Peacehaven Farm is located in the agrarian community of Whitsett on 89 acres of sprawling land. The farm is on a quiet street, with the neighboring houses ,mostly farms, few and far between. Afeeling of calmness is in the air, except for gusts of wind and the occasional sound of rooster crows off in the distance. The farm feels so far removed from modern city living, it's surprising that it's only a ten-minute drive from Elon University.
The farm is fully operational, complete with acres for farming seasonal crops, such as corn, small gardens and farm animals. The farm is home to goats, chickens and ducks, sheep, pigs, dairy cows, goats, one llama and one guard dog, an affectionate St. Bernard and Great Pyrenees mix named Jake.
On the surface, Peacehaven Farm appears to be similar to the other farms in the community. But one aspect sets Peacehaven apart from the others: The farm is run, operated and was created almost completely by volunteers and donations.
Buck Cochran, executive director of Peacehaven Farm, said the concept of the farm is an expanded idea of a community garden, where people can come and care for the crops and animals and make it a true community-supported farm. In addition, the farm serves as a haven for people with disabilities who come to work and volunteer.
"What Peacehaven Farm does is give people the opportunity to help," Cochran said. "It gives them a sense of purpose when they work together to harvest healthy food. There is a dual purpose here around the food that we are growing and also how the farm brings people together."
Peacehaven Farm was inspired by children of Cochran, as well as Tim and Susan Elliott's children. The Elliotts and Cochran are parents of children with special needs. The families became passionate about finding and creating a place for their children to feel accepted and at a peace. Cochran had a long-held dream to create a housing community for people with disabilities, and the Elliotts wanted to create a farm. The families began translating Peacehaven farm from an idea into a reality.
"Susan Elliott was instrumental in bringing the farm to life," Cochran said. "She came up with the name 'Peacehaven,' which really represents what we do here. We wanted the place to be peaceful, a place where people come to work, live and grow."
Peacehaven Farm hosts farm workdays most Saturdays from March to October, where volunteers and community members come to work on the farm. Alyssa Drosdak, senior and service chair for Epsilon Sigma Alpha service sorority, said volunteer duties include hands-on activities, such as seeding the pastures, caring for the animals, planting and harvesting crops, among other farming duties.
"Peacehaven Farm has been one of my favorite volunteer experiences at Elon," Drosdak said. "It's a nice change after focusing on academics during the week to go out there and work with your hands as a team and see things from the start to the finish. Whenever I go out there I'm reminded of the fact that yes, I'm a college student but I have other things to offer too. Peacehaven especially has made me realize how important it is for me to keep volunteering."
Volunteers at Peacehaven Farm are split up into groups, so each person is paired with a community member. People with disabilities are paired with other community volunteers to provide the opportunity to meet new people, work together and share experiences.
"It's amazing to see all the different kinds of people working together and learning from one another," Cochran said. "There's no way their paths would have ever crossed if it wasn't for this farm."
The volunteer workdays usually run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., including a potluck meal for the volunteers at noon. The sense of unity is evident on the farm, with numerous picnic tables grouped together so the volunteers can be near each other.
"The most interesting and friendly people volunteer here," said Liz Bailey, health and human performance lecturer at Elon University. "You see children and adults with disabilities, to community members to college students, but everyone interacts on the same level. It's a wonderful atmosphere to see everyone comfortable and accepted."
Cochran said another goal of the farm is sustainability. The purpose is to provide a healthy environment.
"At its core, this is a project of the community," Cochran said. "If it wasn't for the volunteers, there would be no Peacehaven Farm. This farm belongs to the community. This project is alive and well because of the people who come out to be a part of it"