Could farming be the future of rehab?

That’s the question that came to mind for me when I saw the Village of Pemberton’s call for input on Community Agricultural Parks. 

Whether it could work in our small town context, I don’t know, but the model from San Patrignano, a drug treatment center in Rimini, Italy, is inspiring. 

Take a peek at this great profile in Modern Farmer on the facility.

“Meaningful work is part of the recovery experience,” says Jason Schwartz, clinical director at Dawn Farm, a small rehabilitation center in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where recovering addicts work in the garden, kitchen and with farm animals. “Addiction is very isolating, and any kind of suffering tends to make people self-centered, to focus on their suffering alone. Getting them to focus on the needs of other living things can be powerful.”

On a sunny day in May, Ferretti stands by the pigpen, watching his adopted swine roll in the muck. “You can probably imagine what it means for somebody to be part of a functioning concern like this after years of only being involved in drug taking and abuse,” says Ferretti. “The work helps cure one’s disease and contributes to the survival of the community by making us self-reliant.”

It makes me wonder if there’s some basic healing that is provided, when we reconnect with our food.

That was part of the initial motivation behind Slow Food Cycle. 

Science has subsequently proven mood boosters and health benefits from the digging in the dirt.

And sometimes I wonder how much a role our innate and unmet desire for ritual and rite is tied up in addiction.

Consider it food for thought.

The Village of Pemberton has secured tenure on several parcels of land with the potential to serve the community through farming uses, including livestock, equestrian, orchards, grains, fruits and vegetables and greenhouses.

Lands identified for the Community Agricultural Parks include Lots 8 and 20 located at the end of Harrow Road, Pemberton Airport, Lot 13 situated East of Signal Hill Elementary School and potentially the future Sunstone and Tiyata Community Gardens.  

The work program includes initial brainstorming sessions with interested parties the week of August 25^th to August 29^th. Those interested in learning more about the Community Agricultural Parks, or want to participate in the brainstorming sessions are asked to contact Caroline Lamont at 604-894-6135, ext. 234 or clamont@pemberton.ca.