Planting the Seeds of a New Life

This sustainable farm helps women adapt to a world outside of prison.

- EMMA PATCH

PROFILE

WHO: Kristen Powers, age 29

WHAT: Executive director of Benevolence Farm

WHERE: Graham, N.C.

What is Benevolence Farm?

We’re a 13-acre sustainable farm seeking to address the massive gap in housing, employment and wraparound services for women who are exiting incarceration. We focus on building up sustainable livelihoods as well as creating structural change so that people don’t experience incarceration again or can break the generational cycles of incarceration within their families. While they’re housed at Benevolence Farm, they are meeting their financial needs by working on our farm in a living-wage program. Our alumni also continue to receive varying levels of support in any of those categories.

What’s the typical profile of the women who spend time on the farm?