Dr Miriam and Malachy Dolan - Dolans Social Farm

Rural Road to Health

Dr Miriam and Malachy Dolan have a social farm in Northern Ireland. We talk about social farming and how it can benefit farmers and rural communities.

Episode summary:

00.45 How Miriam became interested in rural medicine

03.15 How Malachy became interested in rural health and social farming

06.30 What is Dolans Social Farm?

10.30 Who visits the farm and what activities do they take part in?

12.50 How do people find out about the farm, how are they referred to the farm?

15.20 What are some of the benefits of social farming?

17.20 What role does social farming play in the wider community health context?

19.20 What kind of training is needed to open a social farm?

23.50 Do GPs know about social farming and do they understand it?

25.30 Are there benefits for farmers that choose to open a social farm?

29.25 Could any farm become a social farm?

35.05 What does a normal day look like at Dolans Social Farm?

39.40 What are the Dolans top tips for starting a social farm?

Key messages:

Dolans Social Farm is a working farm with cows, pigs and chickens. It is a place where people come, have cups of tea and do some work on the farm. Different people visit the farm, they may have had issues on their life journey, mental health issues or an intellectual disability. They can sometimes feel excluded from normal community life and on the farm they become part of the farm.

The social part is key, a farm is a good place to create social inclusion activities. Through the activities needed on a farm people can develop relationships.

Visitors to the farm do not have to work if they don’t want to; they can just come and socialize. One of the longest attending visitors comes to the farm and plays the guitar. There are no list of activities as it can depend on events at the farm, the season or the weather.

People are referred to the farm through social workers or key workers that work with people with chronic mental health issues or learning disabilities.

Family farms already exist and they are assets in rural communities. One of the biggest strengths of social farming is that you don’t have to go out and build or create something new.

A farm is a good environment for people that have had experience of life on a farm but are now experiencing something like dementia. The farm helps them feel more settled as they feel that they are in a familiar surrounding while also being able to engage with others.

Farm families should already be trained in health and safety as this is relevant for all working farms. Getting involved in social farming focuses the mind on what you should be doing anyway.

Social Farms and Gardens is a UK wide charity, representing 3000 members, 450 social/care farms. They offer training and there is a quality assurance system to make sure you are meeting the requirements of the visitors to the farm.

GPs want to know that if they signpost someone to a social farm that it is safe for their patient and that the service will be available over time.

Priorities for farmers are sustainability, productivity and succession. Farming is a way of life. It is a high pressure profession.

Social farming is potentially another source of revenue for the farm. It can help with succession as children can see that the farm is a vibrant, dynamic and social place.

Years ago farms were social places, now there is a lot of automation and you might not see anyone during your day.

Social farming puts the culture back into agriculture.

Many of the visitors to the farm are also farmers. They come to the social farm as they can meet with people who understand the farming lifestyle and the challenges they are facing.

Activities on the farm happen from 10am to 3pm, 4 days a week. People are generally very respectful of the farm and personal spaces in the home.

Dolans Social Farm

Social Farms and Gardens

Get Green Care Quality Mark Framework

European Federation of City Farms

Thank you for listening to the Rural Road to Health!

Rural Health Compass