Care farming, also referred to as social farming, is an innovative practice that capitalizes on the therapeutic advantages of agricultural and farming activities to aid a diverse range of individuals and communities.
These demographics may encompass those dealing with learning disabilities, mental and physical health challenges, substance abuse disorders, adult offenders, disaffected youth, socially isolated elderly individuals, and the persistently unemployed.
This pioneering method has been steadily gaining prominence, particularly within the European context.
The ramifications of engaging in care farming span across multiple spheres of well-being. Mental health outcomes involve significant improvements in self-efficacy, self-esteem, stress management, mood regulation, and cognitive abilities.
Benefits from Care Farming Program
- Social outcomes encompass enhancements in social interaction, group cohesion, decreased rates of reoffending, and heightened employability prospects.
- Physical benefits include improved functional performance, heightened levels of physical activity, and better dietary habits. Furthermore, observable shifts towards positive behaviors, like diminished drug and alcohol consumption, are commonly reported.
Care farming represents a comprehensive approach to intervention, involving a spectrum of farming activities like horticulture, forestry, and livestock farming.
Tailored support is extended to individuals based on their specific requirements, with potential opportunities for them to actively participate in farming operations.
This strategy is part of a broader spectrum of green care interventions, which encompass wilderness therapy, horticulture, environmental conservation, and green exercise.
