Dutch Farm is a small urban farm based on disused industrial land in Garston, Liverpool.

When we began the project in 2011, our mission was to engage people in practical and sustainable food-related projects that inspire health and wellbeing and celebrate the diverse communities of Merseyside. 

All these years on, and with a lot of hard work and commitment from our fantastic team, we have a thriving urban farm that has stayed true to its mission.

But more than this, Dutch Farm has evolved into a multi-purpose therapeutic space offering arts and crafts, mindfulness sessions, hands-on activities and more. 

Today, the farm helps us support individuals experiencing homelessness, domestic abuse, problematic substance use, and mental health challenges, providing them with a sense of purpose, routine, and community.

This article explores how Dutch Farm operates, its benefits and challenges, and plans for the future.

The Evolution of Dutch Farm

In 2011, the opportunity arose for YMCA Together to secure three-and-a-half acres of derelict land on a former landfill in Garston. 

Seeing potential where others might not, we transformed it into a thriving green space where our service users can engage in meaningful activity. 

Over time, Dutch Farm has grown beyond food cultivation to include skill-building workshops and wellbeing programmes. The project is service-user-led, meaning activities and projects are shaped by the interests and needs of those who engage with the space.

Crucially, it allows people to expand their skills, socialise, and develop creative outlets against the backdrop of the great outdoors. We’re here to give the people who use our services somewhere to take their minds off their troubles for a while.

Activities at Dutch Farm

Food Growing & Animal Care

Growing and cooking organic produce is fundamental to what we do here. We have polytunnels and raised beds where participants plant, nurture and harvest different crops, from staples like potatoes and onions to seasonal fruits and vegetables. 

Food cultivation is a fantastic way to connect with nature. It also teaches patience, responsibility and the value of working together towards a common goal. 

However, the highlight of producing sustainable food is the pleasure of cooking it and sharing it with others. Nothing beats the taste of freshly cooked, homegrown ingredients. Participants particularly enjoy our pizza oven, but we also host veggie barbecues and apple pie-baking sessions according to the season.  

Dutch Farm is also home to six chickens, which our participants helped incubate and raise. Taking food from seed to plate is a unique way to create a sense of community and collaboration. It’s tasty, too. 

Mindfulness & Wellbeing

Activities at Dutch Farm are rooted in biophilia, the idea that connecting with nature enhances wellbeing. We run mindfulness, yoga, and meditation sessions based on this concept to help participants manage stress and anxiety.

Being outdoors and engaging with the earth can relieve the pressure of everyday life.

Personal Development 

As a service user-led initiative, Dutch Farm allows people to participate in activities that appeal to their interests. Everything we do is person-centred, so we adapt our sessions to suit each individual’s goals. 

For example, we’ve hosted practical training sessions on bike maintenance and first aid. 

By encouraging our service users to volunteer at the farm and develop skills, we can signpost them to further courses and give them references for future employment opportunities. 

Lighthearted social events like our sports days help individuals rebuild their confidence, develop social skills, and be part of a community.

Dutch Farm’s Impact

Dutch Farm provides a pathway to self-improvement. Participating in our project makes a significant impact in the following areas: 

Restoring confidence and routine: Many participants have been out of structured environments for some time. The farm reintroduces routines, responsibility, and social interaction in a relaxed, pressure-free setting.

A route to employment and education: Participants gain vital experience that can enhance job prospects and CVs by learning new skills and taking on volunteering roles.

Peer support and friendships: Social isolation can be an issue for many of those engaging with YMCA Together’s service. The farm’s community atmosphere promotes meaningful connections and support networks.

PG’s Story – A Dutch Farm Case Study

YMCA Together service user ‘PG’ attended 31 sessions at Dutch Farm. Here, he details his experience in his own words.  

“I was finally emerging from a 15-year serious opiate addiction and still prescribed a small dose of opiate substitution therapy. After many years of almost complete social isolation, unemployment, self-neglect and hopelessness, I was at a loss as to how to start to reconnect with the world. 

The first time I went to Dutch Farm, I was full of trepidation, anxious, very quiet, and felt like I had no idea how to behave or talk to anyone. I looked like a very pale and unhealthy drug addict. But it seemed like a nice place, and I was given a very genuine welcome by farm staff, so I went back for the next day. 

My confidence in my abilities had been utterly destroyed by my addiction, but at the farm, I used a drill, did a bit of woodwork and horticulture and started actually interacting with people. I started to think that I could do things and talk to people again. Above all, I was treated with kindness and respect by every single person there, so I started getting a bit of self-respect back. I had a laugh, told jokes and actually made friends there. The great sunny weather helped, but the main thing was the really lovely atmosphere at the farm. 

Everything is achieved with gentle encouragement and persuasion. There is structure to the day’s activities but no compulsion. YMCA Together farm staff take the time to quietly talk to everyone individually and makes sure that they are included as much as possible. The farm imbues a place with a spirit of tolerance, concern, and respect for others. I am now completely drug-free and feel really good and actually happy for the first time in over a decade and at peace in my own head. Friends and family are just delighted with how much better I am. 

I’m now earning a living and contributing to and being part of the world again. It was the Dutch Farm over that summer that helped me get to the beginnings of that life.” 

Liz Sabiatini, Project Lead for Dutch Farm, said: 

“I witnessed PG grow in confidence and unselfishly support others around him to the point he now wishes to continue his involvement in the project by volunteering with us. This project meant a lot to PG during his recovery.”

Our Homeless Memorial Garden

In 2021, we unveiled Dutch Farm’s Homeless Memorial Garden. 

Unfortunately, people in the homeless community lose their lives younger than most. The average age of death for homeless women is 45 and 47 for men. YMCA Together created the garden as a permanent remembrance of those who lost their lives while experiencing homelessness. 

The garden ensures that these individuals are not just another statistic. Instead, we help keep their memory alive and remember them as the person they were. 

In 2023, YMCA Together built the UK’s first memorial wall dedicated to the pets of people from the homeless community. 

The commemorative wall is made from sustainable materials, with plaques dedicated to deceased animals. This peaceful space allows owners to grieve for their pets.

Community Engagement

In addition to supporting our service users, Dutch Farm has a strong connection with the broader community. We share the site and collaborate with PSS, a social enterprise that supports people in living happy, healthy, and hopeful lives.

Meanwhile, locally-based businesses like Elanco take part in corporate days, where they volunteer labour and financial support to help with site improvements, along with international organisations like Santander. 

We work with local charities, including Options for Supported Living, which supports and empowers people with disabilities to live their lives to the fullest, and Food for Thought, which educates primary school children about healthy eating and sustainable food.

Local schools have participated in projects such as creating an on-site orchard. These projects help reinforce community ownership of the space.

Dutch Farm welcomes community visits, offering advice and support to new groups, and we also engage in creative partnerships. For example, we’re collaborating with photographer Ken Grant, who has documented Dutch Farm since its inception. In September 2025, an exhibition of his work will showcase Dutch Farm’s journey and its impact on the community. 

Awards

Dutch Farm is part of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). 

In 2024, we achieved Level 5 Outstanding in the RHS Britain In Bloom ‘Its Your Neighbourhood’ Award. The judges said: 

“This really is a great project, and year on year you continue to improve. The health and well-being links are outstanding; this is an example of social prescribing at its best. The use of some of the outdoor space as a memorial garden is a wonderful initiative.”

Challenges and Goals

Despite its successes and positive impact on participants, Dutch Farm faces ongoing challenges. The farm’s location makes it vulnerable to theft and vandalism, requiring investment in security cameras and community engagement initiatives.

There are also financial challenges, as the project relies on external funding and donations to continue our work. 

A key funding goal is constructing a new eco-friendly indoor facility for year-round programming and private counselling sessions.

How to Get Involved

Dutch Farm exists to be a place of hope and unquestioned support to those who need us most. It’s a safe space where we engage with people positively, making them feel valued by people who understand them. 

Everyone should feel safe, understood, empowered and optimistic for their future. We aim to inspire and support people to change their lives by instilling hope and maximising potential.

We can only achieve this with your support. You can help Dutch Farm reach its goals in the following ways: 

Volunteer: Help with farming, maintenance, or mentoring service users.

Donate: Make a financial contribution towards site improvements and programme development.

Corporate Sponsorship: Organise fun, engaging team-building days while contributing to a worthwhile cause.

We’d love to hear from you and discuss ways we can work together to give people in need the future they deserve. 

Get in touch.