Growing for Growth Community Partnership Programme
Our Growing for Growth horticultural programme is a new project designed to teach clients not only how to grow their own vegetables and fruit, but also to develop key competencies such as teamwork, garden-planning and practical horticulture skills. Through this project, we aim to help clients build self-esteem and confidence while working in a market garden that will provide our residential programmes with an excellent supply of fresh food all year round.
There is something deeply satisfying about growing your own food. If you have never had the opportunity to plant a garden or grow your own vegetables, then harvesting your first crop of tomatoes, potatoes or runner beans can be a tremendously rewarding and empowering experience.
Research shows that similar projects have many therapeutic advantages for people in addiction treatment, contributing significantly to their overall recovery. Many people who abuse drugs or alcohol experience high levels of stress and anxiety, they struggle to relax and unwind. We hope that by participating in our Growing for Growth programme, our clients will learn a new way to relax, through the physical and mental exercise of gardening.
Working alongside a horticultural expert, participants will have the opportunity to learn about growing their own vegetables, from planning the garden environment to working with a team to make that plan a reality. Once the garden has been established, a year round schedule will be developed to ensure that the programme is self-sustaining. Clients will have direct ownership of the project, in line with Coolmine’s community philosophy, and all future plans for the garden will be decided by the gardening group. This group work will contribute to the wider therapeutic programme by strengthening peer relationships within the residential houses, where all participants will share the pleasures and satisfaction of working on a project that yields tangible, and tasty, results.
Funding required €10,000 per annum