Puzzle Farms is an agricultural/culinary training opportunity for adults with developmental disabilities, incorporated in 2013 as a 501(c)(3).
Puzzle Farms started in 2011 in our backyard as an experiment to see if our daughter Kelsey and her friend Maddy might enjoy farming. Our hope was to establish a productive lifestyle that would give them purpose and employment.
Since then we have moved from the back yard to a 16 acre farm in Ringwood, NJ. We have been granted the use of open space property originally purchased by the Passaic River Coalition and currently owned by Passaic County. We are ever grateful to those that listened to us, heard our vision, and gave us the opportunity to continue and prosper.
Every year since, the program has grown in number and scope. The participants have planted, harvested, donated to local food banks, started a small farm stand, cooked, canned and baked. Last November, they stretched a little further by joining the Cupsaw Lake Artisan Fair where they sold pepper jelly, candied jalapenos, homemade soaps and holiday cookies. Everything they sold, they made. They learned how to take credit cards via square and their beloved iPad and practiced making change for the cash purchases.
This year we have been joined by a group from Spectrum for Living, and collectively have planted over 400 plants and seeds.
As our "kids" never cease to amaze us with their talents, abilities and in their desire to try new things and work hard, we are working hard to open a farm to table restaurant so that they will have an even greater opportunity to show the world that they are an untapped, unstoppable force given the chance.
If you're interested in joining us email Sue at sue@puzzlefarms.org or Dotty at dotty@puzzlefarms.org
If you are interested in donating, please feel free to use the donate button above or via mail to our current office at:
Puzzle Farms
1Windbeam Ave
Ringwood, NJ 07456
The farm is located at 1101 Greenwood Lake Turnpike in Ringwood. From 287, take Skyline Drive exit all the way to the end. Then take a right onto Greenwood Lake Turnpike. At 3.3 miles you'll see a mailbox on the left marked 1093. Turn into that driveway and go straight.
Puzzle Farms started in 2011 in our backyard as an experiment to see if our daughter Kelsey and her friend Maddy might enjoy farming. Our hope was to establish a productive lifestyle that would give them purpose and employment.
Since then we have moved from the back yard to a 16 acre farm in Ringwood, NJ. We have been granted the use of open space property originally purchased by the Passaic River Coalition and currently owned by Passaic County. We are ever grateful to those that listened to us, heard our vision, and gave us the opportunity to continue and prosper.
Every year since, the program has grown in number and scope. The participants have planted, harvested, donated to local food banks, started a small farm stand, cooked, canned and baked. Last November, they stretched a little further by joining the Cupsaw Lake Artisan Fair where they sold pepper jelly, candied jalapenos, homemade soaps and holiday cookies. Everything they sold, they made. They learned how to take credit cards via square and their beloved iPad and practiced making change for the cash purchases.
This year we have been joined by a group from Spectrum for Living, and collectively have planted over 400 plants and seeds.
As our "kids" never cease to amaze us with their talents, abilities and in their desire to try new things and work hard, we are working hard to open a farm to table restaurant so that they will have an even greater opportunity to show the world that they are an untapped, unstoppable force given the chance.
If you're interested in joining us email Sue at sue@puzzlefarms.org or Dotty at dotty@puzzlefarms.org
If you are interested in donating, please feel free to use the donate button above or via mail to our current office at:
Puzzle Farms
1Windbeam Ave
Ringwood, NJ 07456
The farm is located at 1101 Greenwood Lake Turnpike in Ringwood. From 287, take Skyline Drive exit all the way to the end. Then take a right onto Greenwood Lake Turnpike. At 3.3 miles you'll see a mailbox on the left marked 1093. Turn into that driveway and go straight.