While touring a therapy farm, I got a call that left me reeling
By Joanna Frketich I accidentally became the first client of Thistle House Care Farm. As The Spectator’s health reporter, I was in Brant County on June 16 — a beautiful blue-sky sunny day — to tour the Mount Pleasant farm that will soon provide therapeutic programs, mostly for mental health and dementia. Despite more than 25 years on the beat, I’d never […]
Rooted in Innovation: Care Farming Network and the Rise of a New Kind of Farming in America
By Kate Mudge, Co-Director, Care Farming Network In a sun-soaked field in Tennessee, a group of adults with developmental disabilities tend to rows of vegetables at Old School Farm. In Maryland, veterans recovering from PTSD care for honeybees at Mission Beelieve. At Desert Survivors in Tucson, adults with disabilities gain work experience at a native […]
Join CFN’s Monthly Open Office Hour – July 15th!
Have questions about care farming? Need guidance or resources? Join the Care Farming Network’s Open Office Hour on Tuesday, July 15th at 10 AM (ET) for a casual, drop-in session where you can connect, ask questions, and get support. Whether you’re seeking advice, looking to troubleshoot a challenge, or just want to connect with the […]
monarch meadow carefarm
A haven for traumatically bereaved humans and rescued animals in Massachusetts Our PURPOSE is to nurture the holistic well-being of grieving humans and hurting animals by providing them access to restorative environments and activities. At our carefarm, we foster relationships of support to reduce isolation and provide a source of compassion and companionship. Our VISION is that […]
Join CFN’s Monthly Open Office Hour – June 17th!
Have questions about care farming? Need guidance or resources? Join the Care Farming Network’s Open Office Hour on Tuesday, June 17th at 10 AM (ET) for a casual, drop-in session where you can connect, ask questions, and get support. Whether you’re seeking advice, looking to troubleshoot a challenge, or just want to connect with the […]
Care Farms Cultivate Healing Across Delaware
Care farms provide growth and recovery through the power of nature. By Olivia Montes Ally Kennedy, founder of Grateful Acres, holds Greta, a hen who lives on the farm. Photographs by Angie Gray. Off a busy Delaware highway, down a gravel road, and just beyond a blooming green meadow stands a barn. If […]
Old School Farms is harvesting hope with therapeutic farming!
Photojournalist Nathan Sharkey takes us to Old School Farms! The non-profit uses therapeutic farming practices and employs adults with developmental disabilities, known as “mission farmers,” who grow, harvest & deliver produce to food insecure communities in Nashville. The farm provides a supportive work environment where everyone feels comfortable and can learn about organic, regenerative agriculture. […]
Bridging the gap: Expanding opportunities for employees with disabilities alleviates shortages
By Sloane M. Perron In a world of workforce shortages and competitive job markets, companies are developing creative hiring strategies and looking at untapped talent pools. Through technology and companies actively seeking to diversify their workforces, more work opportunities are being crafted for individuals with disabilities. According to Maine’s Department of Labor, 16% of working-age […]
Now accepting session proposals for the 2026 Care Farming Network National Conference!
Co-hosted with Red Wiggler Care Farm, the second annual conference takes place February 9-11, 2026 in the Greater Washington D.C. area. Our theme this year is “Rooted and Rising: Growing the Future of Care Farming.” Join care farmers, educators, practitioners, and advocates from across the country for an inclusive, energizing event that deepens connections and […]
2026 Care Farming Network National Conference
Registration and conference details Join us for the 2nd Annual Care Farming Network National Conference — February 9–11, 2026, at the Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center! This year’s theme, Rooted and Rising: Growing the Future of Care Farming, celebrates the growth and resilience of the care farming movement. Over three inspiring days, connect with farmers, educators, […]