Mossburg Farms

We’re crazy avo this! We grew this avocado tree from the seed! It’s coming along nicely, and we wouldn’t lie if we said we weren’t excited for guacamole! 🥑 This tree reminds us that we all have to start somewhere—each day of growth, no matter how small, means something big.

We’re excited for what’s to come at Mossburg Farms this year, and we want you to join us in our journey! 🌿 We are launching a quarterly newsletter starting next month! Be sure to sign up so you can get the latest news—and a little inspiration—from our Farm to your inbox: ✨ https://www.mossburgfarms.com/connect-with-us

Connect with us — Mossburg Farms Connect with us We believe that genuine, meaningful connection is critical to overall health and well-being. We also believe support and encouragement from others play a vital role in helping each of us realize and fulfill our dreams—whatever they may be. We would be honored to have you jo...

Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a brilliant civil rights leader and human rights activist. We echo Dr. King’s beliefs that we must strive for equality every single day. For us, that includes working hard to provide equal access to the Great Outdoors. One of our values is to give everyone, regardless of their disability status, an opportunity to play in the dirt. Another is to cultivate and embrace diversity. Unfortunately, the outdoor & agricultural industries traditionally haven’t been very inclusive. We look forward to changing that by welcoming historically ignored and underserved communities to our disability-inclusive family farm in the near future.

Thanks so much to CanvasRebel for featuring Mossburg Farms in a recent article! Read more about Nadia’s story, some recent challenges we’ve faced, and why our work matters:

https://canvasrebel.com/meet-nadia-mossburg/

Meet Nadia Mossburg We're excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nadia Mossburg. We hope you'll enjoy our conversation with Nadia below. Nadia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in whi...

New year, new growth! 2022 was one for the books—we sold our house in South Florida, moved to a new area, and launched . As we plan the future of this disability-inclusive farm, we’re also taking steps to grow herbs and smaller plants at our apartment. We started growing saffron last month, and the plants are doing so well! Isn’t the flower beautiful? The health benefits are even better. According to Healthline, saffron is full of antioxidants and is believed to improve mood and memory. We can’t wait to plant (and harvest!) more of this special spice. And, we can’t wait to see what this year has in store.

Florida winters feel different from those up north, but they still bring a sense of quietness. Seasonal changes seem to invite us to do the same. This year has been full of adventures, from buying the farm property to moving to a totally new place. It’s not been without its challenges. In fact, in many ways, 2022 has been one of the hardest years. Still, we are grateful. We’re taking this month to reflect. To give thanks for His presence. To remember how far we’ve come. Wherever you are, we hope you also have time to reflect. On behalf of our team, happy holidays to you and yours.

Ancient, tangled oaks drip with Spanish moss. Glittering natural springs beckon visitors to dive in. Thick canopies envelop secrets waiting to be discovered. In the heart of this beauty, in Florida’s Nature Coast, lies . We love our enchanted forest and farmland, and we can’t wait to share it with you in the near future. on Facebook to join our journey of building an inclusive family farm.

A note from our co-founder, Nadia 💚 We recently took a trip out to the farm and discovered some footprints in the dirt. We also planted about 20 packets of flower seeds! My permaculture class reminds me that I don’t have to wait until conditions are “perfect” to get started with the things that are on my heart. You just have to ignore that inner critic, and make it happen. Does anyone else feel this way?

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we have lots to be thankful for. Not only do we have a roof over our heads, food on our table, and a fantastic community–but we also made our lifelong dream happen this year by launching . The journey to get here has been long, and not without its challenges. 🌿 We’re still months away from opening to the public, but we’ve seen so much support from friends, family, and supporters like you. Nothing could ever replace that.

No matter what the road ahead looks like, we choose to trust the process and keep our eyes up and out as we see what’s in store. On behalf of all of us at Mossburg Farms, thank you.

team spotlight ✨ We love partnering with talented people who believe in what we do. Meet our photographer + videographer, Ryan Arnst! Based in Florida, Ryan has been in this field since 2011. He works with the Farm to create video content and photography that showcases our mission and experiences. When he’s not working, he can be found hanging out with his two dogs or spending time outside.

A note from our co-founder, Nadia 💛 "Admittedly, life outside of the farm has consumed our time lately, and as much as I wanted to get to the property to check on things, it wasn’t happening. Discouragement, doubt, and anxiety were beginning to take root. But, this past Sunday, one of my assistants, Janet, and I decided to make time to visit the property and consider next steps. Among the overgrowth and plants that have gone to seed, we saw this basil plant thriving. It literally brought me to tears -- perhaps because it served as a reminder that, in the midst of all the uncertainty and chaos, God is still at work. He alone is the Author & Perfecter. Don’t give up. The difficulties and challenges that you may be experiencing right now are not the end of your story."

team spotlight ✨ We love getting to work with talented people who believe in our mission. Today, meet our content creator + communications specialist, Hannah Arnst! Hannah loves using stories to drive change for organizations that impact their communities. She’s thrilled to help tell the story of Mossburg Farms. When she’s off the clock, Hannah enjoys hiking, spending time in the dance studio, or hanging out with her two huskies.

A note from our co-founder, Nadia 💛 “The past couple of months have been taxing for me and Matt. We’ve had the difficult but necessary job of finding a facility that can give our beloved family member consistent support through some mental health challenges he’s facing. This, combined with our full-time jobs, preparing the farm’s next phase of development, and regular “life stuff” has been challenging to balance. We know life is messy, but we are pushing through. If you’re the praying type, we ask for your prayers as we continue to navigate these times. Thank you, as always, for your love and support.”

We’re hiring! Do you love to help others? We want you on our team as our Assistant. If you love being outside, have an interest and passion for growing plants, and enjoy being part of something new, especially from the ground up–this is the job for you! Learn more about this position and apply now: https://www.mossburgfarms.com/join-our-team

We recognize National Disability Employment Awareness Month each October to commemorate the many contributions of people with disabilities to America's workplaces and economy. The theme for NDEAM 2022, "Disability: Part of the Equity Equation," recognizes the important role people with disabilities play in a diverse and inclusive American workforce.

One of our values is to give everyone an opportunity to "play in the dirt". Learn why we firmly believe this by visiting our website: https://www.mossburgfarms.com/about-mossburg-farms

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, between 2008-2016 nearly 20% of the nation’s farmers and 10% of farm workers 18+ experienced some type of impairment. Sadly, there’s little to no data about the lack of access that have to the outdoors. That’s why we’re launching the farm—because we believe everyone should have the same opportunities to get outside. Join our journey of turning a 120-acre timber tract into a disability-inclusive farm by following us on Facebook.

A note from our co-founder, Nadia ❤

"The last few months have been challenging for many reasons -- some farm-related, some personal. Still, I can’t help but look at these guys hanging around without being thankful for the amazing friends that are in our lives. We are thankful for you, now and always."

As we prepare the property for crops, we’re growing some fruit & veggies at our apartment. We have baby corn, eggplant, baby spaghetti squash, baby carrots, baby beets, baby watermelon, baby red choy, and lavender. Eventually, we’ll bring these plants to the farm. Can you guess which plant is pictured in this photo?

One of our values at is to foster community. Since we’re new to the Gainesville/Otter Creek area, it’s taking some time to do this. With so much of our time and energy poured into infrastructure development, the planting fields could use some TLC. Are you interested in joining our work? Please visit www.mossburgfarms.com to learn how you can help us!

It’s ! 💛💙💛 Although there are different kinds of service dogs, these working dogs all play an important part in helping people with disabilities gain greater independence. 🦮🐕‍🦺 Learn more about service dogs from our friends at Canine Companions (where Nadia’s service dog, Watson, was trained!):

https://canine.org/service-dogs/service-dog-month

National Service Dog Month - Canine Companions Canine Companions provides service dogs free of charge to adults, children and veterans with disabilities. September is service dog month!

We’re hiring! Love to help others? We want you on our team as our Assistant (10-15 hours/week with a flexible schedule). Tasks include hands-on, farm-related work (like planting seeds, pruning plants, and packing items) and administrative work. If you love being outside, don’t mind getting dirty, have an interest and passion for growing plants, want to make a difference, and enjoy being a part of something new, this is the job for you!

No experience necessary, although some is preferred. Email your resume to [email protected] for consideration.

At , one of our values is to “let nature nurture.” We support the scientific evidence that elements of nature—and simply being outside!—contribute to a person’s greater physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Can you name a time you felt better because you were able to get outdoors? Share your story by commenting below!

It's , and guess how we're celebrating?! Nadia is working on becoming a certified beekeeper! Thankfully, it’s possible to “bee yourself” when taking on this exciting venture–there are many successful beekeepers with disabilities (thanks to assistive technologies and tools like hive lifters, low tables, and acoustic monitoring devices). We also found some helpful resources on www.beekeepingwithdisabilities.com.

Did you know honey bees alone pollinate 80% of all flowering plants? Unfortunately, habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change are just some of the factors that continue to threaten bees. Nadia says she’s excited to help nurture and protect these pretty pollinators. And, we’ll get to provide delicious honey to our community!

As Nadia waits for Matt to make the property a bit more accessible, she’s having fun learning more about flowers, crops that thrive in Northern , and permaculture! Guess you could say she’s a bookworm! What are you currently reading?

Any idea what this is?

This is a sampling of the inside of one of the trees on the property, taken by a local forester. When we first bought the property, he came by to make recommendations on when we should begin to thin the trees. The darker lines on the cylinder indicate how fast the tree is growing. As tree growth starts to slow, the darker lines appear closer together. It’s one indication the tree may need to come down to allow others around it to grow properly. The more you know!

On this day in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities and guarantee their civil right to key aspects of life including employment, transportation, and public accommodations.

Did you know that, according to the US Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, nearly 20% of US farmers and 10% of farm workers 18+ experienced some type of impairment between 2008 and 2016? Unfortunately, there’s little to no data on the lack of access that people with disabilities have to outdoor spaces. One of our values is to give everyone an opportunity to "play in the dirt". Disability is a natural part of the human experience and should never impact a person's right or opportunity to enjoy all that nature has to offer.

As Matt has been busy cleaning up the property (lots of debris left from when the property served as a timber tract!) and creating pathways to get around, Nadia and her assistants are having fun dreaming up ideas for Mossburg Farms swag! What do you think of these cookies? We can tell you that they did not last long in the Mossburg household. 😁