As people think more about taking care of the earth, they are learning that the earth takes care of them.
The Providence Farm on Vancouver Island has been showing the way for 30 years and now a group wants to see the concept come to Vernon. The Providence Farm model (therapeutic farm) shows how everyone, regardless of age, physical or mental health, or other challenges, can contribute and help each other make the farm productive, welcoming and beautiful.
Winnie Hunt, a Family Resource Centre counselor, volunteered at the farm last summer.
“I had a chance to experience every part of the farm, the gardening, kitchen, workshops and the day programs. The farm grows produce for the local farmers market and takes part in the community that way,” she said. “The farm treats people as individuals, not diagnoses. There are no labels once you come in the gate. Everyone contributes.”
The Mental Illness Family Support Centre is very interested in seeing a therapeutic farm in the community.
“I can see it working because it’s a very inclusive concept. We want to tell the community about what a therapeutic farm has to offer. There is a level of interest here,” said Dianne Hustler, family support coordinator, Mental Illness Family Support Centre.
She and Hunt are working with Annette Sharkey, executive director of the Social Planning Council for the North Okanagan, through Partners in Action. Partners in Action helps coordinate projects by bringing interested parties together and also assists with business planning and writing grant proposals.
“This fits what we do on so many levels,” said Sharkey. “It’s a place for community building where everyone can feel valued. It’s a pro-active approach that works with access, local food, homeless people, people with a variety of needs. It can provide some paid jobs and employment training. There are so many partnerships possible.”
The plan now is to gather an action team of people who can use their skills to start building the farm. There is a need for people with business, fundraising, organizational and farming skills. In the best-case scenario, there is someone who would like to donate a 10-acre site for the farm.
“This is a project that will mean a lot for the community. It will be a place for people who feel they don’t have a place anywhere else in the community to feel it is their place, a place for them to have success,” said Sharkey.
Hunt and Hustler hope to be able to start small this spring and grow to be a community learning centre, including being a place for people doing the two-year horticultural therapy program in Olds, Alta., to come for practicums.
“There are so many possibilities. People can come for a short time or a long time, full-time or part-time, for as long as they want,” said Hunt.
The therapeutic farm discussion meeting with speaker Kevin Corbett, programs manager of Providence Farm in the Cowichan Valley, takes place Monday at 6:45 p.m. at The Schubert Centre. The presentation is free and there is no registration. For more information contact Dianne at 250-260-3233 or bcssvernon@shaw.ca.
