Growing self-esteem and pride one seed at a time through CAMH-FoodShare partnership

Gardening can be therapeutic. But for Jamie Game, gardening has helped him to heal.

“I was executive chef for 15 years at two busy downtown restaurants and through the stresses, trials and tribulations of the business, I fell into use of drugs and alcohol,” said Game.

“I knew what I was doing was not healthy and I was nervous, so I (went) down to CAMH.”

Game attended Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) – Canada’s largest centre for addiction and mental health – more than five years ago.

“We do clinical care, research, education, and we see over 30,000 unique clients each year,” said Janet Mawhinney, the director of community engagement at CAMH.

A community partnership between CAMH and FoodShare, a non-profit organization with a vision to provide healthy food for all, formed in 2002.

“I have actually been sober 64 months,” said Game. “It was the garden I fell in love with and it has been my savior in a lot of ways.”

The program is run by FoodShare and is offered to clients, like Game, who have an interest in gardening.

“When you are digging, when you are weeding, when you are watering the garden in a peaceful and tranquil environment, your mind stops ruminating,” said Liz Kirk, senior coordinator of the Sunshine Garden.

“You are not thinking about the past and mistakes. You are concentrating on the here and now.”

It has become a year-round therapeutic and recreational garden program where clients participate in the planning, planting, watering and weeding.

“It is a holistic therapy,” said Kirk.

“We engage all the senses. Clients are growing self-esteem and pride and they have a sense of purpose.”