Consultation services
We partner with people and organizations to support the development and operation of care farms and related programming. Drawing on our experience as Canada’s first care farm for people with dementia, we provide a practical framework rooted in research and operational experience to help you navigate the realities of building and running a successful and thriving care farm.
Our consultation offerings
Using project management principles, we offer three structured pathways to meet your unique needs:
Advisor
Foundational consulting that gives you access to expertise, information, and targeted guidance. We will help you navigate hurdles and answer logistical questions to get to the next stage of your project with ease. Can include ad hoc or as-needed services, referencing Green Care Farms® proprietary tools and implementation documents.
Consultation hours: 1-10
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Examples might include: 1) Scoping and defining a new care farming project, 2) Providing expertise on a specific topic such as sensory garden design or population-specific considerations, or 3) 'Ask Us Anything'.
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Collaborator
An intermediate consulting option that combines our expert advisement with hands-on support in the development of a defined project or initiative. Can include moderate access to some of Green Care Farms® proprietary tools and implementation documents.
Consultation hours: 11-20
Examples might include: 1) Collaborating on funding applications or the implementation of a time-limited care farming project, 2) Crafting an educational workshop for health or social care staff, 3) Developing a risk mitigation framework for a specific care farm program.
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Partner
Our most comprehensive consulting option, ideal for individuals or organizations developing and implementing a brand new care farm. Includes full access to Green Care Farms® principal consultant, intellectual property, and business assets. We work with you to drive business development through personalized plans to promote your initiative's long-term success.
Consultation hours: 21-40+
Examples might include: 1) Working with an individual or established organization with a well-defined plan for a new care farming initiative, 2) Infusing Green Care Farms values, assets, and intellectual property into your care farm build or plans, 3) Exploration of fully replicating the Green Care Farms model and becoming a trademarked satellite location.
We offer our prospective clients a 15-30 min discovery call to hear more about your project or program, and explore how the Green Care Farms team can help.
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Don't see what you're looking for?
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One-time consultations or ad hoc consulting services are always available for emerging issues. Please get in touch with us to see how we can support your work.
Who we serve
Our consulting is designed for anyone ready to start a care farm, looking for support with an existing program, or seeking to integrate care farming or nature-based elements into their work. We collaborate with:
Farmers & Landowners
People with access to land who are looking to diversify farm revenue while creating meaningful social impact.
Retirement Homes, Long Term Care, & Residential Programs
Residential programs and staff seeking to establish nature-based care, including care farming elements, on their premises.
Healthcare & Social Service Professionals
Practitioners and administrators aiming to incorporate care farming and related programming into their services.
Social Entrepreneurs
Business owners aspiring to make a difference in their community by contributing to social, cultural, and environmental causes.
Educators & Researchers
Individuals studying care farming models, how they interact with policy and legislation, and training teams in care farming methodologies.
Don't see yourself in this list?
We would love to explore ways to support your initiative.
Our philosophy
Green Care Farms has worked hard to bring care farming to Canada. Risk tolerance and the universal right for all humans to access the outdoors are integral to our approach. We are leaders in thought leadership and economic modelling for outdoor care for people with dementia and we want to support as many care farms to develop as possible. We are able to support farmers and organizations to implement Dutch models of care farming, such as we have, through consulting services with our social enterprise. The vast majority of care farms in the Netherlands are social enterprises which are vital to their success in their economy. We provide consulting services to support the creation of more care farms for people with dementia. We take direction from our clients on their needs and can accommodate financial hardships should that be applicable.
Our areas of expertise
Thought partnership and advisement
We offer comprehensive, evidence-based frameworks to help you navigate operational hurdles and develop vibrant, nature-based programming. We can support the process to determine suitable partners and operators, alongside the formation of local implementation committees to create effective teams.
Strategic planning and risk management
We help you build aligned and sustainable models that prioritize people, planet, and partners. We work with you to develop tailored risk assessment and mitigation frameworks that balance program member safety with therapeutic benefits and the freedom to thrive.
Practical tools and frameworks
We provide you with the tools needed to feel confident, prepared, and ready to support your chosen population with horticultural and farming practices. Our consulting clients have access to Green Care Farms® proprietary assets, including intake assessments, consent forms, welcome packages, liability waivers, risk assessments, and more.
Infrastructure and operational guidance
Whether you are in the early-stages of care farm development or a seasoned care farmer, we collaborate on the design and development of sensory gardens and therapeutic program spaces. We support you with financial planning and business strategies, standard operating procedures, including staffing and stakeholder management.
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