It is no secret that gardening and other home horticulture activities can serve as a great outlet for individuals with disabilities, mental health difficulties and behavioral issues.  The Sunrise Children’s Program Cumberland Adventure Program (CAP), is located in Bronston, KY.  The Cumberland Adventure Program uses therapeutic outdoor adventures experiences and clinical intervention to assist boys who suffer from behavioral or emotional issues. Many of the boys come from backgrounds involving alcohol and substance abuse, and counseling is available for those issues as well.  Pulaski County 4-H agents have been visiting Sunrise for many years now during the school year to provide educational lessons to the residents.  Sunrise currently has approximately 25 boys that reside at their facility.  

This year, the Pulaski County Extension Agents received an Ag Mini Grant from the KY 4-H Foundation to build raised bed gardens with Sunrise.   The boys will learn independence, mastery, belonging and generosity while working in their gardens.  Four beds were built (one for each cabin).  The first day of our visits consisted of assembling the beds.  For most of the boys, this was their first time using a power tool.  The boys were asked what they wanted in their gardens and responses were hot peppers, cucumber, watermelon, squash, tomatoes, and herbs.  Giving the boys the opportunity to voice their wants for their gardens helped them become more interested and invested in their raised beds.

In our next visits, the Extension Agents provided plants for their raised beds.  The plants used were either donated by Spring Hollow Farms, purchased, grown at the Extension Office or started by planting the seeds.  On top of teaching the youth how to properly plant their plants, youth learned about new varieties of plants as well.  

The boys have been instructed on how to care for their plants and know that they are expected to help maintain their gardens.  The Pulaski County Extension Agents and Senior Snap-Ed Assistant will continue to visit Sunrise Children’s Services to present lessons on gardening, nutrition, canning and other related topics.