Cultivating Fresh, Organic Produce and Opportunities
As an instructional outdoor space, the Sunflower Hill Garden is a medium for educational, therapeutic, and life skills training and offers adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) opportunities to thrive.
Garden Program
Our multi-disciplinary programs and activities are designed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and other chromosomal abnormalities). Led by our knowledgeable and dedicated Garden staff, the curriculum is specially designed to offer unique experiences for individuals of all abilities.
Garden Transformation
Our garden transformation is complete! These improvements to replace the mulch with new accessible pathways and add new shade structures were made possible by a grant from the City of Livermore.
Chicken Parents
Our new chickens have arrived, and we’re excited to introduce the eight “chicken parents” who stepped up at our 2025 Gala, along with the names they’ve selected for our new feathered friends.
- John Marchand (Livermore Mayor): “Annie Yolkley”
- Kashef Qaadri (Dublin City Councilmember): “Peace N. Hope”
- David Haubert (Alameda County Supervisor): “Sunny”
- Misty Jones (President/CEO, Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley): “Chick Shummerang”
- John Bauters (Exec. Director, Revitalize East Bay): “Clucky”
- Holly Sanders (Sunflower Hill Supporter): “Purdy Bird”
- Eric Schwegler (Sunflower Hill Parent): “Bruno”
- Vic Chavez (Sunflower Hill Garden Manager): “Sugar Meggnolia”
We donate over 90% of our produce to local nonprofits
Each year, the Sunflower Hill Garden produces thousands of pounds of fresh, organic produce planted and harvested by our program participants. Over 90% of this bounty is donated to local nonprofits, including Shepherd’s Gate, Tri-Valley Haven, Open Heart Kitchen, Culinary Angels, and One Nation Dream Makers, to support community needs. In addition, we provide weekly flower bouquet donations to Hope Hospice patients and residents of Heritage Estates, bringing joy and comfort. The remaining produce benefits our program participants and is shared through our Farmer’s Market program for Irby Ranch residents.
Co-founded by Christina Bogert and Lynn Monica, the Sunflower Hill Garden, located at the historic Hagemann Ranch in Livermore, CA, broke ground in 2015. The garden was established to offer educational and vocational horticultural experiences for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, creating meaningful opportunities for growth and learning.
