Farming as Healing: How Land-Based Work Supports Mental and Physical Health
The simple act of putting your hands in the soil has never felt more radical—or more necessary.
For centuries, farming has been about survival. But for many, especially in communities burdened by historical trauma and systemic oppression, it’s also been a path to healing. From improved mental health to a sense of spiritual grounding, reconnecting with the land offers more than food. It offers restoration.
At Carolina Farm Trust (CFT), we believe that land is medicine. That farming is not just about production, but transformation. And that the future of food justice must also be about healing justice as well.
The Mind-Soil Connection: How Nature Regulates the Nervous System
Research is clear: spending time in nature significantly reduces symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. A 2020 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that even brief interactions with green spaces
