Seeds Of Change

Spring is a great time to be outside, enjoying nature. At Lake Point Recovery and Wellness, we believe in healing the mind, body, and spirit. Gardening is an activity that can help all three. Gardening has been shown to impact physical health, mood, and brain chemistry positively. That is one of the many reasons we have implemented our Growing Seeds of Change Gardening Curriculum at Lake Point Recovery and Wellness.

Gardening can be a therapeutic experience using mindfulness practices, where one can exist in the moment and focus on the beauty and serenity of nature. Focusing on the moment and recent experiences has long been a therapeutic tool to reduce anxiety and depression while retraining the brain to focus less on future worries or past regrets. Research has shown that even soil can help to improve a person’s mood. One kind of bacteria in the soil has been found to stimulate areas of the brain and produce serotonin, one of the primary neurotransmitters involved in pleasure.

Working outdoors in nature alone can be a healthy and productive activity that benefits someone’s recovery. Moving around and digging in the soil can be good exercise, and getting sunlight boosts vitamin D levels, which has also been shown to improve mood and physical health. But we offer more than just an enjoyable day outdoors. Our Gardening program incorporates an entire course, including horticultural education, group exercises and discussions, skills for working with others, fun activities, and writing or art projects associated with the month’s lesson. Every lesson teaches our customers an essential aspect of growing their own food and relates the lesson to a vital recovery skill.

The Growing the Seeds of Change Gardening Curriculum at Lake Point is an in-depth, year-round program. We work on practical skills during the warmer months and address planning and preparation during the rest of the year. Each lesson has activities specifically designed for that season. Each lesson also teaches life skills related to recovery and increasing independence. The program teaches when and how to prepare your soil and what vegetables to plant during various times of the year. Customers are able to learn life skills that enhance recovery and enable a healthier, more productive lifestyle.

The movie 28 Days introduced many of us to the notion of how caring for a plant in early recovery can help us with caring for ourselves as well. This is a concept that many of our counselors use to help customers remember to care for themselves daily, just like they water their plants daily. Life can be chaotic for people with a Substance Use Disorder and routines are rarely followed. Taking ownership of something and being responsible for daily maintenance helps customers remember to follow a routine of daily self-care.

We cannot forget that the most important benefit is that you get to eat it. When you grow it yourself, you can be sure what you put in your body. Research shows that you are likely to be more mindful of your food choices if you grow vegetables yourself. Plus, there is a sense of pride and connectedness when you grow your own food. Our Growing the Seeds of Change Garden is just one of the many reasons to make Lake Point your choice for recovery and wellness.