Sustainable and Therapeutic Kitchen Garden Transforms Lives at Santa Cruz do Bispo Prison

LIPOR, the Municipality of Matosinhos, and the Santa Cruz do Bispo Prison have partnered to create a Sustainable and Therapeutic Kitchen Garden within the Forensic Psychiatry Service during the last semester of 2024, aimed at inmates with psychiatric disorders.

This initiative has proven to be a fundamental activity in the rehabilitation and treatment of its participants, promoting their mental health and overall well-being.

Over the past four months, the kitchen garden has been carefully cultivated by ten inmates who have actively engaged in agricultural practices. Their daily dedication demonstrates that the key to a successful garden lies in willingness and commitment to farming techniques.

With the right knowledge and practice, it is possible to maintain a thriving and productive organic garden. The experience highlights that through hands-on agricultural work and direct contact with the soil, anyone can develop the necessary skills to cultivate the land and achieve remarkable results. So far, around 40 kg of vegetables and produce have been harvested.

The Therapeutic Garden has become a valuable tool in supporting the treatment of psychiatric disorders, showing that organic farming and connection with nature play a crucial role in the recovery process and the improvement of inmates' quality of life.