Farmsteads New England

Who are we?


Opened in 2003, Farmsteads of New England. Inc. (Farmsteads) provides supportive day and residential services in a farm environment to adults who have developmental disabilities. We are dedicated to empowering individuals who have autism, developmental disabilities, and others with varying abilities to pursue their chosen path to live a meaningful and satisfying life by providing transitional and long-term supports and services in a rural environment that fosters growth, interdependence and self-confidence. Each residential farmer has his/her own one-bedroom apartment which gives individuals maximum privacy and more of an adult lifestyle while also providing easy access to peers for socialization.


Farmsteads is a 501(c) 3 Tax-Exempt Nonprofit Corporation.

Featured Farmer Spotlight

Dave S.

Dave S. is a longtime farmer at Farmsteads, moving to Hillsborough in 2005. He loves to keep busy around the farm with his daily independent work filling animal water, sweeping the barn and organizing the tools. In the summer he also works in the herb garden; picking herbs and drying them so they are ready to be made into farm stand products! Dave enjoys working in the kitchen and learning how to make something new!

In Dave's free time, the art room is his favorite place to be. Creating new team rosters and drawing each member of the team- he always has a new bracket going!

Dave is a dedicated worker and an amazing friend.

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At Farmsteads New England:

We provide a residential farming community and day services that cultivate family, dignity, and respect for adults who have autism and other developmental disabilities.

We care for our farmers and help them thrive and experience the joy of home, belonging and accomplishment.

We take Covid-19 seriously and continue to go to extraordinary lengths to protect our farmers and staff.

Benefits of becoming a Farmsteads Farmer

Family

residential community support services

Farmsteads fosters a healthy family environment between farmers, their families, and our dedicated staff members who are mentors to the farmers. One of the most gratifying occurrences we see is farmers working together and helping each other.

Accomplishment

adult day care services

What can Farmsteads farmers do? Better to ask, what can’t they do? Among their many daily activities, each farmer shares a valued social role. They are farmers, bakers, and weavers, They also help prepare meals, and help stock our farm stands.

Happiness

autism home support services

We call it the Farmsteads smile. We see it daily among our farmers and residents who reach their potential every day by working on the farm, socializing with their peers. and living productive lives.

Working together through the pandemic: Farmsteads, our farmers, and their families

While we had to enact more restrictive visiting policies during the Covid-19 outbreak, it did not lessen our policy of working closely with the families of farmers to let them know of their successes and challenges. This proactive communication pipeline reassures family members who might be concerned about not knowing how their loved ones are doing or wondering about their safety. We encourage and welcome family involvement. Farmsteads factors safety and security into every activity.

Working with Farmsteads of NE
Supporting our farmers
getting through the pandemic safely
farmsteads of New England in NH

Among our proudest achievements are that most of our farmers do not choose to move away, and no one we support is lonely.  Our farmers have a home and are part of a larger community. The surrounding community businesses are also an important resource (both financially and for material resources). During “normal” times, we have local shop keepers who know the individuals we support by name and are exceptionally friendly to us.

The Farmsteads of New England legacy

The vision for Farmsteads of New England percolated for several years in the mind of founder Deborah DeScenza. Her drive came as a mother seeking solutions on how to care best for a son with significant special needs and realizing there were significant service gaps and needs to be filled. Deborah was no stranger to the quest: she had worked in the field of special education as a teacher, program coordinator, and consultant for nearly 20 years prior to founding Farmsteads.   

More about us and our legacy
supported living services for developmentally disabled
support services for the developmentally disabled

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Farmsteads of New England is a proud member of the following organizations:

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