Working Outside with Animals is Good for your Body and Mind,
If you’ve ever spent a morning feeding chickens, mucking out a stable, or just walking through a field with cattle, you will know there can be something magical about it. Maybe it’s the fresh air, the steady pace of the work, or the quiet company of animals, but one thing is clear: you feel better afterwards.
Here at the farm, we experience this every single day. And as it turns out, science agrees with what farmers have known for generations.
The Physical Benefits Are Real
Working outside with animals is a full-body workout that sneakily becomes part of your daily routine. Hauling feed, cleaning stalls, lifting bales, and walking across the land all add up to real physical activity, and you never have to go to a gym.
Unlike a treadmill, farm work uses your whole body in natural, varied ways. You lift, bend, carry, and walk across uneven ground. Over time, this builds real strength, stamina, and flexibility. Fresh air and sunlight matter too. Getting sunlight often raises your vitamin D levels, supports your immune system, and helps you sleep better.
Put simply, the farm keeps you moving in ways that actually matter.
Animals Have a Way of Calming the Mind
Spending time with animals, whether you’re grooming a horse, bottle-feeding a lamb, or just watching goats play, has been shown to lower cortisol and increase oxytocin. Cortisol is what your body releases when you’re stressed — useful in short bursts, but damaging when it stays high for too long. Oxytocin works in the opposite direction, promoting feelings of calm, connection, and happiness. Animals, it turns out, are a surprisingly effective way to tip that balance in your favour.
Animals don’t care about your to-do list or your inbox. They live entirely in the moment, and when you’re with them, you tend to do the same. That kind of mindful presence is something a lot of us struggle to find in our day-to-day lives.
The Outdoors Does Its Part Too
Nature is a powerful healer. Studies consistently show that spending time outside lowers anxiety, boosts your mood, and helps you focus. And the science goes deeper than just “fresh air is nice” — researchers have found measurable changes in the body’s stress hormones when people spend time outdoors. Just 20 minutes in a natural setting is enough to significantly reduce cortisol levels, with the greatest drop happening between 20 and 30 minutes. On top of that, sunlight exposure outdoors also helps boost oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine — the chemicals your brain uses to feel happy, connected, and calm. When you’re working on a farm, you’re getting all of that every single day.
On a farm, you’re surrounded by nature all the time. The changing seasons, the sound of birds, and the rain on your skin help you feel grounded in a way that’s hard to find anywhere else.
It Gives You Purpose
One of the most overlooked parts of working with animals is the sense of responsibility and purpose it brings. Animals depend on you. They need to be fed and cared for, and that daily commitment gives your day structure and meaning.
That sense of being needed, of doing work that genuinely matters, is incredibly good for mental health. It connects you to something bigger than yourself.
Come and Experience It for Yourself
Whether you’ve farmed your whole life or have never been on a farm, anyone can enjoy the benefits of spending time outside with animals. We believe the farm is a place for healing as much as for work, and we love sharing that with everyone who visits.
Come out with us, breathe the air, meet the animals, and see how you feel. We think you’ll notice the difference.