Fiddlehead Care Farm is a therapeutic farm in Ontario where counseling meets animals, gardens, and woodland trails. Founder and director Stephanie Deaken shares how growing up with a sister with Down syndrome, a “dream job” in a children’s hospital, and a move to a dairy farm all converged into a place where kids and families can breathe easier.

In this conversation, we explore why Stephanie is a therapist first and a farmer second—and how a therapy pig named Luna, garden beds, and a 20-pound beet can unlock social skills, confidence, and real relief.

You’ll hear:
🐖 How animal-assisted and nature-based therapy work at a real farm  
🌳 What 50 acres of forest, barns, and raised beds look like as a clinical setting
🪴 Why Fiddlehead doesn’t require a diagnosis—and how that widens access
👥 Group magic: teamwork, social skills, and the “giant beet” breakthrough
📈 Impact at scale: 750+ kids served last year with a tiny part-time team
🛠️ Running a care farm: safety, staffing, funding, and starting a greenhouse
💼 Future vision: employing neurodiverse youth to grow and sell produce
🗺️ Getting started: the skills, credentials, and networks new care-farmers need

Learn more:
Fiddlehead Care Farm — fiddleheadcarefarm.com 
Facebook: @GrowWithFCF
Instagram: @growwithfcf

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Free guide: farmeducatorsroadmap.com/fivesimplesteps
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Facebook: @farmeducatorsroadmap 
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