My attention today is focused on the theme of educational farms and the requirements necessary to open one.
A friend of ours who owns a greenhouse has decided to expand and open one and she has to first attend a training course to get a certification.
Throughout Italy and Liguria, there are many educational farms that open their doors to children and adults alike, allowing them to discover closely how food products are made and how animals are raised and live in a healthy and natural environment, still faithful to the old style of farming.
There are usually many activities organized within the farms that bring families closer to the rural world such as one-day workshops on how to make cheese, milk cows or take care of the animals around the farm.
The activities, in which both children and adults can participate, may also include taking care of a vegetable garden, cultivate an orchard, follow the cycle of sowing or learn about the honey production.
At the end of the day, it is possible to taste the natural and organic products that have been made or seen and this allows children to be more aware of what is good to eat and why.
Pet therapy activities are provided within many farms too.
This therapy is based on the interaction between humans and animals and in recent years surprising results have been found, so much so that it is considered very useful for helping children and young people with behavioral, physical or psychological difficulties.
Donkey therapy is very common, very effective especially for those suffering from personality disorders and depression.
In fact, the donkey has particular characteristics such as patience, small size, softness to the touch and sweetness and they say that patients gradually approach the animal, take care of it and once a relationship of trust is established, they get on the saddle for beautiful walks in the midst of nature, feeling better.
If you want to switch off from the chaos of the city and rediscover mental and physical well-being, perhaps after days of work or study, a trip out of town to one of the many educational farms in Liguria is certainly the ideal solution to spend a day with the whole family where children and adults come together in a healthy and natural context in which to carry out many activities together, having fun and learning.
Animals are soothing in my opinion.
The purpose of the educational farm is to involve guests in the activities carried out on the farm.
In Italy, to transform your farm into an educational farm, you must comply with certain procedures that depend on the region.
Educational farm is a natural environment, a social and intercultural meeting place, as well as an ecological and school learning place.
Animals kept usually are pets and farm animals such as: cats, dogs, peacocks, wild pigs, donkeys, sheep, pigs, rabbits, ponies, parrots, llamas, birds and ducks.
They often have slides, swings, trampolines and a sort of playground for children.
The goals of the farm is to impart knowledge and environmental education to children, foment the interest of the little ones in the habitat of the animals, explain the relationship between man and animal, promote children's emotional needs and creative potential and build a positive relationship with animals.
Children are always happy to visit such farms because they can observe and play, run freely, without rigid constraints other than respecting the animals. They can learn about animals and plants all together and then have a snack or a homemade lunch in a beautiful outdoor setting.
The afternoon snack is often traditional and homemade: no candy bars or packaged food but bread and oil, bread and fresh butter, frittata or a hard-boiled egg with some veggie sticks.
Llamas at the educational farm
Cats at the educational farm
Goat at the educational farm
