Care Farms: A Health-Promoting Context for a Wide Range of Client Groups

Care farming is a growing field in Europe and other parts of the world. Care farms are farms that combine agricultural activities with care and support services for a variety of client groups. Examples include people with dementia, people with mental health problems, and youngsters with behavioral and social problems. The Netherlands and Norway are often seen as frontrunners in providing care at care farms. Several research projects have been carried out in these countries. This chapter synthesizes the knowledge that has been generated in these studies. Topics that will be discussed include characteristics of the care farm environment, the programs, and activities that are offered to different types of client groups, and the benefits of care farms in terms of health and wellbeing. The chapter finalizes with recommendations for policy and practice to further advance the field.