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Appeal for more farmers to sign up to 'social farming' initiative

Andrea feeding one of the lambs, social farming gives participants the opportunity for inclusion by taking part in day-to-day farm activities
Andrea feeding one of the lambs, social farming gives participants the opportunity for inclusion by taking part in day-to-day farm activities

More farmers are needed to keep up with the growing demand for "social farming" in Ireland.

Social Farming Ireland is appealing to farmers around the country to sign up to its programme.

It gives participants the opportunity for inclusion, to increase self-esteem and improve health and well-being by taking part in day-to-day farm activities on family farms.

Last year, more than 800 people with different health and social care needs took part in social farming on 127 farms nationwide.

National coordinator Helen Doherty said that Social Farming Ireland was experiencing "significant demand".

"We don't have enough farms to offer in a quite a number of areas, in some counties we only have one or two farms. So we really need more farmers who think this might be for them to get involved in social farming."

She said there were certain "pockets" around the country where there was a particular shortage, including Monaghan and Louth.

Ms Doherty said that people who take part can achieve "fantastic outcomes", by building confidence, self-esteem and learning farm skills.

"We are talking about vulnerable people. People with disabilities, mental health conditions, young people who are having difficulty in schools, or young people exiting the justice system. They all benefit from spending time on a farm," she said.

"On a farm, you get to connect with nature and animals. It's a wonderful place to be. This is not an institutional setting, and a lot of people who engage with social farming have a lot of engagement with institutions."

Richard Morean has been social farming on his farm in Mount Nugent in Cavan for more than ten years.

With a mixed farm of tillage, cattle and sheep, there is plenty for people to get involved in when they come.

Richard says social farming has added value to life on the farm

Participants come to his farm on one day every week.

"They get here at about 11am. Then they do some light jobs, weather dependent, like checking the stock, doing some fencing or gardening. Some of the participants like to work around the cattle, others don’t. So I ask them what they want to do, and they can pick and choose what they want to do on the morning," he said.

Richard said that social farming provides a structure around a working day that people may not have had the chance to experience elsewhere.

"They can get the confidence to understand that they can do something they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do before."

For him and his family, he said social farming has added value to life on the farm and has connected them with the community and people they might never have connected with otherwise.

Andrea Walsh is one of those currently on the programme on Richard’s farm. She is part of a group who are supported by Rehab Care in Cavan.

Andrea said that working with animals is something she has wanted to do for a long time

The 31-year-old is enjoying the experience and has her favourite jobs to do when she arrives - feeding the lambs.

"They’re good pets. I enjoy feeding them. I love it. I love working with animals, it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time," she said.

While most participants visit the farms in blocks of a few days a week for a certain amount of time, for others, it has led to employment.

Michael Cusack Smith now has a part time job on the farm, after doing social farming last year.

"I thought it was interesting to be seeing something different," he said.

"A typical day, you might be out stitching fences, putting up new wires, fixing sheep wires, or doing some gardening," he said.

Michael says work on the farm varies from week to week

"It’s actually enjoyable, because you learn something new every day. Every day is like a school day," said Michael.

John Murphy has been working here for the last nine years, after doing a three-week stint on the farm.

"It’s my first ever job, I’m very proud of it," he said.

"I’m here nine years, a long time. I work part-time, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, nine to five," he said.

"Every day is different. One day you’re moving livestock, doing the fencing, doing the timber and the general maintenance of the grounds."

John said the thing he loves most about the job is the freedom.

"Once you’re outside you have more freedom, you can feel the air or rain on your face, it’s more relaxed," he said.

John has seen other participants come and go over the years.

"On the first day they were very nervous, but as time goes on they get more confidence in themselves and working on the farm."