Presented by Jesse Bell November 9, 2005 National Training Workshop Burlington, Vermont

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Presented by Jesse BellNovember 9,
2005National Training WorkshopBurlington,
Vermont
Farming with Autism
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Farming with Autism
Sunrise over Cobscook Bay
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Farming with Autism
I am Jesse Bell from Edmunds, Maine. I have a
developmental disability called Autism.
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Farming with Autism

• Most people who have autism have trouble with
  verbal and non-verbal communication and social
  interaction.

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Farming with Autism

• I have sensory overload and I cover my ears with
  my hands sometimes I hum to calm myself down.

I also rub my hands together to help process what
is happening.
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Farming with Autism

• I need to move around a lot and sometimes I
  dont like staying still.

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Farming with Autism

• When I first get up, I bounce on a
  mini-trampoline to oldies music for 15 minutes
  each morning. This helps me get ready for my day.

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Farming with Autism
Tide Mill Farm is our family farm on Cobscook
Bay. There have been nine generations on the
land.
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Farming with Autism
We raise organic chickens, cows, pigs
vegetables.
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Farming with Autism
I use my John Deere Gator to get around the
farm.
I take things to the people that are baling the
hay.
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Farming with Autism
Each day I carry grain and water with the Gator
to 600 pasture-raised meat birds. They arrive at
our post office as day-old chicks. They live in
the greenhouse and then we move them to these
movable pens.
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Farming with Autism

• I get grain for the chickens and pigs from the
  large bin. The pig feeder holds one ton of
  organic feed that is delivered from northern
  Maine.

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Farming with Autism
When the round silage bales are brought to the
barn area, it is my job to wrap them for
storage. My older brother shows me how to hitch
the plastic wrap in the twine.
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I have to be sure that I wind it at an even speed.
Farming with Autism
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Farming with Autism
I mark it with a black marker after it is all
wrapped. I have to be sure each one is wrapped
two times.
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Farming with Autism
Now a tractor will come to move the bale.
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Farming with Autism

• This is how we heat the greenhouse and my
  brothers house.
• I help split and haul the firewood.

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We had to get the dry bales in before the rain.
I like to drive the diesel Mule.
Farming with Autism
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I use walkie-talkies to stay in touch.
Farming with Autism
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Farming with Autism
I can do lots of things. I need clear
directionsand sometimes I need help to do
certain things.
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I am a member of the Whiting Volunteer Fire
Department. I go to all the meetings and
trainings.
Farming with Autism
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Farming with Autism
A few years ago I bought this 1953 Studebaker
pick up truck. I want to restore it. There was
one like this on the farm in the 60s.
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And on the horizon are changes.
Farming with Autism
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Farming with Autism
organic dairy cows will soon arrive on Tide
Mill Farm
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Farming with Autism

• and there will be many new things for me to
  learn to do when we start milking cows.

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Go confidently in the direction of your
dreams.Live the life you have imagined.
Farming with Autism
Henry David Thoreau
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Farming with Autism

• Thank you for attending this presentation today.

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Farming with Autism

• Do you have any questions ?

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Farming with Autism
 Tide Mill Farms nine generations on Cobscook
Bay Jane, Robert, and Jesse Bell 207.733.7591 w
ww.tidemillfarm.com www.tidemillorganicfarm.com