If you have ever gone to the woods with me, I must love you very much.
-Mary Oliver
-Mary Oliver
A care forest is a public or private woodland that is tended to by a person who is committed to practicing empathy, healthy boundaries, and hospitality to people who visit.
Inspired by the care farm movement and informed by research demonstrating the benefits of intentional contact with nature, a care forest is a stewarded space that promotes human and environmental restoration and balance.
The aim is to combine small-scale conservation with intentional human connection to create better mental and environmental health. From simply clearing a small grove of trash and being friendly to passers-by in a public park to immersive therapeutic experiences hosted on private woodlands, the size and scope of how each steward chooses to express their care is up to them. The Care Forest Project's pilot location is in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California in a private Redwood forest. We have access to 70 acres of spectacular trees, trails, and space for the cultivation of our vision. |