by Carol Mowdy Bond
Photos courtesy of Brooke Freeman
About five years ago, the Freeman family adopted an 8-week-old puppy from Country Roads Animal Rescue in Harrah. Around that same time, they launched Natural Freedom Farm in Chandler.
Farm founder Brooke Freeman says the puppy, named Oliver, quickly became part of farm life.
“It started out that Ollie went to the farm with us every day because he was a puppy, and we didn’t want to leave him home alone. His breed is a mix of Boxer and Pit Bull, so typically he was never meant to be a good farm dog. But he absolutely loves the farm!”
Brooke and husband Michael live in Edmond with their sons, Jack and Lucas. Their farm’s genesis began with a spiritual calling. Brooke’s career was in nursing, but she says, “God began stirring my heart to help heal people in a more natural way. I became a licensed health coach, and as I talked to people, I heard over and over things like, ‘I can’t afford to eat healthy. I can’t afford organic. Our family is on a budget.’”
So the Freemans dialed up their spotlight on those who otherwise would not have access to healthy food. “Our focus is on children and children’s health, but ultimately, the family as a whole benefits from our services,” says Brooke.
The Freemans grow healthy food on their farm using regenerative practices, and they partner with nonprofits and organizations that help support children and families living in low-income, food-insecure communities.
“We donate our food through these partnerships to get our food directly to the families who need it the most,” says Brooke. “In addition to donating food, we educate kids on healthy eating through our field trips, where children are able to walk through the gardens, pick and eat. This hands-on education gives children the opportunity to try new vegetables starting from the dirt.”
In addition to vegetables, the farm includes chickens, five donkeys and three cows, all playing a role in regenerative practices through grazing and manure management.
Back at home, each morning starts with Ollie standing by the Freemans’ back door, waiting for a lift to the farm. When the crew heads out for the day’s tasks, he’s part of the action. But during the school year, Brooke drops the boys off at school before she and Ollie head to the farm.
“Ollie and I do chores together, planting, harvesting, feeding animals and anything else that I need to do around the farm,” says Brooke. “Ollie likes to taste test the leftovers we feed the chickens to make sure they taste OK. Ollie is right by my side everywhere I go, and he takes part in every farm activity. He loves going to the farm and watching me work. He really thinks he is guarding me and protecting me. He loves the animals and loves all the kids.”
But if Ollie has to stay home for some reason, that doesn’t sit well.
“On days I can’t take him, you can physically see the disappointment in his face,” she says.
As the farm evolved into an agritourism location, so did Ollie’s preferences. Part of the farm’s mission is to educate kids on healthy eating.
“We offer educational field trips for schools and groups,” Brooke says. “We can have anywhere from 12 to 80 visitors at the farm at one time. Ollie’s favorite part of the farm is when we have visitors. He loves all the attention he gets from the kids, and he loves showing them around the farm.”
Now a social butterfly, Ollie defines the sweet, healing doggy spirit.
“There are many kids who have had bad experiences with dogs, and they are afraid of dogs,” Brooke says. “But when I tell them Oliver is different, and they reach their hands out for him, the joy and relief can be seen all over their faces. Many kids who come to our farm come from trauma or unstable home situations, and Oliver creates a loving space where the kids feel safe, loved and seen.
“This interaction with a friendly dog reduces stress, helps with feelings of depression, and helps lift one’s mood and spirit. The kids who visit our farm not only get to eat healing food from the gardens, but they also get a boost of oxytocin (the love hormone) from Ollie.”
Brooke, passionate about changing the status quo, says, “In Oklahoma, at least one in four kids are considered obese. Children who are overweight increase their chances of diabetes, heart disease, joint issues and other chronic illnesses.”
Through Natural Freedom Farm, she’s helping reverse that statistic.
Check out the Freemans’ donor-supported, registered nonprofit farm, offering year-round tours and programs, fresh produce and annual fundraisers. To learn more about their on-the-farm educational kitchen, follow on Facebook and Instagram, visit naturalfreedomfarm.com, email naturalfreedomfarm@gmail.com or call (614) 531-8784.
