Five years ago,my husband and I bought a run-down farm.As we restore the land,I feel the farm is working its magic on our son's recovery.Since Dev was 20,he has lived with serious mental illness that led him into a struggle with autism (孤獨癥).We've been on this journey with him.

It has taken several years to clear the land,seed the lawn and build garden beds.We come over on weekends and holidays,and have been planting.During this time,Dev has been living in another city where he's concentrating on his own restoration process,having completed a year of treatment.The development on the farm seems to match his progress.

Before he went to treatment,he joined us on the farm.We planted a“guild”in the old apple orchard.It's intended to support the health and productivity of trees by grouping other plants,insects and other components around them.

The desire to recover this land has grown in me and I will be frustrated if I can't make it to the farm every week.I've seen this drive towards restoration in my son as well.He has found his own kind of“guild”that supports him.When he comes to the farm,he'll definitely want to see how the orchard is going.

The farm means a lot to me.Clearing the land calms my worry about Dev.When my hands are in the dirt,I remember that intervention is crucial,and so is allowing nature to take its course.

Reading Check

How do the author and her husband use the farm to make their son recover from his mental illness?

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