From Dream Seeds to Reality!
Thistle House Farm is a new endeavor for Ken Humphrey and Keri McCallum, bringing their dreams into reality. Ken and Keri have long desired a property outside of town, and during Keri's research, she discovered the concept of Care Farms. Popular in the UK, care farms are government-funded and supported, varying in size, purpose, and function. The main goal of all care farms is to provide a safe outdoor environment for vulnerable groups or those who want to work outside in a social setting. These farms offer the benefits of fresh air, exercise, and the fulfillment of seeing something grow from the ground up – from Farm to Table!
Keri put together a five-year plan to start their own Care Farm, focusing on running Day Programs for Seniors struggling with Dementia and Youth Mental Health & Education. She took the Biodiverse Micro-farming course through the Market Gardener Institute with Jean-Martin Fortier (JM) to learn about small-scale farming as an ecological solution to the environment. This method provides organic produce to the surrounding community and teaches youth about sustainable farming they can do in their own backyards.
Keri also contacted the Alzheimer Society, enrolled in their Dementia Education Series, and is taking a Life Skills Coaching Certification through George Brown College. Ken, the Maintenance Manager, found an ideal property just outside of town, close and accessible, and surrounded by main throughways.
While working for Bayshore Healthcare, Keri realized an important aspect: why wait five years when they could start now? She began pitching the idea to her peers and mentors at Bayshore. With Ken's discovery of the perfect property, their five-year plan quickly transformed into a "this Spring 2025 initiative" as they created Thistle House Farm! It may seem aggressive, but let's see what the winter brings!
Follow along on the blog posts to join Ken and Keri's journey!
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