July Newsletter

Dear HRHF Supporters,

July has arrived in full swing — and so has summer at the farm. Our fifth year is no longer just beginning, it's in full bloom, with three programs running side by side and a barn full of energy to match. Lead from the Heart continues building young leaders on Monday mornings, Farm Forward has our Wednesday crew deep into real projects around the farm, and our LUK Summer Program is midway through its six-week journey between the horses, the woods, and the art table. And right now, our summer campers are wrapping up a week that's been full of laughter, learning, and new friendships. There's so much happening at once, and every bit of it is worth celebrating with you.

Farm Happenings: Take a peek at what we've been up to at the farm

🗓️ Save the Date: Lunch & Learn 

Join us on Wednesday, August 19th from 11:00 AM–1:00 PM at the farm for a free Lunch & Learn, co-hosted with Heywood Healthcare School-Based Services. This is a great chance to meet our herd, watch a live equine-assisted healing demonstration, and learn more about our programs and scholarship opportunities — while also connecting with Heywood's team about the school-based health services, youth mentoring, and family support they offer throughout the region. Lunch is complimentary, and the event is free to attend. Bring a colleague, bring a friend — RSVPs are appreciated to help us plan for lunch.

🏕️ Summer Camp — July 27–31 

This week's campers proved a little rain never stood a chance against a good time. When the skies opened up one morning, the group pivoted to hands-on building projects, turning it into one of the week's favorite moments. Tie-dye day brought a rainbow of creativity, with every camper crafting a t-shirt to take home as a wearable memory. And of course, no camp day was complete without time with our horses — leading, grooming, and simply being present with these gentle teachers, the heart of everything we do here. It's been a week of mud, color, and connection.

🌱 Lead from the Heart & Farm Forward Program update

As we close out July, Lead from the Heart and Farm Forward are both in full swing. 

Lead from the Heart, our teen leadership apprenticeship, is building young leaders on Monday mornings, and Farm Forward, our vocational training program, has our Wednesday crew deep into hands-on projects around the farm. We are so grateful to United Way of North Central Massachusetts for their support in helping make both of these programs possible- helping teens build real skills, confidence, and opportunity through hands-on learning.

🤝 Community & Partnership

Youth from LUK's community have been joining us at the farm for a program built just for them — time with the horses, exploration in nature, and hands-on art. We're now midway through the program, and it's been wonderful watching this group settle in and make themselves at home. Welcome to the herd, indeed!

🌿 Fall Sessions — Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays

While our summer sessions are in full swing, we're already looking ahead — fall registration is now open. Whether it's a first visit to the farm or a return to familiar ground, fall has a way of opening things up — cooler days, the herd settling into their rhythm, and a pace that invites something deeper. Interested in joining us this fall? Register today.

🐴  Volunteer Spotlight - A Different Kind of Crew-  FSU Upward Bound

We usually use this space to spotlight one of our regular volunteers — but this month, a group deserves it instead. Eighteen student volunteers from Fitchburg State's Upward Bound program spent a morning at the farm, and the impact was immediate. They cleared brush along our fence lines, deep-cleaned the VIP Lounge where our elder horse Coco eats, prepped a stall with fresh shavings, decorated rocks for our peace garden, and moved hay between barns — real work that keeps a farm like ours running.

What stood out most was the spirit behind it. Some students came in with farm experience, others had none, but everyone jumped in with curiosity, even when the work wasn't glamorous. Their staff worked right alongside them all morning, and by the end, the group seemed almost sad to leave.

It's the kind of morning that reminds us what's possible when young people are given real work and the chance to rise to it — and we hope to see this crew back at the farm soon.

🐴  Moments That Matter - Leading from the Heart: A New Chapter at HRHF

Five summers in, the farm keeps finding new ways to grow — and this year, that growth has a name: Lead from the Heart. This brand-new 8-week program is teaching middle and early high schoolers what it really means to lead, through patience, resilience, confidence, and empathy. It's more than a program — it's a new generation of young leaders finding their strengths and learning how to use them. This fall, a new group will carry the program forward — and it's clear this unexpected addition is just getting started. Read the full story

💛 How You Can Help: Get Involved

Summer at the farm is in full motion — and there's still room for you in it. Here's how to get involved:

Volunteer With Us — With three programs running and campers coming through the barn, we can always use extra hands. Horse experience isn't required, just a willingness to jump in. Volunteer sign-up page

Make a Donation — Behind every session is a herd to care for, supplies to stock, and a commitment to never turn a participant away over cost. Check our Amazon wishlist for exactly what's needed right now. Donation page

📢 Spread the Word — Know someone who'd love to volunteer, donate, or join a program? Share this newsletter and help grow our herd of supporters.

Five Years In. Still Growing.

As we move deeper into our fifth year, we're carrying a lot of gratitude — for a summer that's brought new programs, new faces, and new energy to the farm, and for a community that keeps showing up for it. The best chapters of High Ridge Harmony Farm are still ahead, and we're so glad you're in them with us.

🐴🌿 With gratitude from all of us, 

Barbara and the High Ridge Harmony Farm Team

Contact Us

978-874-1261 | harmonyfarm01473@gmail.comwww.highridgeharmonyfarm.com |  Instagram | Facebook