A care farm is a place where people can go to be in nature, be with farm animals, help take care of them and take care of the land. Being in nature is one of the best medicines, and taking care of someone else, or the land itself, is very healing.
When you’re going through a hard time, it is tempting to fall into self-pity. You might think you’re the only one going through difficulties. Being with others, and working towards a common goal, will help you remember you’re not alone.
Darren and Teresa are creating a caring tribe of people where kindness rules. Everyone loves alpacas and they’re learning how to be the best versions of themselves. You can come to the farm to help, or to have a safe, serene setting to heal in.
What you can expect
Our farm is a very peaceful place where we raise alpacas, chickens, cats and dogs. It is generally quiet and tranquil, although the alpacas will sometimes chase each other or wrestle with each other! The farm is a bit like a park, but unlike city parks, you don’t have to worry about strangers being around. We have lots of birds singing, and in spring, the frogs serenade us. Our dogs do bark but are very friendly. The farm is not like a golf course – we have weeds growing in our grass, bees enjoying the clover, and some poop! Alpacas poop in common poop piles, so you only have to watch our for the occasional dog poo. Our goal is for the majority of the yard to be safe enough to walk around barefoot, if you would like to.
Some Reasons You Might Want to Come
Because you’re struggling
- You’ve gotten a big, scary diagnosis and you need time to think about what to do next.
- You are grieving the loss of a loved one.
- You’ve been through a major life event and need time to reset.
- You need to get away from the city and spend quiet time in nature.
Because you want to help
- You agree that taking care of each other is important and you want to put that into action.
- You think alpacas are the cutest ever and want to help us out on the farm.
- You have children and you would like them to have some farm experiences.
A Little More Info on How it Works
We have care days and work days. Care days are set aside for peace and tranquility, and you can come by yourself or with a close friend or family member who you want or need to talk to. We have several beautiful areas on the farm where you can sit in nature and enjoy the quiet. You may still hear traffic go by occasionally on the road, but it’s noticeably quieter than being in a big city.
We have some lovely nature trails that you can walk on if you would like. We have beautiful large trees you may enjoy spending time under. You can also just sit and talk with a friend or with Darren or Teresa.
If you would like, you can also join us on a work day. These are work bees that happen in order to take care of the land, farm animals or buildings. They are not terribly strenuous or difficult, and we’ll let you know how to dress for work. Work bees are a lot of fun, and you may experience an emotional benefit from helping others, too!
All access to our land is completely free; you can make a donation if you would like, but there is absolutely no pressure to do so. If you would like to give us a donation, please be aware we cannot issue receipts for tax purposes.
The farm is not child-proof – not even a little. It really is a place for adults or very well-supervised children. It would be impossible to child-proof, so keep this in mind.
It is generally not a good idea to bring your dog here, as it may chase the alpacas and even get hurt doing so as the alpacas will defend themselves! And yes, alpacas do spit, but only if they are very scared or annoyed, and visitors are rarely in danger of being spit on. If you would like to bring a dog here, you should talk to Darren and Teresa first and get prior permission.
