Jersey Shore Magazine

j e r s e y s h o r e • S P R I N G 2 0 2 1 59 One of the last working farms in Wall Township, Allaire Community Farm is a one-of-a-kind, registered New Jersey non-profit sanctuary with a mission of rescuing both animals and people of all ages. "We are an animal rescue with a mission of inclusion—we nurture with nature," says co-founder and Executive Director Joann Burney. "We support special needs populations—teens suf- fering from mental health issues, vet- erans with PTSD, and local families battling cancer." With faith as their co-pilot, Joann and her husband, Sean, first estab- lished the farm in 2013 on a nearby property after the family had suffered considerable financial losses as a result of the 2008 recession. Joann, a former college Dean, returned to work as a kindergarten teacher at the private school her two children attended while her husband chose to fulfill a lifelong dream. "Sean always wanted to be a farmer, so he followed his passion," Burney said. "It took eight years to get here, but if you do what you are passionate about, the rest will come." Allaire Community Farm became an official non-profit organization in 2015, and in 2018, the farm bought its current location at 1923 Baileys Corner Road, complete with a one hundred-year-old barn. Back to a Simpler Time The property has been considerably upgraded and modified since its pur- chase, including the erection of ten new farm buildings. Strolling the pic- turesque grounds transports you back to a simpler time, where the atmo- sphere and landscape draws attention away from technological devices and news feeds. The gardens and greenhouses on the property support local families with medical or financial needs. On-site buildings include: a pony "To have happiness and joy, you have to have a purpose in life. And you cannot experience pure joy without helping someone in some way, shape, or form," — Joann Burney Joann and Sean Burney, founders of Allaire Community Farm. The gardens and greenhouses on the property support local families with medical or financial needs. continued on page 60 courtesy of Allaire Community Farm Jill Ocone

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