Farm life shows us that learning is a journey, and growth takes root over time.
"Aspirations give life meaning, turning small steps into big achievements." "Believe in yourself—you have the strength within to achieve incredible things, one step at a time."
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"Aspirations give life meaning, turning small steps into big achievements." "Believe in yourself—you have the strength within to achieve incredible things, one step at a time." 〰️
Learning Journey
Farm-Based Art Therapy
Farm-Based Art Therapy is a powerful tool that empowers organizations to support individuals’ emotional and mental well-being in a natural, therapeutic setting. By combining the calming effects of nature with creative expression, this approach provides a safe space for people to process emotions, build resilience, and improve self-esteem. Organizations that implement Farm-Based Art Therapy enable individuals—especially those with SEN, trauma, or behavioral needs—to engage in hands-on, meaningful activities that promote healing, connection, and self-discovery. Encouraging creativity through nature-based projects, like painting landscapes, creating with natural materials, or animal-inspired artwork, allows participants to express difficult feelings in a non-verbal way. This unique blend of art, therapy, and farm life fosters personal growth, emotional regulation, and a supportive community atmosphere that benefits everyone involved.
Targeted Education Support Plans
Targeted Education Support Plans are individualized learning strategies designed to meet the unique needs of each participant, particularly those with specific learning styles and communication needs. These plans use a blend of visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile approaches to ensure that learning is accessible and engaging for individuals with a variety of learning profiles.
For students who benefit from visual learning, Communication InPrint and PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) are used to provide clear visual aids, symbols, and prompts that support understanding and retention. These tools are essential for reinforcing instructions, providing step-by-step task guidance, and facilitating communication for non-verbal or limited-verbal participants.
Kinesthetic learners engage through hands-on tasks, which are integral to the farm setting. Activities such as planting, feeding animals, and caring for equipment allow participants to learn by doing, reinforcing skills through movement and physical interaction with their environment.
For those who use sign language as a primary or supplementary communication tool, staff members trained in basic sign language ensure that instructions and support are accessible. Sign language enables seamless communication, particularly for participants who benefit from non-verbal or visually accessible language options.
The inclusion of PECS allows participants to express choices, make requests, and share preferences, promoting independence and active involvement. PECS cards can be used to support communication in every part of the learning experience, from selecting tasks to identifying needs and preferences.
This targeted, inclusive approach to education ensures that all learning styles and communication needs are respected, providing a structured, supportive environment where participants can build skills, confidence, and self-expression effectively. Each aspect of the plan is tailored to empower individuals to thrive, making learning both accessible and meaningful.
We are actively exploring opportunities for our courses to become accredited, ensuring that the knowledge and skills gained through our programs can be formally recognized. Accreditation would allow us to offer participants a credential that reflects the quality and rigor of our training, adding value to their learning experience. We look forward to sharing updates as we move closer to this goal
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Goals: Introduce students to the farm environment, establish comfort around animals, and foster sensory exploration.
Month 1: Sensory Introduction to Animals and the Farm
Activities:
Meet and observe pigs, cows, and chickens from a safe distance to understand their behaviors.
Sensory activity: Listen to different animal sounds, feel straw or hay, and observe animals eating.
Focus: Familiarizing with the sounds, smells, and sights of farm life, observing animal habits.
Routine: Daily sensory walks around animal areas.
Month 2: Basic Feeding Routines
Activities:
Guided feeding of chickens by scattering feed and observing pecking behavior.
Introducing hand-feeding for pigs, with emphasis on gentle behavior and boundaries.
Focus: Developing comfort with animal feeding routines and building confidence.
Routine: Students assist with feeding small amounts to animals daily, with close supervision.
Month 3: Simple Animal Care and Observation
Activities:
Help collect eggs from chickens, guided brushing of cows (if appropriate).
Introduction to feeding pigs and cows with simple, consistent instructions.
Focus: Building a routine in animal care, observing animals’ reactions, and learning boundaries.
Routine: Daily participation in small care tasks such as egg collection and observing animal interactions.
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Description texGoals: Strengthen daily routines, deepen involvement in animal care, and introduce more hands-on tasks.
Month 4: Expanding Feeding Routines and Habitat Care
Activities:
Participate in structured feeding routines for pigs, cows, and chickens, with more independence.
Simple cleaning tasks like refreshing straw in chicken coops and observing pig pens.
Focus: Understanding animal needs and developing care skills.
Routine: Weekly responsibility for specific feeding tasks and supervised coop/pen cleaning.
Month 5: Advanced Feeding and Monitoring Animal Health
Activities:
Assist with feeding schedules, including water refills for cows, and mixing feed for pigs.
Learn about animal health signs, like observing for any changes in behavior or appetite.
Focus: Building responsibility and observational skills around animal health.
Routine: Daily animal checks, with simple tasks like feeding, refilling water, and reporting observations.
Month 6: Regular Habitat Care and Routine Feeding
Activities:
Clean out chicken coops, and refresh bedding for pigs and cows in a supervised environment.
Learn to observe cows’ grazing and ensure they have fresh water.
Focus: Encouraging responsibility in daily routines and familiarity with animal needs.
Routine: Weekly cleaning rotations and independent feeding tasks for chickens.t goes here
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Goals: Apply learned skills independently, deepen responsibility, and reinforce care routines based on seasonal needs.
Month 7: Animal Habitat Maintenance and Observation
Activities:
Take responsibility for daily chicken coop cleaning and simple pen care for pigs.
Observe and note the different behaviors of cows, including grazing and social interactions.
Focus: Reinforcing responsibility with independent tasks and monitoring animal welfare.
Routine: Daily independent animal feeding and simple cleaning tasks under supervision.
Month 8: Seasonal Care and Feeding Adjustments
Activities:
Assist in preparing pig pens and cow shelters for seasonal weather changes (adding extra straw, cleaning).
Adjust feeding routines to meet seasonal needs, such as giving cows supplemental feed.
Focus: Understanding how seasonal changes impact animal care routines.
Routine: Adjusted feeding and shelter routines based on seasonal weather, with guidance.
Month 9: Detailed Observation and Record Keeping
Activities:
Keep a simple log of animal behavior, noting any changes in the pigs, cows, and chickens.
Observe egg production rates in chickens, track feed amounts for cows and pigs.
Focus: Developing observational and documentation skills in animal care.
Routine: Weekly check-ins on logs, learning to recognize patterns in animal health and behavior.
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Goals: Reinforce mastery of routines, encourage independence, and introduce leadership opportunities in animal care.
Month 10: Peer Leadership in Animal Care
Activities:
Lead small groups in daily feeding routines for chickens, pigs, and cows, teaching others.
Supervise cleaning of chicken coops and pig pens, with instructors guiding as needed.
Focus: Building confidence through leadership and teaching roles.
Routine: Daily student-led feeding and cleaning, with students assisting peers.
Month 11: Advanced Animal Care and Farm Maintenance
Activities:
Learn about basic health checks (e.g., coat condition, hoof cleanliness in cows).
Begin preparing habitats for winter by adding extra bedding and cleaning thoroughly.
Focus: Reinforcing knowledge of animal welfare and seasonal preparation.
Routine: Weekly advanced care tasks and independent health observations.
Month 12: Reflection and Celebration of Learning
Activities:
Reflect on the year’s achievements by creating a “Farm Yearbook” with photos and notes about each animal.
Celebrate with a small farm gathering to share experiences, perhaps with a student-led tour.
Focus: Celebrating growth, confidence, and connection to animals.
Routine: Final reflection projects, documenting knowledge, and sharing favorite moments.
Wellbeing & Resilience Building
Wellbeing & Resilience Building is an essential component of our program, designed to support the emotional, mental, and social health of participants. Through a combination of nature-based activities, mindfulness practices, and structured routines, this approach helps individuals develop skills to manage stress, build self-esteem, and foster emotional regulation.
For participants with additional needs such as autism, global developmental delay, or anxiety, engaging with the natural rhythms of farm life promotes a sense of calm and stability. Activities like caring for animals, planting, and harvesting teach patience, responsibility, and self-care, grounding participants in meaningful, achievable tasks. These experiences provide a safe space to learn from challenges and celebrate successes, reinforcing a sense of capability and self-worth.
Mindfulness practices integrated into the day, such as guided breathing exercises, nature walks, and quiet reflection, support stress management and help participants become more aware of their emotions and responses. Over time, this awareness builds resilience by helping individuals identify what makes them feel calm and how to manage challenges in a positive way.
Additionally, social skills activities encourage trust, empathy, and relationship-building, enabling participants to strengthen connections and feel supported by their peers and instructors. By cultivating both individual and social resilience, this program provides participants with the tools to face future challenges with greater confidence and adaptability.
Nature-Integrated Life Skills Training
Nature-Integrated Life Skills Training provides a supportive, hands-on approach to building essential life skills for individuals with global developmental delay, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and other learning needs. By incorporating nature into learning, this training helps participants develop practical abilities, independence, and confidence through sensory-rich experiences.
For individuals with global developmental delay, nature-based tasks such as watering plants, feeding animals, and basic gardening are structured to foster patience, responsibility, and routine. Repeating these tasks daily or weekly provides consistency, which aids in learning retention and helps establish a foundation of practical skills.
For those with autism, nature-integrated activities focus on sensory engagement and social interaction. Activities like planting seeds, observing animal behavior, and tending to plants allow for tactile exploration and help in managing sensory sensitivities. Gentle animal care, such as brushing or feeding, can also build empathy and encourage positive social interactions in a low-stress environment.
For participants with dyslexia, the farm environment provides opportunities for visual and hands-on learning that support memory and task sequencing. Learning through guided tasks like sorting harvested vegetables, labeling seed packets, or organizing supplies reinforces essential organizational skills without relying heavily on reading or writing.
For individuals with dyspraxia, nature-integrated training promotes physical coordination and motor skills through activities like digging, planting, gathering eggs, and even simple repairs around the farm. Tasks can be adapted to individual needs, allowing participants to practice movements and build strength while experiencing the satisfaction of completing tangible projects.
Overall, Nature-Integrated Life Skills Training fosters a practical, structured learning environment where individuals can develop essential life skills and experience personal growth, all within a calming, nature-rich setting that promotes sensory regulation and emotional well-being.