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Butler Valley will celebrate 45 years of empowering local adults with disabilities at its Spring Fling Anniversary Fundraiser at the Carole Sund Center Farm in Eureka on Saturday. If you’re in the market for a Nigerian Dwarf goat or seeking a few extra plant starts for your veggie garden, look no further.

For decades, the fine folks at Butler Valley, a Eureka-based nonprofit, have provided intellectually and developmentally disabled adults with supportive services and life skills training through its residential care program that helps participants transition into independent living. The nonprofit expanded its programming in 2013 to include the Carole Sund Center Farm, a four-acre property at the south end of Eureka donated by the Carrington family, where participants learn gardening skills and earn money selling fresh vegetables and eggs.

“We provide a space for people with disabilities to learn new skills and to be more empowered and independent within a community that supports them and appreciates the skills that they bring to the table,” said Alicia Durham, program developer at Butler Valley. “And it gives their families comfort knowing that their loved ones have a space where they’re learning and they’re thriving. As a community, we’re teaching appreciation of everybody.”

A few years ago, Butler Valley added a goat breeding program to the farm, giving participants a chance to care for and socialize the goats, nearly all of whom are certified for dairy and show through the American Dairy Goat Association. (Please, prepare yourself for devilishly cute baby goat pictures below.)

The nonprofit also added a recycling pick-up program, beekeeping and aquaponics to the mix of programming, all of which earn participants a small income. Aquaponics — unlike its artificially formulated cousin, hydroponics — is a closed-loop farming system for cultivating fish and plants. 

“The difference between aquaponics and hydroponics is that the nutrients are coming from the fish, and then it cycles through the roots of the plants and cycles back down into the fish tank, cleaning the water and providing nutrients to the plants,” Durham said. “We use koi, and when they get too big, we sell them to Fin-N-Feather, and they sell them in their store.”

Butler Valley has a similar partnership with the nursery at Pierson Building Center, which donates ailing plants to the nonprofit’s various flower and vegetable gardens. 

“Our day program has gone through a lot of different iterations over the years,” Durham continued. “Having this greenhouse and seeing how much everybody loved working — well, not everybody, but most people! — in the dirt and growing things. … Watching people go from cutting their first boards and then being able to assemble a garden bed — it’s amazing to have that opportunity to share that excitement and joy with people. One of the most rewarding aspects of the job is just seeing people have success in their lives.”

It’s a complex job. Unlike other similar programs in the region, the staff at Butler Valley oversee the day-to-day responsibilities of being licensed care providers while also taking on farmhand and beekeeping duties. 

Harvesting honey.

“It’s a really rare program and it’s a complex job — one of the most complex jobs I’ve ever had — but I’m so honored to have it,” said Morgan Huber, direct care staff at Butler Valley. “It’s all about creating a safe, inclusive environment for [our clients]. I want to be able to create a space that gives someone the same opportunities that you and I can have.”

Proceeds from the upcoming fundraiser will go toward supplies needed for upcoming projects, whether that be sewing supplies for making handmade bags and pillows, or hoof-cleaning tools for the goats.

“We really just want to show the community what we’ve been up to at the farm and show off all of our fun projects,” Durham said.

The Spring Fling Fundraiser will be held at the Carole Sund Center Farm — 4634 Broadway in Eureka. More information can be found in the flyer below.

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