Hope and Organic Produce

Hope and organic produce might not be the first things that come to mind when you think of recovering drug addicts and alcoholics, but for the formerly homeless men affiliated with Renewal Farm, part of Project Renewal, that’s exactly what they harvest.

This weekend, The New York Times did a touching profile of the men at Project Renewal. The 147-bed program transports nearly 150 deeply troubled New York City residents to an idyllic setting in upstate Garrison, N.Y., where they focus on farming — and recovery.

“It’s a last resort,” explained one 58-year-old man, his face betraying his years of heroin addiction.

A last resort, but also a new beginning. Instead of hustling on the gritty streets, the men are put to work on a two-acre farm, tending to bright flowers and organic vegetables like kale and arugula. They sell the produce to high-end local restaurants and run a farm stand where locals sample the fruits of their labor.

When they are not tilling the soil or washing the produce the men spend time at St. Christopher’s Inn, a residential rehabilitation facility where they attend group therapy, meditation sessions and simply drink in the bucolic surroundings. Although the setting can initially be a shock for the urban-oriented group, some, including William Chapman, a recovering crack addict from Brooklyn, admit they like the peaceful pace of life on the farm.

And there’s solid evidence the program is working. In the year and a half since the program launched, only 4 percent of residents failed random drug tests. It’s tough to tell how many program participants stay sober after their leave, but Project Renewal believes about 65 percent stay clean for at least a year, higher than the average rehab facility.

Nobody seems to know exactly whether it’s the farming, the fresh air or the beautiful setting that’s helping these men get back on track. We’re just glad they are getting the second chance we all deserve.

Photo courtesy of CraigPJ via stock.xchang