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Melissa Valyo-Smith

Certified Recreation Therapist

Melissa Valyo-Smith is a certified Recreation Therapist and Aquatic Therapist. She works with a variety of populations, but focuses on older adults and the IDD population. Melissa is a  Certified Dementia Specialist and is working on her Masters in Gerontology. She loves animals and has 2 dogs and 6 ducks at home. More information about Melissa and her work can be found on her website.

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The Fox Moon Farm Project
1 day ago
The Fox Moon Farm Project

What happens when a team from Lowe’s spends two days on a farm? They build a garden, cover a greenhouse, share a lot of pizza and laughter... and leave with full hearts. 🧡🌱

Lowe’s volunteers from Tappahannock, Gloucester, Williamsburg, Chesterfield and Colonial Heights came out to help us restore and rebuild our Community Garden, which grows fresh produce for families in King and Queen County, where there isn’t a single grocery store.

They worked hard, and they had fun doing it. What touched us most was hearing them say they felt the same thing our clients feel when they come out here: a sense of peace, connection and belonging. That’s the magic of this place. When people work side by side with their hands in the soil, something heals.

Thank you, Lowe’s, for nourishing our community and our hearts. Welcome to the herd! 🐴

Watch the highlights from our two days together 👇

@Lowe’s @Thrive Virginia
#FoxMoonFarm #NatureHeals #CommunityGarden #LowesHeroes #KingAndQueenCounty #virginianonprofit ... See MoreSee Less

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The Fox Moon Farm Project
1 week ago
The Fox Moon Farm Project

There is not a single grocery store in King and Queen County. 🌱

For many families here, fresh vegetables mean a long drive and hard choices, and with grocery prices what they are, that pressure is felt every week. That’s why our Community Garden exists. Since 2023, it has grown into one of the heartbeats of Fox Moon Farm, putting thousands of pounds of free, organic produce each season on the tables of families who need it most.

But this garden grows more than food. The children, adults, and seniors in our Healing with Horses program, individuals with special needs and those healing from trauma, work right alongside us. Planting seeds, tending rows, and harvesting become real practice in patience, responsibility, and teamwork. And there is something deeply healing in knowing that what you grew is feeding a neighbor. 💚

Today we’re overjoyed to share that @Lowe’s is partnering with The Fox Moon Farm Project through the Lowe’s Community Impact Program, a five-year, $100 million national commitment to renovate and revitalize shared community spaces across the country.

On October 15th and 16th, Lowe’s red-vest volunteers will join us on the farm, donating their time, skills, and materials to help build out our garden for the seasons ahead. That means more rows planted, more families fed, and more participants discovering the dignity of growing something that helps someone else.

A special thank you to Maria Flint, the veteran and founder of our Community Garden, whose lifelong commitment to service made this partnership possible. And to everyone at Lowe’s: thank you for believing in our neighbors and our mission. We can’t wait to welcome you to the farm.

Stay tuned for build day photos! 📸

#HowLowesHelps #FoxMoonFarm #CommunityGarden #HealingWithHorses #NatureHeals #FoodSecurity #KingAndQueenCounty #VirginiaNonprofit ... See MoreSee Less

There is not a single grocery store in King and Queen County. 🌱 For many families here, fresh vegetables mean a long drive and hard choices, and with grocery prices what they are, that pressure is felt every week. That’s why our Community Garden exists. Since 2023, it has grown into one of the heartbeats of Fox Moon Farm, putting thousands of pounds of free, organic produce each season on the tables of families who need it most. But this garden grows more than food. The children, adults, and seniors in our Healing with Horses program, individuals with special needs and those healing from trauma, work right alongside us. Planting seeds, tending rows, and harvesting become real practice in patience, responsibility, and teamwork. And there is something deeply healing in knowing that what you grew is feeding a neighbor. 💚 Today we’re overjoyed to share that @Lowe’s is partnering with The Fox Moon Farm Project through the Lowe’s Community Impact Program, a five-year, $100 million national commitment to renovate and revitalize shared community spaces across the country. On October 15th and 16th, Lowe’s red-vest volunteers will join us on the farm, donating their time, skills, and materials to help build out our garden for the seasons ahead. That means more rows planted, more families fed, and more participants discovering the dignity of growing something that helps someone else. A special thank you to Maria Flint, the veteran and founder of our Community Garden, whose lifelong commitment to service made this partnership possible. And to everyone at Lowe’s: thank you for believing in our neighbors and our mission. We can’t wait to welcome you to the farm. Stay tuned for build day photos! 📸 #HowLowesHelps #FoxMoonFarm #CommunityGarden #HealingWithHorses #NatureHeals #FoodSecurity #KingAndQueenCounty #VirginiaNonprofitImage attachmentImage attachment+4Image attachment
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The Fox Moon Farm Project
1 week ago
The Fox Moon Farm Project

Not every farm adventure happens on horseback. Sometimes it starts with a manure wagon. 😄

One of our young friends steered the wagon right through the gate and into the donkey paddock. When it got stuck, he didn't give up. He backed it up, lined it up again and kept going. Then he grabbed a pitchfork and got to work, getting stronger with every scoop.

After chores came the fun part: climbing to the top of the hay bales in the barn, then crawling through the tunnels in the chicken pen on an egg hunt. (The hens were keeping their eggs to themselves that day!)

Real work, real play and real pride, all in one afternoon. That's farm life at its best.

#FoxMoonFarm #FarmTherapy #NatureHeals #ComeAsYouAre #FarmLife ... See MoreSee Less

Not every farm adventure happens on horseback. Sometimes it starts with a manure wagon. 😄 One of our young friends steered the wagon right through the gate and into the donkey paddock. When it got stuck, he didnt give up. He backed it up, lined it up again and kept going. Then he grabbed a pitchfork and got to work, getting stronger with every scoop. After chores came the fun part: climbing to the top of the hay bales in the barn, then crawling through the tunnels in the chicken pen on an egg hunt. (The hens were keeping their eggs to themselves that day!) Real work, real play and real pride, all in one afternoon. Thats farm life at its best. #FoxMoonFarm #FarmTherapy #NatureHeals #ComeAsYouAre #FarmLifeImage attachmentImage attachment
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