The Care Farming Network is proud to feature care farms from across North America in our member directory. You can view our national directory by clicking on “Find A Farm” in the menu above. To contact this care farm directly, you can find their website and/or social media links in their listing below:
Spring Lake Ranch Therapeutic Community supports and empowers people with mental health and substance use challenges by providing opportunities to grow and thrive. Through shared experience, meaningful work, and active participation in an accepting, inclusive community, we help each person develop the confidence and skills needed for recovery.
Each day, residents and staff in small groups participate in all the work involved in keeping a community of nearly 70 people going. There are four crews which engage in five hours of work each day. Our Farm Crew takes care of our cows, sheep, chickens, goats, and pigs, and runs the haying operation every summer. Gardens Crew tends our vegetable gardens, lends a hand in the kitchen, oversees our year-round farmers market booth in Rutland, and does most of the holiday preparation. The Woods Crew busies itself in our 700 acres of forest – felling, limbing, bucking, splitting, and hauling the wood needed to heat our buildings and run our substantial maple sugaring operation. On the Shop Crew, residents build and repair furniture, fix tools, and keep our engines running. Other projects include sewing, weaving, cleaning, painting, landscaping, and all kinds of other work required to keep the Ranch running through all seasons.
Located on the Cuttingsville property, Elliot House offers a supported, gradual introduction to greater independence through our transitional living program. The process includes case management to assist with career or school counseling and life skills from cooking to time management. Residents at Elliot have the best of both worlds with full access to all Cuttingsville programs and services as well as additional opportunities.
Many people in the Spring Lake Ranch Therapeutic Community program choose to continue in independently-rented apartments in Rutland. They manage their own finances, medication, and routines with input from staff, family, and peers. Ranch services for those in apartments include addiction relapse prevention, money management, cooking and apartment upkeep, work, volunteer, or study options, staying healthy and fit, and a variety of other opportunities.
