STRUCTURE AND FORMS OF ORGANIZATION OF THERAPEUTIC AND CLIENT-CARE INSTITUTIONS IN AGRICULTURE - AN EXPLORATORY-STUDY

In a manner similar to the care of cultivated landscapes, farms which involve themselves in the care an therapy of social fringe groups also play a role in our society. A survey of 167 farms was conducted in or der to elucidate the preconditions for these activities. Social farms are normally found under the heading of voluntary welfare work, and ar e primarily financed either from public funds or by the sponsor of the institution concerned, with the income from farming being dedicated t o the farm itself. The survey revealed a vast diversity of production plants and processes affecting both the use made of the land and lives tock rearing. The degree of farm mechanisation is relatively low, and stands in contrast to the high wages paid. More than 2/3 of the farms were run on ecological principles of a variety of producers' organisat ions. After private consumption in the farms and organisations themsel ves, direct sales represent the most important way of disposing of pro duce. One person looks after 2,6 clients on average and, in addition t o providing a meaningful occupation, great stress is laid on the thera peutic aspect of the work and on helping clients to come to terms with life. Both the suitability for the social target function of the conc ept of engaging clients in social farming, and the attitude of the cli ents to this occupation, received good marks on the whole. Clients wer e mainly employed in livestock rearing and labour-intensive plant prod uction. The situation of social farms compared to ''normal'' farms is characterised by their dual function. The social aspect is directly li nked to an increased workload and the demands of the different goals o f the farm: on the one hand to guarantee the profitability of producti on, and on the other, to offer qualified client care. The income situa tion is threatened by the general developments in agriculture, and by the economy measures in public spending. Hence in the long term the co mpensation for this social task should be improved.