Supported in the latest round of funding, Jubilee Farm has launched ‘Boots to Roots,’ an initial six-week programme that will help provide green, outdoor space activity, to help the community to benefit from good physical & mental wellbeing.
Participants will benefit from interacting with different cultures, an intergenerational group of people as well as building their skills. They will be encouraged to ‘have a go’ and take part in veg market garden growing, animal husbandry with hens, goats and pigs as well as other daily community farm activities. Participants will be able to take part & understand more about conservation commitments at Jubilee Farm, which operates farming & conservation in partnership.
The vision of Jubilee Farm is Creation Care in action; it comes from the Christian mandate to care for the world; it is environmental and agricultural stewardship working in tandem, where everything has the opportunity to flourish. From the soil, to the animals, to wildlife, to the people. The Farm welcomes and encourages everyone in the community to interact with Jubilee Farm in any aspect they can, those of Christian, non-Christian and no religion. The typical week on the farm is centred around welcoming the community. Every Tuesday and the last Saturday of the month are open volunteering days and this includes locals from Larne, regulars from across Co Antrim and a few asylum seekers and refugees.
Wednesdays and Thursdays are dedicated to two groups of adults with additional needs, who use the farm to build skills, start and continue projects, as well as benefitting from the wellbeing scope of the farm. The farm is owned by 150 people in the community, governed by a Board, managed by a small team and supported by regular volunteers. It is 13.5 acres split between a vegetable market garden, fields for pigs, goats, hens, conservation and a river plain. Outside of weekly activities the farm welcomes team building groups, sports teams, chefs, pupils, teachers, community groups, church groups and businesses to benefit from farm tours, team building, skill building and wellbeing workshops.
Portia Woods from Jubilee Farm said,
“We are delighted to receive this funding through Brighter Futures and our hope will be to continue to provide support beyond the initial six-week period and have ‘Boots to Roots’ feature as a recurring programme.”
Brighter Futures Trustee Roy Logan added,
“The volunteers at Jubilee Farm work tirelessly within our local community and we are pleased to be able to support their latest ‘Boots to Roots’ programme. This programme will not only support and raise awareness of the importance in preserving our environment but will also improve the lives and skillsets of those who take part.
“We look forward to following the progress of the programme in due course and are thankful to our partners Kilwaughter Minerals for helping us to support such an inspiring community project.”
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