Horticulture therapy has been around for hundreds of years. This type of therapy first became acclaimed in the 1800’s and in the 1940’s and 1950’s, therapist used horticulture with post war veterans to help heal their mental and physical problems. Horticulture therapy is proven to help individuals of all ages and backgrounds to overcome addition, physical disabilities, and mental problems alike. Horticulture therapy assists with bringing individuals close to nature. Gardening lowers stress, boosts self-confidence, builds team work, and fosters perseverance.  

The drug epidemic in Eastern Kentucky has been on the steady rise in the last 10 years and the number of addiction recovery facilities in Lawrence County alone have doubled in the last few years. Lawrence County Nutrition Education Program (NEP) Assistants have been working in the recovery centers for 9 years. They go into the facilities on a weekly basis and educate the residents on making healthy food choices, how to prepare fresh produce, and food safety. 8 years ago they built their first raised beds at the facility and with the help of the previous Lawrence County Agriculture and Natural Resource (ANR) Extension Agent taught the residents how important and fulfilling growing their own food can be.

Fast forward to 2018, the second round of grants is open for the Recovery Center Gardens Project. The Lawrence County ANR Agent partnered with the NEP Assistants to expand the raised beds gardens at the five (5) centers in Lawrence County. They were granted $1,500.00 to build new beds and supply the centers with vegetable plants and supplies to successfully grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables. With this grant, the ANR agent and NEP assistants constructed 11, 4x 8 raised beds and with the assistance of the center residents, filled them with garden soil and planted tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, and cucumbers.

The recovery centers maintain the beds, harvest the produce, and use the food that they grow in their kitchen. These residents are learning the basics of gardening, they are staying physically active when they tend to the gardens, and in return are learning responsibility, team work, and healthy ways of relieving stress.

The Lawrence County ANR Agent and NEP assistance are continually working with the facilities to grow and maintain the raised beds and look forward to the produce that the residents harvest and consume from the garden. The residents will keep a weekly log of the poundage of produce they harvest.