By: Mae Cornes
Matthew Gauger has announced the upcoming release of his debut book alongside a national blueprint for “care farms,” a new phase in the nonprofit’s strategy to combat food insecurity and support vulnerable communities through therapeutic farming initiatives.
The book, titled The Essential Life, is scheduled for release in Spring 2026 and will explore Gauger’s personal journey from nightlife industry executive to gardening educator and nonprofit leader. The publication will include lessons on self-sufficiency, community service, and sustainable living, informed by his experiences building a digital following of over 1.6 million and launching Here We Grow.
“I wrote this book to document how small changes in lifestyle can lead to a complete transformation in purpose,” said Gauger. “It’s based on lived experience and years of listening to the stories of people who wanted something different, something meaningful, in their own lives.”
In addition to the book, Gauger revealed plans to establish a nationwide network of “care farms,” 40 to 50-acre properties that will combine large-scale food production with trauma-informed therapeutic programming. Each care farm will serve as both a food resource and a recovery center, providing mental health support and skill-building opportunities for groups such as veterans with PTSD, youth with special needs, and survivors of domestic violence.
The blueprint includes ecological farming methods, on-site group counseling, EMDR therapy services, and year-round volunteer programs. Each site will also be operated by live-in caretakers who manage the land and support farm participants.
“We’re building more than farms,” said Gauger. “We’re designing spaces that offer stability, therapy, and community engagement, all grounded in food production and ecological stewardship.”
The care farm initiative is the next major step in the evolution of Here We Grow, which has expanded significantly since its founding in 2023. In the last two years, the organization has launched free educational programs under The Greenhorn Guides, distributed seed kits and gardening materials, and delivered disaster relief aid in partnership with Operation Shelter in Western North Carolina.
The nonprofit raised over $500,000 in response to Hurricane Helene, assisted in building a 150-person volunteer camp, and continues to support infrastructure repairs, emergency housing, and local recovery projects.
The book and care farm announcement mark the beginning of a multi-year growth plan that will bring Here We Grow’s model of education, sustainability, and support services to more regions across the United States.
Gauger, who shares gardening and homesteading content on social media under the handle @greenhorngrove, remains actively involved in day-to-day charity operations, digital education, and outreach.
About Here We Grow
Here We Grow is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing food insecurity and increasing self-sufficiency through free education, gardening resources, and disaster recovery efforts. Founded in 2023 by Matthew Gauger, the organization operates The Greenhorn Guides, distributes gardening kits, installs community gardens, and is actively developing a national care farm model. For more information or to donate, visit www.thegrowsquad.org.
