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Our Story
About Fallow and Bloom
How We Started
A piece of land. A community in need. A decision to do something about it.
Fallow and Bloom Farmstead began with a simple observation: our neighbors were struggling, and the usual systems weren't reaching them. Not because people didn't care — but because what was missing wasn't just a service. It was a place.
We dream of opening and maintaining the farmstead as a space where people can come as they are — to work with their hands, create, share a meal, and find their footing again. No intake forms. No waiting lists.
We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Every dollar donated goes directly to the people and programs we serve — no overhead, no bureaucracy.
"Fallow ground isn't dead ground. It's ground that's resting, waiting, getting ready to bloom again."
God desires to give you rest and abundance. Whether experiencing a fallow season or a season of great harvest, we recognize that God's goodness never ceases.
Leadership
Board of Directors
President
Travis Swanson
Travis was born in Iowa and has over 25 years of experience working in the Agriculture industry. He is passionate about improving foster care and mentoring young people, preparing them for personal and academic success. He attended school in Iowa and received a degree in AgriScience. He is a loving husband and father with ample experience with fostering, adoption and youth ministry.
Treasurer / Secretary
Lindsay Swanson
Lindsay has been a resident of Texas for over 25 years and studied for her undergraduate at Baylor University, specializing in Child and Family Studies. With over sixteen years of teaching experience in the public school system, she has recently earned her Master's in Education in Instruction and Learning from Abilene Christian University. Lindsay is a passionate advocate for children, especially those who have experienced abuse or maltreatment. She has worked extensively with middle school and high school aged children, as well as children with special needs. She is a wife, mother, and author of The Deep Embrace of Redemption: A Survivor Informed Guide to Trauma Responsive Care.
Jim Renfroe
Jim is a native Texan with extensive experience in the oil industry and a personal drive for serving others through his church family. He has served on several boards within the Energy industry, as well as serving as an Elder and Deacon for his home church in both Houston and Athens. He is currently the Operations Manager at Faith Fellowship in Athens, TX, and serves in AWANAS, jail ministry, and leads a small group through Mending the Soul. He has been married for over forty years, has three wonderful children, and eight grandchildren.
What We Stand For
Our Values
Rooted in Nature
We believe the land and all the creatures in it — created by God — has something to teach us. Our programs are shaped by the seasons, the soil, and the rhythms of the natural world as He designed them.
Community First
Every decision we make starts with one question: does this serve our neighbors? Not programs for their own sake — programs based on the needs of the community and focused on healing and redemption.
Safety
This is a trauma-informed, culturally responsive sanctuary designed with diverse nervous systems and backgrounds in mind. We actively dismantle barriers to belonging, offering a low-vigilance space where survivors, marginalized individuals, and people of all identities can shed the weight of masking, feel deeply seen, and experience true community care.
Creative Renewal
God is the ultimate creative force — and we are made in His image. When we create, we reflect that divine nature, and something in us comes alive again. Creativity isn't a luxury. It's how people heal, reconnect, and find their footing again. We make space for that, without judgment.
Follow Along
Stay Connected With Us
Follow our journey on social media for updates, stories, and community moments.
The People
Run by neighbors, for neighbors.
Fallow and Bloom Farmstead is led by a small, dedicated team of community members who live and work in the same neighborhoods we serve. We're not outsiders with a plan — we're neighbors with a commitment.
We strive to promote and celebrate diversity in our volunteers. Our volunteers come from all walks of life: farmers, artists, teachers, counselors, and people who've been through hard times themselves and want to give back. What unites us is a belief that everyone deserves a place to belong.
If you'd like to get involved — whether as a volunteer, a donor, or simply someone who wants to show up — we'd love to hear from you.