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 used 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 have been. Compos Mentis embraces farm, garden, and forestry work because it can be done quietly in community with others. It can recalibrate rhythms that may have gone awry. Nurturing plants and animals directs attention away from oneself and toward other living things, which promotes a 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. Apprentices commute from their own homes. There is no housing at the farm.