Farms Work Wonders is a farm-based, nonprofit, social enterprise in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. But here we grow more than vegetables; we are growing the next generation of leaders.
Using our passion for food, farming and hospitality, our mission is to help young people in Appalachia thrive by providing life-enriching experiences and discovery opportunities to help them realize their dreams.
We do this through the development of income-producing enterprises such as our farm, garden market, bakery and production kitchen. Along with our other mentoring and youth-focused programs, these businesses serve as experiential learning environments to provide unique opportunities for local youth to gain real-life skills, experiences and understanding.
The income produced by our enterprises is 100% reinvested back into our program to financially sustain the organization, create a positive impact locally and correct the historically negative economic development in Appalachia which often only created profits for outside companies.
OUR FIRST PROJECT
In mid-2016, we launched our first farm-based enterprise, the Wardensville Garden Market, on the historic 100-acre Frye farm, with the hopes of creating a small farm market connected to a one-acre garden that would create ten new jobs locally.
Today, the farm has a bustling produce market and from-scratch bakery and employs 70+ people, with over 50+ of them local high-school students. Since it’s inception, the Wardensville Garden Market has increased sales by more than 100% each year and awarded over $111,000 in scholarships for our college-bound Junior Crew. The project has also been recognized as Best Charity statewide, Best Regional Bakery, and Best Bakery by WV Living Magazine.
OUR BOARD
PAUL YANDURA
PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
COLETTE LAFORCE
BOARD CHAIR
JONATHAN LEWIS
FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER
MARK LEWIS
FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER
DANIA DE LA VEGA
BOARD MEMBER
MITCH ORNDORFF
BOARD MEMBER
SAM BRILL
BOARD MEMBER
JERRY YATES
BOARD MEMBER
