Gould Farm was founded in 1913 as the first residential therapeutic community in the USA dedicated to helping adults with mental health and related challenges. It’s a healing community located on a 700-acre working farm in the Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts.  The farm serves adults, ages 18 and older with diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression, and related mental health challenges and moves them toward recovery and independence through community living, meaningful work, and clinical care.

About the work exchange & volunteer program

Gould Farm offers an opportunity for volunteers from around the world to participate in the life of this special community through a full-time volunteer experience.

Volunteers participate in all aspects of the farm’s daily work, such as:

• tapping trees and making maple syrup,
• making cheese from fresh milk,
• working in the garden,
• preparing meals in the farm kitchen,
• working in the bakery and cafe.

Volunteers partner with staff work team leaders and clinicians to foster work based and community experiences that enable guests to strengthen their skills, competencies and confidence creating resiliency in work and social contexts. Vocational opportunities at Gould Farm help guests find strengths they didn’t know they had, experience new roles, learn new skills, gain job readiness, and build self-esteem.

Volunteers are immersed in the Gould Farm community working on the Residential, Garden, Forestry and Grounds, Farm and Kitchen teams, as well as in the Harvest Barn Bakery, Roadside Café, and at the transitional program in the Boston area.

Mature and caring individuals interested in living in a therapeutic community are encouraged to apply.

Volunteers are asked to commit to a year’s service. Yearlong volunteers will be provided with room and board, health insurance, and a monthly living stipend. A few short-term internships are available throughout the year on a limited basis.

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Accomodation offer

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