Gadara is a boutique farm offering bespoke outdoor farming and animal-assisted opportunities for all.

about us

Welcome to Gadara Farm

Gadara is a truly sustainable, eco-friendly and animal-friendly small farm embracing mindful practices for wellbeing outcomes. Gadara harnesses Old School Farming Methodology and Animal-Assisted concepts by looking back through historical traditions and applying them to ethical cottage farming. Inclusive of nature, animals, agriculture and community, Gadara is working towards being fully self-sufficient and includes horses and donkeys working on the land with the application of gentle horsemanship methods and philosophies.

Our Philosophy & Models

Gadara Farmers have knowledge in Permaculture, Equiculture, Human Animal Bond and Biophilia which have become central to our inclusive farming opportunities and outcomes. We align with green care and care farming to promote farm opportunities for all abilities and ages. Farming is a great antidote to mental ill-health and isolated indoor screen-based living.

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Old School Farming

Gadara Farm has found a way to value all these principles and include the environment, the animals and the community. The design principles help us work with nature to provide everything we need. We use permaculture and mixed crop companion planting and we use natural knowledge of the land and low-tech farming techniques such as composting, lunar farming and water harvesting.

The orchard, vegetable and herb gardens are hand picked by the children who access our farm with Barefoot Therapists.

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The Animals

Meet our ‘Animals in Practice’ contribute to our therapeutic programs.

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Farm Shop

Our farm shop is run by children who access the farm with Barefoot Therapists to learn skills for life and vocational opportunities.

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Our Offerings

At Gadara we promote healthy lifestyles for locals around the Peninsula.

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Barefoot at Gadara

Barefoot Therapists Programs run at our Farm and offer an individual experience.

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Experience

We offer term by term programs of farm experiences for children

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We welcome everyone by offering a trauma aware, family focused and neurodiversity affirming environment. Gadara Farm folk acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to the land, sea and community. We are located on the traditional lands of the Boon Wurrung / Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend our respects to everyone in our community.

“The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.”

 - Masanobu Fukuoka