Social Farming (also known as ‘Green Care’/‘Care Farming’) is based on the recognition that working with
animals, plants, soil and being in contact with nature has special value for peoples’ wellbeing. Across Europe, it is
being utilised as a service option for people with mental health difficulties, people with disabilities (intellectual,
physical and sensory), drug/alcohol rehabilitation services, prisoner rehabilitation services, services for older people,
therapeutic activities for children etc(Aideen McGloin et al., 2013).
Social Farming is both a new and a traditional concept. It originates from the traditional rural self-help systems
that were well-established in rural areas before modernization of agriculture and the rise of the public welfare
system. Back in the 50s of the twentieth century in Europe a discussion began on the future of agriculture and
building a community between producers and consumers. Based on the new understanding of community, the
creating of a network of farms leads to:
-cooperation between farms - that allows the allocation of the production and then the production is shared
between them;
ensuring the purchase of products by consumers.
Community between producers and consumers is based on trust, support andequality.Further on quite naturally
one more thing is added:
- including socio-therapy – the community of manufacturers accept people with any disabilities or mental disorders,
who worked according to their abilities.
Residents of the farm are usually: 2-4 farming families who permanently live there.Each community involves
between 5 and 15 disabled people (it depends on the farm capacity), and each of them has certain obligations.
Meanwhile social workers assist people in their daily lives. The social workers usually do not live on the farm. They
travel from the nearest village, but there are exceptions. What does social farming do? First, it shows that a person
with health problems with relationship to the land could improve the conditions of his live, i.e. there is a direct
healing effect. Second – it illustrates that being in a community people could contribute to that effect with their daily
presence and labor. Third – it builds up a strong and cohesive community which can be self-supporting, changing the
fate of everyone, regardless of their health problems. Speaking of such a community, we have in mind the
consumers, as well.