Care Farming Network

Open Farms is ‘care farming’ for everyone

Published by Eric Williams, Springville Journal

SPRINGVILLE – Have you heard of “care farming?” A popular practice in Europe, care farms are the use of therapeutic farm practices to help promote health, well-being and belonging. The belief is that farming the land, helping with animals and getting your hands dirty will help improve a person’s mental and physical health. Combining the structure of daily tasks of a farm with a supportive environment enables people of all different backgrounds and abilities to drop in and help without having the full time responsibility of maintaining a farm. And you don’t have to be an expert to do it. 

Volunteers can schedule a time to help at Open Farms in Springville, with jobs ranging from feeding animals to planting vegetables or anyway they can.

Jennifer Zeitler is the executive director of Open Farms, a non-profit organization located at 7512 Genesee Road in Springville. After quietly building up the farm and getting the infrastructure in place, Zeitler and the Open Farms Board of Directors are ready for a public unveiling. Over the last two years, they have built habitats for rescue animals, planted gardens and slowly made the farm a place for people to visit, and more importantly, participate in. 

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