Farming for Health / Wageningen UR Frontis Series Bd.13 (PDF)

The utilization of agricultural farms as a base for promoting human mental and physical health and social well-being is a new promising development. On farms, the animals, the plants, the garden, the forest and the landscape are used in recreational or work-related activities for psychiatric patients, people with learning disabilities, people with a drug history, problem youth, burnt-out and elderly people and social-service clients. If not pure therapy, such activities may have therapeutic value according to extensive experience. The numbers of such multifunctional farms offering Green Care services is increasing rapidly in many countries. The positive experiences seem to be similar in different countries: working on the farm contributes to self-esteem, social skills, rehabilitation, inclusion, responsibility, physical health and sense of purpose. Important recognized qualities of Green Care farms are the space, quietness, useful work, diverse activities, caring activities, the working with plants and animals, and the protective and caring environment of the farmers' family and social community. Social farming appears as an evolving, dynamic scenario, which is gaining increasing attention from multiple stakeholders. The first part of this book contains scientific papers dealing with different aspects of Farming for Health. The second part describes the situation in different countries. TOC:Preface.- Thematic studies: 1. Theoretical models for research and program development in agriculture and health care: avoiding random acts of research.- 2. Contributions of natural elements and areas in residential environments to human health and well-being.- 3. Effects of interactions between humans and domesticated animals.- 4. People-plant interaction: the physiological, psychological and sociological effects of plants on people.- 5. Social services as supplementary on-farm activity for mentally disabled people.- 6. The lay beliefs about Farming for Health.- 7. The contribution of care farms to landscapes of the future: a challenge of multifunctional agriculture.- 8. Long-term care in Europe: an introduction.-Country studies: 9. Green care in Norway: farms as a resource for the educational, health and social sector.- 10. 'Nature and Health' in Sweden.- 11. Farming for Health in Finland.- 12. Care farms and care gardens: horticulture as therapy in the UK.- 13. Farming for Health in The Netherlands.-14. Farming for Health - the situation in Flanders.- 15. Farming for Health: aspects from Germany.- 16. INTEGRATION: youth welfare and sustainable development in Switzerland.- 17. Farming for Health in Austria: farms, horticultural therapy, animal-assisted therapy.- 18. Farming for Health in Slovenia.- 19. Farming and social-care combinations in Poland.- 20. Farming for Health in Italy.- 21. Agriculture and health care: the care of plants and animals for therapy and rehabilitation in the United States.- Conclusions: 22. Farming for Health across Europe: comparison between countries, and recommendations for a research and policy agenda.