Green Care Farms is Canada’s first care farm specifically designed for people living with dementia. Located on a half-acre plot within a functioning farm in Milton, Ontario, the program offers participants a range of purposeful nature-based outdoor activities – including planting, watering, and harvesting fresh produce. Importantly, the program provides valuable respite to care partners and families.
The program activities are largely held in our Sensory Garden, a therapeutic space intentionally designed to stimulate all five senses. Here, members grow food for themselves, their families, and their communities. The garden’s layout is designed with accessibility in mind, with garden beds at varying heights, and plenty of benches and places to rest.
Being surrounded by nature and engaging in horticultural activities has many benefits for people living with dementia. These include increased physical activity, improved mood and sleep, stimulation of kinesthetic memory, and a reduction in common symptoms like agitation and anxiety.
For the last two years, Green Care Farms has focused on expanding the care farming model in Canada by offering educational courses and consulting services to aspiring care farmers. Since then, Green Care Farms has assisted in the opening of five care farms, with many more aspiring care farmers on their way!
The vision is to have a Green Care Farms for people with dementia in every community in Canada. To learn more about Green Care Farms, visit their website!
Green Care Farms want to help as many aspiring care farmers as possible. If you’re interested in taking their ‘How to Start a Care Farm’ course, visit How To Start A Care Farm.
Green Care Farms also offers consulting services to start your own care farm, please get in touch with us at hello@carefarmscanada.com (they will work with your budget!).