We are delighted to share that Alef Trust has just been awarded a grant for a new collaborative project which could generate significant public benefits and interest. Calmer Farmer aims to support food producers’ inner wellbeing and connection to the land, in service of food systems transformation.
In times of increasing volatility, uncertainty, ambiguity and complexity the Calmer Farmer project aims to support UK food producers not only to cope with the difficulties they face, but to actively flourish as they grow food on our behalf in rapidly changing social, economic, and even physical landscapes. Facilitating UK farmers to bring greater balance between outer and inner worlds, we will support them to feel more deeply connected to themselves, others and their lands. Drawing on the best of whole-person psychology and contemporary practices in contemplation, stress regulation, and nature-connection, we’ll guide farmers through an innovative and highly effective inner wellbeing programme. Calmer Farmer will support participants to be more resourced, resilient, healthy and connected in the important work they do for us all.
The project will run 18 months in the first instance, and involves building out an online suite of wellbeing activities which farmers can access on their mobiles, as well as engaging a smaller live cohort for in-depth engagement to help us understand the challenges faced. The project will be led by Dan McTiernan, who is a graduate of the Alef Trust Transpersonal Coaching Psychology programme, currently delivering another project with our support, and who collaborates with us in the Nurturing the Fields of Change programme for holistic change facilitation. Project collaborators include Julia Wright at the University of Coventry, Broughton Sanctuary, the UNDP Conscious Food Systems Alliance, and Oxford Real Farming Trust.
We look forward to sharing the development of this programme with you as it evolves!
No Comments