Substance use disorder can affect anyone.  Daviess County strives to reduce the substance abuse that plagues our communities.  The Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with Owensboro Regional Recovery to conduct a garden therapy program as part of the treatment plan which serves men challenged with drug and alcohol addiction.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the recovery center was closed to outside visitors, but the Extension Agent for Horticulture Education still provided seeds, plants, and instructions through various methods for planting, maintaining, and harvesting vegetables grown in four, 16 ft. x 4 ft. raised beds from spring through fall in 2020.  Twelve participants selected by the center were responsible for planting, watering, maintaining, and harvesting the vegetables.  The garden produced approximately 81 pounds of produce at a value of about $192, which was used to supplement the food dollars for the center.   The produce used in their daily menu included onions, tomatoes, summer squash, peppers, and green beans.  

The professional staff at Owensboro Regional Recovery observed that the gardening program empowered the participants and gave them a sense of ownership of the project.   In addition, the recovery garden participants increased physical activity and improved the cognitive skills of attention, memory, and following directions.  The garden also evoked positive feelings, reduced stress, created a sense of responsibility, increased self-confidence, and improved social interaction.  The center staff said that the recovery garden positively impacted the residents who did not work with it by seeing the garden participants take ownership and responsibility for a project.