Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carly Van Duinen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Carly, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

New Growth Project is a collaboration of ideas between co-founders. When I was 22 I decided to leave Grand Rapids and move to Colorado to work for a summer camp. Ascendigo, although it has many different programs today, started as a camp with a mission to give individuals with Autism a chance to experience typical summer camp life. At this camp, we taught campers to wake surf, white water raft, rock climb, horse back ride and much more. After working at this camp for eight weeks, I wasn’t quite ready to leave. You could say I found a passion for working with neurodiverse individuals. I stayed in Colorado and was fortunate enough to work for Ascendigo as they built their day program and residential program. One part of the program included going to different places of work and having a purpose on different days of the week. I would assist adults with autism in different job activities, such as cleaning a gym, cleaning a restaurant or working at a farm. One amazing thing I saw, while being at the farm, was the calmness that was brought upon all of us. Ever since those days, I knew I wanted to build a place where neurodiverse individuals could have a purpose, thrive, and learn. Upon moving home to Michigan, I started working with my cousin as a Community Living Support provider. My aunt shared with me her dream to see her daughter in a workplace that was understanding and her passion for growing flowers. So, that’s where the dreams began to become reality. We could barely go a week without talking about different ways that we could make this dream a reality. One day we found the perfect opportunity, a piece of land in Rockford, where we could build a work place that provided inclusive job opportunities in an area where the sensory output is low and the job opportunities are endless. A very exciting part to this endeavor is that the land we were purchasing had been a family farm for 30+ years in which it had been chemical free, as well. This property includes a greenhouse, a chicken coop, and so much more. We are able to use the space for year-round work. The problem we are working to solve is providing inclusive job opportunities in which the workplace is understanding and accommodating. Everything about this place excites me! Vegetables and healthy living, for sure, but most importantly providing a purpose to those who may not come across it as easily as you or me.

Carly, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

New Growth Project cultivates inclusive job opportunities and creates community connections for neurodiverse individuals through the art of farming. Our mission is to provide employment while using systems and programming to assist our employees in learning job skills. New Growth Project provides a place of employment that is accommodating and strives to provide a variety of steps needed to be successful in employment. Our program is built off peer-mentoring. We believe that a peer-to-peer connection is beneficial in learning skills. One way we provide accommodations for our employees is meeting them at their level of skill and placing them in a job that allows them to build on those skills and develop new ones. New Growth Project grows chemical-free vegetables and sells to the community and to local restaurants. Different tasks at the farm include, planting seeds, transplanting seedlings in the soil, weeding, working the farm store and pop-up markets, harvesting and washing produce, packaging produce, and labeling pantry items we sell in the market. We also make soaps, candles, and other products. This addition has enhanced our ability to provide more opportunities during the off season of the farm. Not to mention we use clean products and they smell amazing. New Growth Project was established just over a year ago. We have provided employment for ten individuals. One thing I am the most proud of is to hear how they have been impacted through having a job at the farm. One of the most recent comments I heard was “I have never had a job that understands me the way you do.” Another is, “I love being able to work here because I feel like everyone is nice to me and want to be my friend.” Those two comments alone will carry me through the long, hot days where I feel like tossing my hands up.

Have you ever had to pivot?

We started our non-profit with three founders. Now, we have two. The way it all worked out in the beginning seemed like a dream come true. One founder, myself, as the programming director. One founder as the marketing and community integration director. One founder, as the director of operations, who was the farmer we thought we needed to make this all successful. Only one year into starting New Growth Project, that third partner decided to part ways. Although I will not go into detail of their decision, I will say that this was not abrupt and unexpected. By that, I mean there were difficulties throughout our whole partnership. I could say that one lesson I learned from this is to not go into business with someone you have known for a short time and if you do, don’t rush it and take the time that is needed to make sure you align on all business processes (not an easy thing to do). Although this resignation was not abrupt, it definitely caused some hiccups for us. We have learned a lot of to-do’s and not to-do’s. There were moments of thinking, “how can we farm, without a farmer?” and moments of relief that we could make strides in ways we felt we couldn’t in the year prior. We are six months past that resignation and thriving. Looking back at it now, I feel like there was so much I could have done in the first year had communication been more prevalent. My advice: communicate with your business partner, team, and anyone involved in your business. Even if it is hard, it will always be better in the long run. This pivot involved making plans to farm less land than the year prior and finding new outlets to sell our product to because the ones we were provided with were not as planned. As well as, pivoting to other areas of business that was not just farming to help us succeed.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I feel that managing a team holds you to a standard. For me and my personality, this is helpful. I couldn’t imagine holding a standard for others that I do not hold for myself. For our business specifically, we strive to be real. I do not feel there is a need to mask your struggles to a point that it impacts your workday. To implement that, I check-in with my staff and peer-mentor volunteers. I strive to build a personal relationship with my staff along with setting boundaries. One way we maintain high morale is by having weekly team meetings. Also, I believe it is important for staff to be called out on what they are doing well. We have a shout-out channel on our communication program. Shout-outs boost morale and provide a space for others to strive for that role. Above all managing a team means you have to listen. If you listen and provide time for someone to speak their mind you provide a welcoming environment. It meant a lot to me in my prior employment, so I plan to keep that apart of our team management.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thenewgrowthproject.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newgrowthproject/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewGrowthProjectFarm
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-growth-project/
• Other: Volunteer at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4da8a923aafdc43-newgrowth#/

Image Credits
Randy Van Duinen Photography