Care Farming: When farms become places of care
A new trend is currently changing Swiss agriculture: so-called "care farming." Farmers are opening their farms to people who need support in their everyday lives. The offer is aimed, for example, at seniors, people with disabilities, or individuals looking for a new purpose after a difficult phase in life.
The concept is based on the idea that working in nature and contact with animals have a healing effect. On the farms, guests help with light agricultural activities, such as feeding the animals, gardening, or tending to the fields. This not only promotes physical activity but also gives participants a sense of structure and purpose.
For Swiss farmers, this model also offers an important economic opportunity. As traditional agriculture is often under financial pressure, care farming opens up an additional source of income. Farmers use their existing infrastructure and time to provide social services that are becoming increasingly important in society.
Although the concept has been established in other European countries for some time, it is only now gaining popularity in Switzerland. Experts see it as a meaningful supplement to the existing social system. It relieves the burden on professional care facilities while simultaneously allowing participants to spend time in a natural and quiet environment.
The future of care farming in Switzerland looks promising. More and more farms are showing interest in opening their doors for social purposes. It remains to be seen how the offer will continue to develop in the coming years and whether it will become a permanent fixture of the Swiss agricultural landscape.