Valerie Jensen's Sweet Work at Gemstone Farm Pops Up at The Prospector Theater and Adds Vibrancy to the Mission

Sweet Work at Gemstone

Val Jensen, Prospector Theater's founder and visionary has given adults with disabilities another reason to sparkle - it's called Gemstone Farm. Located on the Wilton/New Canaan border, Jensen calls farm employees "Gems" and works alongside them to bring good things to life.

Jensen says, "While Planet Earth experienced panic, pandemic and pandemonium, we looked to our backyard and tapped maple trees for support."

Creating competitive and integrated employment, Gems worked under the leadership of Gemstone Maple Master Kevin Meehan and lifelong maple-sugaring prospect, Gabe Kavookjian and tapped hundreds of trees. The end result? Delicious Maple Syrup infused Gourmet Popcorn that is now sold at the Prospector Theater! 

"Prospects (the name of the Prospector Theater employees) drilled, tapped, weather checked, collected, unloaded boiled, bottled and labeled alongside Gems. When finished, Gemstone Maple Syrup made its way to the Prospector Theater," says Jensen.

Jensen says that the work done at Gemstone is a vibrant part of the Theater's mission. "When individuals reach out to us asking how to create a movie theater in their hometown we tell them the story of Gemstone."

Learn more about the Prospector Theater (located at 25 Prospect Street in Ridgefield) online here.