Welcome | 2 of 3

History
Compos Mentis grew out of the experiences of people living with mental illnesses and their relatives, doctors, therapists, and friends. Some of the ideas here date back to the 19th century.

Today, not many people make a living by farming. And yet the life-affirming qualities of small-scale farming are the same as they always were. Compos Mentis embraces farm, garden, and forestry work because it is work that can be done quietly in community with others. Outdoor work is a way to recalibrate rhythms that may have gone awry. Nurturing plants and animals directs attention away from oneself and toward other living things, which promotes a more balanced view of the world.

In particular, Compos Mentis draws inspiration from a therapeutic farm community in western Massachusetts. Gould Farm, founded almost a century ago, is a residential community. Compos Mentis is not a residential community. Apprentices commute from their own homes. There is no housing at the farm.>>

welcome: 1 | 2 history | 3 location and the 2007 program