Category: News

Maple sugar season has arrived at Hopewell. We are excited to announce that Norm has completed our new sugar house. Soon tours will be available and we will have more maple syrup available for sale. For updates on our maple syrup production for this year check back to our blog or visit our facebook page.

Construction on Hopewell’s new Sugar House has been underway since July 2015. The new 1,400 sq. foot structure is scheduled to be completed by January 1, 2016—just in time for tapping the trees and beginning maple syrup production. The new Sugar House was designed by Amish Farm Manager Norm Wengerd. Norm also oversees Hopewell’s wood shop. In addition to designing the Sugar House, Norm did the excavation, dug the water lines and is doing all the interior woodwork. Norm also hired local Amish craftsmen to work on the project. The new, more modern facility will allow Hopewell to produce around 300 gallons of syrup each season—although Wengerd points out that output is really dependent upon how much sap the trees produce. Output is directly influenced by weather and climate conditions.

The building now has separate areas for boiling equipment, sap storage tanks, bottling and storing firewood for the boiler. It also has electricity, running hot and cold water, and indoor plumbing. In the past, a generator had to be run to warm the building during winter months. “During syrup making season my whole family is over here helping me,” said Wengerd. “It will be nice to have heat and indoor plumbing come January and February.”

Once the new Sugar House is up and running, visitors will be able to take tours of the facility and watch the syrup being produced. There was no access to the old Sugar House by vehicle. “Because we have a road that leads right to the sugar house, it will be easy for visitors to come and check it out,” says Wengerd.

During autumn, the Clara Rankin Nature Preserve is a favorite place for Hopewell residents to take a leisurely stroll. The preserve’s walking trail is filled with flora and fauna and comes alive with magnificent colors. Residents can swing from a tree swing, look out over a scenic valley and survey a large pond. On the return route they can pick apples and even pet Hopewell’s Belted Galloway Cows. It’s a great place to spend a relaxing morning or afternoon.

See the video here: https://youtu.be/-GzT6S3pSmE

Hopewell recently purchased a new Kubota MX5800 Utility Tractor with a LA 1065 Front End Loader. The 4WD utility tractor is equipped with a 61.4 horsepower Tier 4 Final Kubota diesel engine. It has an improved operator deck with a high-back suspension seat for better comfort. A HST transmission assures smooth performance and productivity. It’s a great new addition to the farm and will get lots of good use.

Hopewell recently installed a new garden area with a beautiful wooden arbor in the center. The garden is located directly in front of the Hopewell Farm & Craft Market. Norm Wengerd, who runs the wood shop at Hopewell, designed and built the arbor. The landscaping was designed and installed by Perennials Preferred of Chesterland, OH. The garden features numerous flowers such as Daylilies. Beginning next spring, the Hopewell Farm & Craft Market will be selling fresh cut flowers from the garden. There also will be plenty of fresh produce available. The garden will have watermelons, peppers, green beans and tomatoes. Raised beds were also installed for growing herbs.

Volunteers are vital to many nonprofit organizations, but not many organizations offer the unique opportunities that may be found at Hopewell. There are many ways to become engaged as a Hopewell volunteer, from occasionally joining daily work crews on the farm to helping the fundraising office plan our annual Summer Solstice benefit. It is also possible to live at the farm while you volunteer.

Hopewell welcomes residential volunteers who live and work at the farm, full-time, for up to two years. These volunteers are given a small stipend as well as room and board. They work side-by-side with the residents (residential clients) and staff to keep the 300-acre working farm functioning well. And they may choose to return later for a second tenure.

Richard is one of Hopewell’s favorite volunteers. He previously volunteered from 2006 to 2008, returned for a second stint beginning In March 2013, and is just about to depart again. Richard has been a true asset to Hopewell. His caring and loving presence definitely will be missed.

Richard has managed a wide variety of tasks during his time with us. He has transported residents to and from medical appointments, run errands for our nursing staff, transferred supplies and mail, and helped with many other aspects of running the farm.

Richard had his own setbacks in life. Once on his feet again, he decided it was time to “give back.” That is when he started giving his time and energy as a volunteer at Hopewell.

Richard enjoys watching the residents come out of their shells and begin to heal. He notices this while spending time with them, especially while transporting them to and from medical appointments. This is often a scary time for residents because they are leaving the sanctuary of the farm to face the stress of medical procedures. Richard is always very caring and thoughtful as he helps residents relax before and after their appointments.

Richard loves Hopewell’s beautiful farm setting, and especially the livestock. He enjoys watching the pigs in their pen and as they run around chasing the lambs. But the thing he likes most is watching residents helping themselves. Richard is a major advocate of allowing residents to work to their full potential, and of pushing them to better themselves every day. He has a wonderful way of helping residents when they struggle, and of leading them to personal success.

Richard’s favorite memory of his time with Hopewell dates to first stay as a residential volunteer. He had the opportunity to take a resident to New York State. The resident had a wonderful time, and Richard was overwhelmed as he experienced the resident’s growth first-hand. According to Richard, joy and wonder described the trip. Richard said it best when he said he has had “a lot of memorable moments” at Hopewell.

We cannot thank Richard enough for all he has done for Hopewell. He will be sorely missed, and we hope he will visit with us often.

While volunteers are extremely valuable to Hopewell, the act of volunteering may provide important benefits to the volunteer, as well. Here are a few of the benefits of volunteering at Hopewell:

• Connect with people, every day
• Improve social skills
• Expand your network
• Share your professional experiences
• Gain new career experiences
• Increase self-confidence and self-esteem
• Experience personal satisfaction
• Combat depression
• Elevate physical health
• Enjoy opportunities for fun and fulfillment

Please consider becoming a Hopewell volunteer. The experience may help your own mental health! Call 440.426.2000 or apply at www.hopewellcommunity.org.

At Hopewell we often employ interns to provide a meaningful and educational experience on our working farm. We recently said goodbye to two wonderful young ladies from the Kent State University, East Liverpool Campus. Kristen and Marlene were real assets, and we were sad to see them go. We took a moment to talk with these ladies about their internships while pursuing a degree in psychology or occupational therapy. They received an inside view of the culture at Hopewell and how it all works.

Kristen and Marlene joined us to meet their required first level of field work assignment. They spent five weeks at Hopewell and made 10 visits. They helped with tasks on the farm, arts and therapy projects and interacting with our residents. It is important when pursuing a degree in occupational therapy that you go into the field and learn about the environment at different facilities.

We love the Hopewell community, and we are not surprised that Marlene and Kristen did as well. We encourage equality and not labeling people. We do not have our staff wear uniforms so everyone feels at home. We make sure everyone who walks into our facility is comfortable. It is important to our healing process to instill the feeling of safety and comfort. Our interns noticed this and great it was to see everyone working side by side. Hopewell also champions teamwork as an essential part of the healing process and both Kristen and Marlene became integral parts of our team.

According to the young ladies, their favorite part of their internship was working with the farm art crew. All of the projects were interesting, and it was great to see the residents working to complete their tasks. The ladies also worked with the residents to add some art to their books. They thought it was important to leave a personal touch behind for the residents, who touched their hearts during their time with us.

Lastly, the interns wanted to share the importance of their first field experience after entering college. Working at Hopewell was an eye opening experience about mental illness. Kristen and Marlene noted that the residents seemed and acted very normal. There was no visual way of telling, who was affected by mental illness, yet they could feel the healing that was taking place.

Although mental illness touches everyone’s lives differently, the ladies learned it is important to remember that mental illness does not debilitate patients to the point of not being able to lead full lives. The patients at Hopewell are living life to the fullest. There are some patients who have severe issues and need intensive treatment for the remainder of their lives. There are also people suffering from mental illness who are thriving every day.

We should do our best everyday to help end the stigma of mental illness. Whether an affliction is visible or not, it is simply an illness. And, if you or someone you love is struggling, don’t view seeking treatment as something to avoid. It is an illness that requires treatment. Don’t be afraid to get help. Do what you can to stop labeling people. A mental illness is not a life sentence and shod not be viewed in negative terms.

We want to send a big thank you to Marlene and Kristen for their hard work! We wish you nothing but the best, as you progress in your careers and lives. At Hopewell, we are always seeking volunteers and interns to help assist us in resident treatments and experiences. If you are interested, you can get more information at www.hopewell.cc/volunteer.

Help us end the stigma of mental illness, remember that whether affected by a mental illness or not, we are all human and “person” is the only label we should ever give to each other.

Hopewell syrup has been tapped, collected, boiled and is now in the distribution stage. For 30 days, residents and staff alike have been working hard on filling an order for Yours Truly Restaurants. For four years, Yours Truly Restaurants has been serving Hopewell’s maple syrup alongside their steaming hotcakes at their 8 Northeast Ohio locations. In past years, they ordered 6,720 1.3oz. bottles of maple syrup and this year they increased their order to 7,000 bottles.

The skills acquired on the maple syrup crew prepare the residents for real world projects. They practice teamwork, patience and logistics. Many of them were involved throughout the whole process and take great pride in seeing the final product for sale and on the tables of Yours Truly Restaurants.

Hopewell maple syrup is available for purchase Wednesday through Saturday afternoons at the on-site Farm & Craft Market. It is also available at the End of the Commons General Store in Mesopotamia.

To see Yours Truly Restaurants’ full menu and to plan your dining experience visit, http://ytr.com/.