was getting ready to age out of high school, and people with disabilities can go to high school until they’re 22,” explained Joe Twiner, Peachtree Farm’s executive director and Mary Quinn’s brother. 

With some extra time on their hands due to the pandemic, the family began thinking about ways to serve Mary Quinn and her friends with special needs. 

“We weren’t sure if [the farm] would be the right fit for my sister, but we knew it would be the right fit for a lot of her classmates, friends and other community members,” he said.

Five years ago in April, Peachtree Farm was born. And luckily, Mary Quinn has loved it! 

The farm provides various programs that emphasize pre-vocational services. One core program is a pre-vocational internship.

“It’s designed to provide adults who have graduated from high school with general job skills as well as specific skills in landscaping, nurseries and agriculture,” Joe said. “We help each of our participants set goals for what they want their future to look like.”

One participant, whom Peachtree Farms calls a “farmer,” has worked on the farm for three years and is close to finishing the program. She came to Peachtree Farms shy and reserved. Now, Joe sees a huge difference.

“We worked with her to develop confidence and self-advocacy, which is one of our big focuses. She learned to work four hours consistently, stay focused and refine task mastery to the point where she doesn’t need extra support,” Joe explained.

Now that this farmer is applying for a job at dog kennels, her tasks at Peachtree Farms have changed.

“We’ve been shifting her work to helping with our chickens,” he said. “She’s been taking the lead on feeding, watering and caring for them so she can point to specific job skills as she applies.” 

Thanks to Peachtree Farms, this farmer is now equipped not only to advocate for herself but also to exercise her agency and independence in a job of her own.

In addition to its programs for adults, as well as some high schoolers with disabilities, Peachtree Farms offers classes in horticulture and gardening to the local community. They also run the Peachtree Corners Farmers Market. 

In mid-April, Joe and his team hosted the Plant & Pot Sale, a four-day event that showcases over 60 varieties of edible and ornamental plants. 

“The main thing we do all winter is plant. We had over 6,000 plants that had been started from seed by our farmers,” he explained.

“The plant sale is both a wonderful opportunity for us to raise some money through the sale of our plants and a celebration of the hard work our farmers have put into growing the plants.” 

This spring, Peachtree Farms will also launch a new venture: an on-site independent living community.

Fueled by its Growing a Home Capital Campaign, Peachtree Farms will construct two three-bedroom, three-bathroom homes for individuals with disabilities and one educational center for vocational training. 

“Our goal is to create an independent living community where adults with disabilities can live with dignity, safety and easy access to their friends and the broader community,” Joe shared.

As the farm’s outreach grows, Joe is thankful for guidance from the Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia. 

“Since the beginning, the Community Foundation has been a really wonderful resource for advice and connection. Throughout the last five years, we’ve developed a wonderful relationship, and last year, we established our own fund,” he said. “It’s been a great partnership in terms of working with donors as well as the advice and expertise we receive. 

“When we have a question, I know there’s someone to call.” 

To support Peachtree Farms please visit: https://cfneg.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=5719