A Day at the Farm
No two days at Hope Springs Farm are exactly the same—but each day is rooted in purpose, routine, and connection. Growers participate in a variety of activities, including:
Activities are adapted to meet each Grower where they are, honoring individual abilities, interests, and goals.
- Gardening and planting
- Caring for animals
- Harvesting and food preparation
- Farm maintenance and creative projects
- Music Therapy with WB Music Therapy, LLC
- Community outings and social activities
Activities are adapted to meet each Grower where they are, honoring individual abilities, interests, and goals.
Animal Therapy
Animals play a special role at Hope Springs Farm. Through daily interactions with our farm animals, Growers experience comfort, connection, and a sense of responsibility in a calm, nurturing environment. Caring for animals encourages empathy, builds confidence, and supports emotional well-being while providing meaningful opportunities for routine and purpose.
On the Farm, Growers tend to alpacas, goats, pigs, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs, miniature horses, chickens and ducks. Daily chores include feeding, watering, and socializing with the animals, as well as mucking out stalls and keeping the run-in sheds clean.
On the Farm, Growers tend to alpacas, goats, pigs, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs, miniature horses, chickens and ducks. Daily chores include feeding, watering, and socializing with the animals, as well as mucking out stalls and keeping the run-in sheds clean.
Horticulture Therapy
Hope Springs Farm features a secure, fenced garden area with more than 40 raised beds, offering Growers hands-on opportunities to learn and grow throughout the seasons. Our professional, four-season greenhouse allows planting and harvesting to continue year-round, ensuring the garden remains an active and meaningful part of Farm life in every season.
Each year, Growers cultivate and enjoy a wide variety of fresh produce, including peas, onions, leafy greens, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, berries, root vegetables, peppers, and herbs. This abundance helps support the Farm while also giving Growers the opportunity to take fresh produce home to share with their families and friends.
In addition to the raised beds, Growers care for elderberry bushes, a blueberry and pumpkin patch, and our herb and flower gardens. Daily activities—such as planting, watering, weeding, pruning, and harvesting—are guided by the seasons and provide meaningful, routine work that builds skills, confidence, and pride.
Each year, Growers cultivate and enjoy a wide variety of fresh produce, including peas, onions, leafy greens, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, berries, root vegetables, peppers, and herbs. This abundance helps support the Farm while also giving Growers the opportunity to take fresh produce home to share with their families and friends.
In addition to the raised beds, Growers care for elderberry bushes, a blueberry and pumpkin patch, and our herb and flower gardens. Daily activities—such as planting, watering, weeding, pruning, and harvesting—are guided by the seasons and provide meaningful, routine work that builds skills, confidence, and pride.
Cooking & Farm-to-Table
Our cooking program brings the harvest full circle. Using fresh ingredients grown in our gardens, Growers learn how to prepare simple meals, bake goods, and create canned items to enjoy and share. From washing and chopping vegetables to measuring ingredients and following recipes, Growers build foundational kitchen skills in a supportive, hands-on environment.
Beyond cooking, this program encourages teamwork, responsibility, and healthy habits while fostering pride in turning something they planted and cared for into something delicious and meaningful.
Beyond cooking, this program encourages teamwork, responsibility, and healthy habits while fostering pride in turning something they planted and cared for into something delicious and meaningful.
Crafting & Woodshop
Our crafting and woodshop programs offer creative, skill-building opportunities that strengthen both gross and fine motor skills. Growers work with a variety of materials and tools to design and create unique projects, learning how to safely and confidently use new equipment along the way.
Whether painting, assembling, sanding, or constructing, each project encourages focus, problem-solving, and creativity. Many items are taken home with pride or sold at Farm events to support donations—giving Growers a powerful sense of accomplishment and contribution.
Whether painting, assembling, sanding, or constructing, each project encourages focus, problem-solving, and creativity. Many items are taken home with pride or sold at Farm events to support donations—giving Growers a powerful sense of accomplishment and contribution.
Community Integration
Our community integration program extends learning beyond the Farm. Growers regularly travel into the community to volunteer with local organizations, build money management skills at cafés and shops, and experience new places throughout the area.
These outings promote independence, social confidence, and real-world skill development. By actively participating in the broader community, Growers strengthen their sense of belonging while gaining valuable life experiences.
These outings promote independence, social confidence, and real-world skill development. By actively participating in the broader community, Growers strengthen their sense of belonging while gaining valuable life experiences.
Additional Services
- Transportation Services provide program participants reliable transportation to and from program to ensure they can attend their program as independently as possible.
- Behavior Support Services provide an individualized Behavior Support Plan developed following a comprehensive assessment combining observation and data collection/analysis. Behavior support is used when there is a need to decrease challenging behaviors and/or strengthen functional skills and behaviors considered necessary for successful daily living and interaction within a community. This service can be used for building social, communication, vocational, and daily living skills.
- Vocational Services as an employer partner with OVR to provide students with hands-on experience in a real working farm environment. Through this collaboration, students gain practical job skills, build confidence, and explore vocational interests in a supportive, inclusive setting. This partnership helps prepare students for future employment opportunities while fostering independence and growth.
MIMI'S STORY
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When Nina and Neil Rovner were looking for something meaningful for their daughter Miriam (Mimi) to do after she graduated from high school, they were disappointed with what they found. They researched programs and visited locations all over the country and decided they could hopefully create what they wanted locally. In the fall of 2004, they purchased a small family farm in East Hanover Township, Hershey, PA, and named it Hope Springs Farm. It took almost a year to complete the renovations. When the renovations were done, the Rovner’s realized their dream and the dream of many other families – a place for adults to enjoy a meaningful and purposeful day surrounded by the beauty of nature.
The Farm opened in October 2005 with four adult Growers. In 2014 Nina and Neil were recognized as the recipients of the prestigious Jefferson Award for their work in Dauphin County and nominated as a couple for the national Jefferson Awards. Over the years, the program has grown and evolved and serves over 50 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Link to the Jefferson Article by clicking on the picture below |
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