About the Farm

We’re building a community farm where people come to discover empathy, connection, and kindness by learning from adults with disabilities. These lessons come from meaningful experiences with animals, gardens, a bakery, a flower shop, and a farmhouse classroom. Our philosophy is that when you combine nature with the belief that every person has value, you reshape the way we see the world and our place in it.

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At Kindness Grows, we believe that people with disabilities are not just participants in our program…they are the heart of it. They’re not here to be helped; they’re here to help lead the way. That’s why we’ve created a model built on shared purpose and mutual respect, where everyone has a meaningful role.

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Kindness Coaches

Kindness Coaches are adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who lead with heart. They guide our visitors through lessons of empathy, connection, and kindness using a farm setting to help people reconnect with a simpler way of life. Whether they're planting seeds in the garden or welcoming our visitors to meet a miniature cow, our Kindness Coaches are showing us how to live in the present and connect with one another. Each day begins with our Kindness Coaches arriving at the farm, ready to prepare a day filled with purpose and connection.

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Sidekicks
Each Kindness Coach is paired with a support person, lovingly called a Sidekick. Sidekicks ensure that Coaches have the support they need to fully participate and lead. Together, they tend to the animals, prep teaching tools, and welcome visitors to the farm.

 

Our Curriculum
Using a kindness-based curriculum created by our steering committee, the farm offers hands-on lessons rooted in old adages like “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar” and “There’s always room for one more.” These timeless sayings become the foundation for teaching empathy, connection, and kindness. Every activity, from planting to animal care, will be filled with purpose and meaning.

 

The Vision
Our vision was planted by a steering committee made up of people with disabilities, families, educators, social workers, gardeners, and animal lovers. For 18 months, they met regularly to dream up something bold and beautiful…a farm where roles are reversed, and the gifts of people with disabilities are front and center.

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But the real beauty lies in the chance it gives to teach, to nurture, and to leave a legacy.

If you're someone with a disability who dreams of guiding others and being seen for your gifts, this farm is for you.

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We’re in the early stages of fundraising and building local partnerships. If you believe in a world where everyone has something to give, we invite you to be part of this journey.

In the meantime, be sure to sign up for our newsletter to find out about pop up play dates that we will be hosting around Kansas City. We’ll be sharing lessons from our kindness-based curriculum while patiently preparing for the day our farm doors open.

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Julie Wiley, our Executive Director and Founder, has spent over 30 years championing personal choice and independence for people navigating care systems. Her experience taught her a simple truth: when people have control in their lives, they thrive. In 2014, Julie launched Simple Living Solutions to help individuals take control of their in-home care. But her vision didn’t stop there.

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Kindness Grows is the next chapter in her mission, a farm where the community can come together to nurture the land, care for animals, and empower people with disabilities to lead meaningful, independent lives.

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Join us in growing something extraordinary.
Because the seeds of kindness we plant today will grow the kind of change our community has been longing for.