Care-farming as a catalyst for healthy and sustainable lifestyle choices in those affected by traumatic grief

Researchers: Richard Gorman and Joanne Cacciatore 

Highlights

• Care-farming resulted in positive lifestyle changes that lasted beyond the intervention period.
• Participants noted significant pivots toward healthier eating, less wastefulness, and a propensity toward sustainable production practices.
• The emotional expression fostered during the intervention improved sleep outcomes for many participants.
• Care-farming expanded participants’ sense of safety, social connection, and enhanced awareness of others and of nature.
• These improved connections fostered a giving and receiving of compassion and chances to re-narrate residual effects of trauma.

Abstract

Care-farms are increasingly utilized as a means of providing care, support, and therapy for a wide range of different populations, enabling people to cultivate social, physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This study explores the impacts of a care-farm intervention for traumatically bereaved individuals, a population at high-risk of poor physical and psychological outcomes. The study examines how a care-farming model can enable and encourage participants to cultivate healthy and sustainable lifestyles. Following their participation in a care-farming intervention, bereaved parents, siblings, and spouses described significant pivots toward healthier eating, improved sleep outcomes, and increased physical activity. Our results indicate that care-farming may have potential to influence positive changes to health and health behaviors that last beyond the intervention period.