Woodturning

Our son, Richard is the woodturner in the family. If you have already met
Richard, you know that he has autism. You also know that his autism
does not keep him from working towards his dreams. He has spent many
hours turning wood in our old smoke house which is now his woodshop.
He has learned to create just about everything that can be turned from a
hunk of old wood. He tends to go for the wood with the most worm holes
or unusual natural figuring from a piece of burl wood. This has all been
made possible with his exceptional woodturning instructor, Larry
Walrath, from Round Rock, Texas. It is amazing how well they work
together to make their beautiful wood creations.

Autism can be limiting or it can be liberating. For Richard, his autism is
channeled into his art. His love of nature, the outdoors and growing plants
and trees, comes all together helping him to be productive and socially
acceptable while having fun and developing his own unique talents.

Our family farm has been such a successful place for Richard to live and
thrive. It is a calm setting that offers challenges and opportunities for
growth as well as interaction with the local community. The small town
atmosphere is welcoming and accepting. Neighbors and community
leaders have been extremely supportive of Richard in every way. We are
so thankful to have found such a haven in such a hectic and confusing
world. It has worked so well for us that we are hoping to extend this
opportunity to others with similar needs. If you are interested, please see
our Autism Farm page or send us an email for more information.