A care farm is an outpatient program led by mental health professionals designed to provide therapeutic healing to vulnerable people who entrust the farms with their well-being.
On a care farm, the land serves as a platform to promote health through farming activities. With the help of social workers, therapists and therapy animals, individuals participate in nature-based work and care for farm animals.
The effectiveness and accessibility of care farming have been scientifically proven to benefit diverse populations, such as young children, adolescents, people with mental health challenges and addictions, and people with ADHD, autism, anxiety, and developmental needs.
A care farm is not defined by therapeutic interventions or green spaces alone but by the combination of therapeutic interventions and an active farming environment.
What is a care farm?
Thousands of care farms exist throughout the United Kingdom and Europe and are often linked to social service programs. The care farming industry is well-established and well-respected, particularly in Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, and the Netherlands.
While care farms in Canada are only in the dozens, that number is rising as more Canadians learn to appreciate the benefits of nature therapy and therapeutic horticulture and its positive impact on physical and mental health.
In fact, our Dragonfly Care Farm founder, Breanne Mathers, was also co-founder of Fiddlehead Care Farm in Mono, Ontario, which is one of the first care farms in Canada.
Care farming in Canada
A care farm provides various mental, physical, and emotional benefits.
It contributes to self-esteem, social skills, rehabilitation, inclusion, responsibility, physical health, and self-worth. In addition, it improves confidence, and participants are better able to work independently and collaboratively.
The physical health benefits are spending time outside and in the fresh air, working our muscles and bodies, and learning basic life skills along with forest, farming, and horticultural-specific skills.
Some social benefits include developing social skills, teamwork, independence, establishing work habits, encouraging a sense of community and purpose and personal responsibility, and enhancing trust in others.
It confirms that spending time with others in a natural environment where you can learn and grow is beneficial.