• Increasing awareness about the unique field of Care Farming and its therapeutic benefits 
• Creating community among Care Farms in the region by hosting farm tours, farmer-to-farmer exchanges, and performing site visits
• Building capacity for meaningful employment opportunities for adults with I/DD

“Individuals with I/DD have been historically underserved and undervalued- approximately 85% of this population don’t have a paid job in their community,” says Woody Woodroof, the Executive Director of Red Wiggler Community Farm. “We know there are more people with I/DD seeking employment at Care Farms than there are existing Care Farms capable of supporting the demand for employment.  Our goal is to help established Care Farms hire more people and grow new Care Farms in the Northeast.”

By connecting Care Farmers, farmers will learn from each other, develop and share best practices, and increase their sense of connection. Utilizing a mentorship program, the Care Farming Network will explore the characteristics of successful Care Farms throughout the US, and the impact  Care Farming has on I/DD workers. From these connections and learning opportunities, Care Farmers will improve their effectiveness, thus increasing their capacity for providing meaningful employment opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental differences.

Click to read the CFN SARE Press Release

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What a pleasure it was to discuss and highlight the care farms operating in the US and talk about CFN’s work to increase awareness and build capacity + connection among US-based care farms. The class explores care farming, or the use of farming tasks and practices towards a therapeutic aim.  Students are introduced to the typical needs of populations served by care farms including older adults, people with SPMIs, people with ID/DD, people coping with addiction, among others. During the campus-based portion of the course, students plan on visiting multiple facilities in the region that utilize interaction with plants and animals as therapeutic interventions Students will gain hands-on interaction with plants and animals as preparation for participation with the Noorderhoeve care farm in the Netherlands.

As care farming is better understood in the United States, it’s heartening to see that colleges like Warren Wilson are teaching about care farming practices, modalities, and providing exposure and awareness about care farming!

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