Designing with Heart for a Farm Full of Hope
Harvesting Hope Acres is a heartfelt nonprofit with a powerful mission: to create an inclusive working farm where individuals with disabilities can learn, grow, and thrive. As a mom, their story deeply moved me—and I knew I wanted to create something truly special. This pro bono project was more than just design work. I partnered closely with the founder to bring their vision to life through a fully responsive website and refreshed visual identity. The site is warm, clear, and easy to navigate, built to support their growth and welcome their community with open arms. From storytelling to accessibility, every detail was crafted with care. We also reimagined their logo to reflect the spirit of possibility and belonging that lives at the heart of their mission.
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The Ask
Sometimes a project comes along that goes beyond design and development—it speaks to your soul. That was the case when I received a message from Allison Hill, the founder of Harvesting Hope Acres Inc., a small nonprofit with a massive heart. She’s a mom, like me, and her message was deeply personal. She shared her vision of building a fully accessible working farm where individuals with disabilities—like her son with severe autism—could grow, connect, and contribute with dignity and purpose.
Their mission hit home for me. As a mother, I immediately felt the weight of her words, the love behind her effort, and the need for this space in the world. I knew I wanted to do more than just help—I wanted to create something special that truly honored the heart of what they’re building.
Allison had a domain, lots of copy written, and support from a few local photographers—but no website, no design, no way to bring their story to life online. Their current site was basic and static. She asked for a simple one-pager. I offered her so much more.
The Design
Designing for Harvesting Hope Acres started with one goal: make people feel something. I wanted visitors to not just learn about the organization, but to feel connected to the story, the people, and the potential of the farm.
I built out a full visual identity refresh, starting with a warm, inviting logo that reflected their values—hope, growth, community. We leaned into earthy tones, soft typography, and photography that captured the authenticity of the land and the people behind the dream.
Originally, they envisioned a one-page layout, but as we talked more about their goals, I suggested a multi-page experience. This allowed us to fully unfold their story—clearly showcasing the mission, programs, updates, ways to help, and eventually even a shop for farm-made goods.
The tone of the design was deliberately hopeful, inclusive, and human. Every detail—from the emotional pull of the homepage to the intentional breathing room in each section—was crafted to reflect dignity and belonging.
The Development
I built the site on Framer, which gave me the flexibility to design a modern, fully responsive experience while keeping everything visually crisp and highly editable. One of the most important features we integrated was a custom CMS that allows the team at Harvesting Hope Acres to post updates, manage a blog, and grow their content as their farm evolves.
We added:
A donation integration so supporters can easily give
A volunteer form to help build out their hands-on community
A blog where they can share stories about farming, disability advocacy, and the causes they care about
A clean backend so Allison—and anyone else on the team—can update content without needing tech support
I built with accessibility in mind, ensuring the site was not only beautiful, but functional for all users, including screen readers and keyboard navigation.
The Takeaway
This project reminded me why I love what I do.
As a mom, I saw myself in Allison’s story. Her passion, her vulnerability, her strength—it moved me. I knew this wasn’t just a portfolio piece. It was a bridge for a community that too often feels unseen. It was a way to help build something bigger than a website—a real, physical space where people can belong, contribute, and thrive.
Harvesting Hope Acres is still in its early stages, but now they have a digital home worthy of their dream—a place where their message can grow, just like the farm itself.
I’m so honored to have been part of this. And I’ll be cheering them on every step of the way.
If this mission speaks to you, consider making a difference. Donate here to support their cause.
