Addiction is on the rise in Louisville and across Kentucky. Louisville hosts many recovery centers for adults in addiction recovery. One of those centers is the Volunteers of America (VOA). VOA has multiple addiction recovery programs in Louisville depending on client needs. Two of those centers, Shelby Men's Recovery Center and Women's Freedom House, sought out the help of Cooperative Extension's Horticulture Agent to help facilitate a gardening program at each of these sites. After discussing the programmatic and site needs at the site, the Horticulture Agent, reached out to Extension's Community Garden Volunteers to see about their ability to facilitate two weekly gardening classes, one at the Men's campus and one at the women's campus. One Extension volunteer, Mr. Frasher, expressed interest in both sites and initial meetings were established with the Horticulture Agent, VOA staff person and Extension Volunteer to set up the program structure.

Life-style Change through diet, exercise and exposure to new ideas were identified as the VOA recovery program goals that the VOA staff person, Horticulture Agent and Volunteer felt could be addressed through a gardening program. Based on the needs of VOA, the Horticulture Agent and Mr. Frasher developed weekly lesson plans that teach basic gardening concepts such as seasonality, soil science, plant health and crop planning. Classes began the first full week of April at both locations and continue weekly. There is an average of 5 women who attend the weekly class at the women's campus and 5 men at the men's facility due to the relatively small size of each center's garden space.

At both facilities, the participants have learned how to read soil samples and determine what amendments are needed to improve soil quality. Within the first month, they all deterined a need for more compost at the site to help what was deemed a "nutrient lacking" garden bed. Thanks to UK's NEP office, a total of ten tons of compost were delivered and shoveled into garden beds at the two sites. Once they compost was installed, the gardeners then began planning and planting their spring vegetables. During the week of May 20, the women's group got to harvest and sample radishes, snow peas, leaf lettuce and arugula. This was the first time that any of the women had consumed arugula and the first time any of the participants had harvested a radish. This summer as additional crops are planted and more produce is ready to harvest, Mr. Frasher will work with the NEP program and VOA staff to incorporate healthy cooking and eating experiences into his gardening classes.