HATFIELD — ServiceNet announced that Prospect Meadow Farm, one of its vocational programs, is co-sponsoring the inaugural National Care Farming Conference hosted by the Care Farming Network. The event will be held Jan. 13-15, 2025, at UMass Amherst in partnership with the Care Farming Network.

This first-of-its-kind conference will bring together farmers, care providers, and other stakeholders from across the country to explore the growing field of care farming. Attendees can look forward to a rich program that includes farmer-to-farmer learning, inspiring speakers, educational workshops, and farmer panels.

Care farming is a therapeutic approach that combines agriculture and healthcare to provide meaningful activities for individuals with various support needs. This method allows participants to engage in farming tasks that promote physical and mental well-being, social interaction, and skill development. Care farming can support people dealing with mental-health challenges or intellectual and developmental disabilities, or those seeking recovery from various life circumstances.

“The Care Farming Conference is a fantastic opportunity for those involved in this transformative field to connect, learn, and grow together,” said Shawn Robinson, vice president of Vocational Services at ServiceNet. “We are proud to be co-sponsoring this event and to be part of a movement that is making such a positive impact on people’s lives through farming and animal care.”

Prospect Meadow Farm’s involvement in the conference highlights ServiceNet’s commitment to community-based programs that offer therapeutic, educational, and vocational benefits. By co-sponsoring and participating in this conference, Prospect Meadow Farm continues to contribute to the growth and awareness of the care-farming movement.

NORTHAMPTON — ServiceNet’s Prospect Meadow Farm recently secured two significant state grants, totaling $443,365, to support the expansion and development of its facilities and programs. The funding includes a $193,365 Food Security Infrastructure Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and a $250,000 Social Enterprise Capital Grant from the Executive Office of Economic Development.

These grants will fund the construction of a multi-functional production barn at the farm’s recently acquired 17-acre Pittsfield site, formerly Jodi’s Seasonal. The new barn will centralize the farm’s processing, packing, and cold-storage operations, significantly improving operational efficiency and allowing for increased local vegetable production year-round. This expansion will also enhance the farm’s vocational training programs, providing more meaningful work opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and mental-health challenges.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support from the Executive Office of Economic Development and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources,” said Shawn Robinson, vice president of Vocational Services for ServiceNet. “These grants will help us strengthen our mission at Prospect Meadow Farm and create even more opportunities for the individuals we serve.”