Social Farming is the practice of offering family farms as a form of social service. The farm is not a specialised treatment farm; rather the farm remains a typical working farm where people in need of support can benefit from participation in the farm’s activities in a nonclinical environment. It also creates the opportunity to reconnect farmers with their local communities through the opening up of their farms as part of the social support system of the community.
Social farming (or care farming) as a concept is well developed in some European Countries. Following on the success of the Social Farming Across Borders project, Leitrim Development Company with the support of a number of local development agencies throughout the country, including Wexford Local Development and Waterford Leader Partnership has been contracted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to support and develop Social Farming in Ireland during 2017.
In order to progress the concept in the South East, a Social Farming seminar will take place in The Lord Bagenal Inn, Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow on 5th April @ 7pm. The event will outline developments to date and hear Social Farming experts, Wouter Joop from Netherlands and Rachel Bragg from Care Farming UK discuss Social Farming development in their respective countries.
All interested stakeholders to include farmers, advocates, service providers, families and other agencies and organisations interested in the development of Social Farming are invited to attend.
For any queries, please contact John Evoy, Regional Development Officer @ 087 2311061 or email: john.evoy@wlp.ie
Further information is available on the website www.socialfarmingacrossborders.org