Growing Together: News and events
The European COST is a collaborative network of researchers from around Europe.
Dr Joe Sempik (CCFR) is a member of the COST Action 866 group which aims to increase scientific knowledge on how to improve people’s quality of life through the use of agricultural farms, known as ‘green care’.
Researchers from 15 European countries and a variety of science disciplines are involved in this work. Joe is the coordinator of one of three working groups, which is looking at the health effects of green care. The group aims to gain a new insight into the effects of green care on mental and physical health, involving conceptual and theoretical discussions and developments and discussions on research methodologies. Other working groups focus on the economics and policies of green care.
The group have recently released an edited book based on the proceedings of their 2007 conference in Vienna, Austria:
Gallis, C. (Ed) (2008) Green Care in Agriculture: Health Effects, Economies and Policies. Greece: University Studio Press.
For more information on COST Action 866, please visit the COST website
Joe Sempik is part of this group of researchers and practitioners.
The group aims to share knowledge and research findings on the utilisation of agricultural farms, farm animals, plants and landscapes as a base for promoting human mental and physical health and social well being.
The group have published a book about the state of affairs in the field of farming and health in Europe, in which Joe has co-written a chapter on the UK:
Sempik, J. and Aldridge, J. (2006) ‘Care farms and care gardens: horticulture as therapy in the UK’, in J. Hassink. and M. van Dijk (eds.) Farming for Health: green-care farming across Europe and the United States of America. Dordrecht: Springer.
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