Ah, ELIJA Farm! 

I used to say that when I finally run away, you could find me hiding in Larry Foglia’s perennial gardens, which his family had nurtured for roughly half a century. It’s a remarkably shady spot for a farm, nestled in as one more secret gem among the back roads of Dix Hills. When I learned he was selling the farm, I understood but was really sad. When he actually got excited about the eventual buyer, and the role he and his dear Heather Forest might play in what came next, I took heart.

The people he’d met were Debora Thivierge and Randy Horowitz, special education experts with a passion for sustainable agriculture and experiential learning. Together, with the help of Larry and Heather, they crafted ELIJA Farm, a remarkable CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program that integrates hands on learning opportunities for diverse populations of all abilities.