The Granola Project was an initiative started in 2022 with the aim to provide neurodivergent and disabled adults with a purposeful and legitimate road to employment. First housed in, The Commonfare Kitchen a space designed by Branching Out Support Services Inc., The Granola Project had a great run and two neurodivergent adults as employees. Chris and Dakotah worked with their support professionals to make and sell granola in the Dufferin Community. However, as COVID-19 dragged on and food costs continued to astronomically rise, the program was put on pause to strategize ways to make it affordable, supportive and keep costs low for consumers.
In 2024 a fabulous community collaboration arose in which The Granola Project has resumed in a way that serves our community, and the employees supported. Now partnered with Headwaters Communities in Action and their Farm to School program, Rebecca Landman has joined the team as lead culinary support. Also partnering with the Orangeville Food Bank and Westminister Church to use their commercial kitchen spaces this truly is a grounded community initiative.
“There are so many benefits to running the project as a pop-up, order-based business,” said Kim Van Ryn, the founder of Branching Out Support Services. “We have been able to employ three additional neurodivergent employees to support labelling and packaging the product. Along with expanding our capacity, we have an order for 750 bags in April 2025, as well as another pop up opportunity for our community to invest in this nut-free, vegan product.”
Standing in the kitchen for even 10 minutes with this group puts on display an efficient well-honed process with everyone participating in their role whether that be cutting up dried apples, bagging granola, sweeping floors or pressing on labels. It’s a truly magical sight.
“Adults with disabilities and neurodivergency are much less likely to have stable and legitimate employment based on the cultural stigma that they, can’t work. We are here to prove that wrong and offer employment at a living wage to people who have brain differences.”
You can support The Granola Project by purchasing granola when the project pops up again in late April 2025. The project is looking for large bulk orders as well as personal orders.
For bulk orders of your granola, reach out to Landman or Van Ryn at: f2s@hffa.ca