How One Colorado Farm is Inspiring Gratitude and Empowerment
Located in Brighton, The Giggling Life Care Farm is more than just a place for animals to roam. It’s a sanctuary born from a deep desire to help others on their journeys through healing and personal growth. The farm was founded in 2019 by local mom and blogger Kristi Hurly. What started as a way for Hurly’s family to navigate their grief became something bigger: A way for Colorado families to come together and pursue emotional restoration.
The seeds of The Giggling Life were sown years before it officially opened. In 2016, Hurly began blogging as a way to process and share her family’s experiences with loss. The Hurly family faced many challenges, such as the deaths of family members and friends, and the loss of their home in a 2016 fire.
“Gratitude was what got me through that part of my journey,” says Hurly. “There is beauty in every journey…It’s like, we’re still here. We’re alive. Let’s just start over once again… Let’s find gratitude in it, and let’s pull it apart and figure out what the lesson is.”
Writing became Hurly’s therapeutic outlet, but the healing didn’t stop there. In 2019, the Hurlys opened the Gillingham Care Farm, a small eight-animal farm. Her family began to experience how caring for animals and spending time in nature helped them process their grief. When the pandemic hit, Hurly realized just how powerful that healing space could be, not only for her own children but for others facing their own challenges.
“I think that [it] was really important for all of us to be outdoors and to open our hearts and to have the animals to help us heal through that time. I think [it] was really critical and crucial for everybody’s healing,” adds Hurly.
In the years since, the Hurlys’ farm has grown into a center with lots of programs and opportunities for families to get involved. From homeschool and after-school offerings to 4-H livestock clubs, summer camps, and special events, the farm provides a space where kids can learn through hands-on experiences, all while gaining tools to support emotional wellness. The heart of the farm revolves around gratitude and connection. Children engage in animal care, teamwork, and outdoor activities, all of which contribute to developing leadership skills, social confidence, and mental wellness.
One of the most beloved animals on the farm is Comet, a 1,600-pound steer who became the star of Hurly’s first children’s book, Comet Can. Inspired by a real-life event when Comet got stuck in a water trough, the story encourages children to believe in themselves and trust their inner strength. It’s been a popular story amongst kids who visit the farm, says Hurly. The farm provides children with an accompanying journal called If Comet Can, I Can: A 30-day guided reflection that reinforces the positive lessons kids learn through the book and their experiences with the farm animals. A second Comet book is already in the works, and Hurly has also been working on a book for adults about the journey from grief to gratitude.
Looking ahead, the farm has plans to expand its programming for adults. With the recent addition of new team members, the farm is actively revamping and reimagining its adult offerings, including inspirational evenings, women’s leadership workshops, and customized events. Additionally, the farm is also hoping to expand its reach by sharing its model with others. Though not looking to become a franchise, Hurley does hope to make the farm’s approach accessible to other communities.
At its core, The Giggling Life Care Farm is about transformation. Turning pain into purpose, and offering a space where people of all ages can reconnect with themselves, each other, and the natural world.
Learn more about The Giggling Life Care Farm at thegigglinglife.com
