On April 1st, 2023 Sherwood Farms was started by three men from the homeless shelter in Ann Arbor, MI and Chris Naab. Over the next 2 months we worked as a team to excavate a small undeveloped piece of property my dad has. We excavated the side of a hill, put in a 300 ft. round-a-bout drive, we added water, and 60 Amp power to the property. We had many ups and downs at the property. We were living in two pop up campers, an RV and a large tent for our one oversized resident. From there we moved into the site we currently occupy on Michigan Ave. between Saline and Clinton. We have helped over 10 men get their life back in order and find gainful employment as well as a place to stay permanently. But this is not a handout in fact it is exactly the opposite.
The philosophy of the farm is that everything is better when you work hard. But in our day in age the working is not normally the problem. The problem is getting hired. The problem is knowing how to work. The problem is finding a place to work. The men that populate our streets are talented, hard working, and creative. The problem is directing that energy into something that makes their life better without making someone else's life worse. How to create without taking away.
So, we go to work. We ask for jobs in the community that others may not want to do. Gutters, weeding, brush clearing, Pressure washing, and even putting up the Christmas Lights this November. We value the work more than the money. Because the work feeds our soul and our pockets. But its not just that. We also organize and complete community service projects that bind the community together around a shared goal. This makes everyone feel a part of the success we have as well as creating opportunities for our guys to talk to business owners and decision makers in the community. This will create a dialogue between those at the top and those at the bottom.
If you have it in your heart to show support please hit the button above and visit our GoFundMe page or contact us directly at sherwoodfarms1@gmail.com
