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What
Creating Community wellbeing
Our primary goal is to elevate overall community wellbeing through a profound reconnection with nature. We are committed to nurturing stronger communities, enabling individuals to lead healthier and more active lives, honing essential life skills, combating social isolation, and instilling the confidence required to face life’s challenges. Central to our mission is the fundamental theme of “wellbeing” or people care.
Sol Haven is a sustainable permaculture farm and an educational rejuvenation center. Our primary aim is to unite homeless and vulnerable adults with the natural world, thereby enhancing mental and physical wellbeing. In the process, we also contribute positively to our natural surroundings.
We accomplish this by empowering individuals to believe in themselves and equipping them with the tools they need to build confidence. Our focus remains steadfastly on promoting community wellbeing through the principles of permaculture.
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Why
The bigger picture
Whether you believe in serendipity, opportunity, setting goals or the convergence of universal influence, sometimes vision and ideals are just too hard to ignore.
For Sammuel and Natasha, their vision is far greater than just ecological farming. Their bigger picture is to explore, develop and create a practical environment where this exciting idea can be used to determine a better today and brighter tomorrow. They want to improve the science and prove the application of its techniques to encourage others to get involved in more projects. And what’s more, they have already demonstrated they are well-able and well-equipped to fulfil this goal.
The true inspiration within this project is that it fulfils more than just a vision of future potential. By involving people who have very real needs today, it also encapsulates a genuine chance to change lives and build a community. From their earliest conversations and excited musings about the project, Sammuel and Natasha were determined that it would be a haven of work and development opportunity for the homeless. Likewise, others with rehabilitation, disability and other support needs would be high on the agenda to work for and within the scheme.
As the scope and potential of the idea has evolved, there are now plans in place to develop learning resources and work experience programs for schools and other education institutes.
How
Eco-therapy
Eco-therapy is a formal type of therapeutic treatment which involves doing outdoor activities in nature. There isn’t one single definition of eco-therapy, but it’s often used to describe a regular, structured activity that:
- is led by trained professionals (sometimes therapists), who are there to support you
- focuses on doing an activity, rather than on your health
- takes place in a green environment
- is related to exploring and appreciating the natural world
- involves spending time with other people, although you can always choose to interact at your own pace.
Eco therapy is more than going for a walk in the park or mowing the lawn in the garden.
It is a regular activity that is facilitated and structured that focuses on doing an activity that takes place in a green environment , where exploring & appreciating the nature involves contact with other people.
Research has shown that the benefits of eco therapy can be;
- get out in the open air regularly & become more active
- can take part regardless of their fitness level
- manage your weight better
- increase your flexibility & stamina
- manage physical conditions better
- feel better as endorphins ‘feel good’ hormones are release
- make friends & value social contact
- do an enjoyable & worthwhile activity
- its said “feel better’ & more relaxed”
- are more positive about their life
- learn a new skill or develop an interest
- feel valued – what you do makes a difference
- get time out from stresses & problems
- feel less depressed or anxious
- sleep better
- can talk about problems if you want to
- get out in the open air regularly & become more active
- can take part regardless of their fitness level
- manage your weight better
- increase your flexibility & stamina
- manage physical conditions better
- feel better as endorphins ‘feel good’ hormones are release
- make friends & value social contact
- do an enjoyable & worthwhile activity
- its said “feel better’ & more relaxed”
- are more positive about their life
- learn a new skill or develop an interest
- feel valued – what you do makes a difference
- get time out from stresses & problems
- feel less depressed or anxious
- sleep better
- can talk about problems if you want to
- realise mental health problems can happen to everyone
- gradually build up skills
- see the impact of your actions & that change is possible
- begin to be more hopeful about the future
- gain qualifications & work experience
- enjoy being outside experiencing nature & green spaces
- feel calmer & more peaceful
- get interested in growth & change
- meet others interested in nature & widen social contacts
- feel part of the world – a spiritual dimension for some
- do something to look after the environment
