FARMELDER
FarmElder Erasmus+ project has come on stream with SKDP joining partners from the FARCURA project in this endeavour. The purpose of FarmElder is to examine the needs of elderly people in the partner countries and produce a free online training course and case studies on how social farms can benefit older people. A series of videos are being created to show the beneficial experience which social farming gives to older people. These are now available on www.farmelder.eu along with other national case studies from our European partners. The Autumn Newsletter is here
In September 2023, project partners met at Arouca, Portugal, hosted by ADRIMAG. SKDP was represented by Joseph McCrohan. Work is continuing modules for the online training course on social farming for the elderly. The video which was recorded during FarmElder visit to Glencar and Kilgarvan in May 2023 is now complete and should be distributed shortly. This video will be beneficial as it demonstrates how older people are already involved in providing social farming opportunities on their own farms and in a community garden setting.
KSF welcomed our European partners to Kerry during 10th -12th May 2023. On 10th May, following a project meeting in Kenmare, the group visited Breeda & Pat O’Sullivan’s sheep and suckler farm in Bridia Valley, Glencar, which was a Case Study in FarmElder. Breda O’Sullivan, supported by St John of God Services Killorglin, comes to the farm and helps with feeding cattle and sheep and at lambing time. Farmer Breeda was interviewed by FarmElder team and gave her insights into social farming and her enthusiasm for the project. Anni & Josef Hindelang, host farmers from Bavaria, shared their experiences of hosting groups of people with dementia and their carers on their farm since 2020.
The group visited Kenmare Community Garden, another a Case Study for FarmElder, focusing on the part played by in its development by local resident Denise McClure. Manager of Taobh Linn Centre, Tanya O’Sullivan and Patricia Holbein (SKDP Board/ Kenmare Community Garden Committee member) explained how the site has progressed from vacant waste ground to what is now a haven of activity with a polytunnel, a large number of raised beds and recently planted native trees and fruit trees. Work is ongoing to develop the garden as a space for local school students to learn about nature and how to grow their own fruit and vegetables. This work is being done with the assistance of SKDP Rural Social Scheme members.