A Different Kind of Farm
“A surging number of U.S. farms are giving people with developmental disabilities self-confidence, community, and connection.“ When Guthrie, a 32-year-old Albuquerque resident with intellectual and developmental disabilities, started working at Mandy’s Farm, he was quiet and lacking in confidence. Over the next few months, he learned how to cultivate soil, grow crops such as tomatoes and […]
Care Farming Network National Conference
“Pioneering a movement, growing a community” The Care Farming Network is hosting the first-ever Care Farming Network National Conference, taking place from January 13-15, 2025, at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. This landmark event, hosted in partnership with Red Wiggler Community Farm and ServiceNet’s Prospect Meadow Farm, will offer a dynamic platform for farmer-to-farmer […]
21 Roots Farm Midwest Care Farming Meetup & Tour
It was a beautiful midwestern day…the sun was shining, the breeze was warm, and there were a dozen care farmers gathered at 21 Roots Farm, located in scenic Grant, Minnesota. 21 Roots Farm was our gracious host for Care Farming Network’s first Midwest Care Farm Tour and Meet-Up, an opportunity for both aspiring and established […]
“Cultivating More Than Crops”
“Care farming” could help farms diversify and foster a deeper connection between nourishing the body and feeding the soul. “I met Muhammad Ayub of Dancing Goats and Singing Chickens Organic Farm in the Harmony Garden — a heart-shaped covered terrace, filled with flowering plants and vines — to talk about steps they were taking to become a […]
Simple Sparrow Care Farm offers mental health care, soothing experiences
BY ABBEY ARCHER A 16-year-old-boy was sitting in the waiting room with his hood on, unwilling to participate in his therapy. Marti Smith, occupational therapist and co-founder of Simple Sparrow Care Farm, observed that he was downregulated, feeling hopeless and depressed. She sent a text the farm’s founder, Jamie Tanner, and told her to “get […]
November Monthly Member Gathering
Topic: Let’s Talk Safety! Liability and Safe Practices for Care Farms November’s monthly member gathering will focus on safety considerations at care farms. All are welcome to share experiences, ask questions, and learn from other care farmers. Guest speakers from Red Wiggler Community Farm will share their knowledge and experience! Discussion Topics Include: Registration is required- […]
Gould Farm’s Agnes Cheese Wins Gold at the Big E
Gould Farm’s very own Agnes cheese has taken home the gold at the Big E Gold Medal Cheese Competition this July! This prestigious event showcases the best of New England cheesemakers and this award is a major accomplishment! Gould Farm, founded in 1913, is the first residential therapeutic community in the nation dedicated to helping adults […]
Farming connects people with disabilities to nature, community and a sense of purpose
Summer mornings start peacefully at 21 Roots Farm. When the youth farmers arrive, it’s possible to hear their footsteps as they crunch their way up the gravel road. The broiler chickens are quietly cackling to themselves, and a gentle breeze rustles through the tops of the trees. It’s already warm, and the farmers gather under […]
Care Farming Takes Root at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina
This summer, Warren Wilson College expanded its commitment to care farming by offering two programs through the college’s Center for Working Lands. The first program, “Green Care with Veterans,” was a six-week therapy group for justice-involved veterans. The second was a one-day course, “Green Care Theory and Practice,” geared towards clinical social workers and others […]
“The Country Side of Care”
This special documentary describes Montana’s Care Farm program in the Flathead Valley near Kalispell, MT.