In recent months, the term “wellness farm” has entered the national conversation in a new way. Promoted by presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the idea refers to community-based farms where individuals struggling with addiction or mental illness can recover by working the land, growing food, and participating in holistic healing activities outside the confines of traditional hospitals or institutions.
While the concept is not new, nature-based healing has long been used in therapeutic communities, its political spotlight has reignited debate about how best to treat addiction and mental health disorders in America.
What Are Wellness Farms?
In Kennedy’s proposals and public interviews, wellness farms are described as an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization and punitive incarceration. Instead of institutional confinement, people dealing with mental illness or substance use disorders would live and work on farms, gaining stability through natural rhythms, physical labor, community, and fresh food.
The philosophy behind these farms draws from a model that’s been around for over a century. Proponents argue that working with the soil offers individuals a path to healing that is less stigmatizing, more sustainable, and spiritually restorative [1].
However, the idea also raises important questions: Can a farm substitute for medical care? Are these models sustainable at scale? And where does evidence-based treatment fit in?
The Science Behind Wellness Farms
A growing body of research supports the therapeutic benefits of nature. Exposure to green spaces has been linked to lower levels of cortisol, reduced anxiety, improved sleep, and decreased symptoms of PTSD and depression [2]. Horticultural therapy, in particular, is recognized by many professionals as a powerful complement to clinical treatment—not a replacement for it [3].
Programs that incorporate gardening, animal care, or wilderness immersion often report improvements in emotional regulation and self-esteem among participants. But these approaches tend to work best when combined with structured therapeutic services, including trauma-informed psychotherapy, medical oversight, and peer support [4].
Real-World Wellness Farm Integration: The Brooks Healing Center Model
In rural Tennessee, Brooks Healing Center offers a unique blend of holistic recovery and clinically grounded treatment. Set on a peaceful property surrounded by nature, Brooks has embrac agricultural engagement as part of its programming—not as a standalone cure, but as a therapeutic supplement to comprehensive care.
Clients at Brooks have the opportunity to tend a patient-grown food plot, where vegetables and herbs are cultivated seasonally. The act of nurturing life from the ground up is deeply symbolic for many in recovery, offering structure, connection, and a quiet sense of agency.
At the same time, Brooks remains committed to an evidence-based foundation. The center provides:
- Medical Detox
- Residential Treatment
- Continuity with continuing-care (PHP & IOP)
- Trauma-focused care
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Equine-assisted therapy and mindfulness practices
- 24/7 medical and psychiatric support
This approach allows clients to benefit from the restorative power of nature while receiving the clinical care necessary for long-term recovery.
A Larger Cultural Conversation
The emergence of wellness farms as a political talking point reflects broader cultural questions about how society should respond to addiction, homelessness, and psychiatric distress. Are current systems failing vulnerable populations? Could farming communities offer a more humane and effective alternative? Or might they fall short without the integration of evidence-based clinical models?
Kennedy’s vision has been met with both interest and skepticism. Advocates for reform see potential in reducing reliance on jails and institutions. Critics question the scalability and oversight of such programs, particularly when dealing with high-acuity psychiatric conditions [5].
Wellness farms should function as aftercare models or providing evidence-based clinical care as the primary treatment, not as full replacements for medical and therapeutic treatment. The conversation, however, continues to evolve.
Are Wellness Farms The Cure For Addiction?
Nature has long played a role in healing, and there’s no question that access to land, food, and purposeful work can support recovery. As the country looks for better ways to address the mental health and addiction crisis, ideas like wellness farms are likely to remain part of the national dialogue.
But as models emerge, so does the need for balance: between structure and freedom, tradition and science, innovation and safety.
Programs like us at Brooks Healing Center offer a glimpse into how these elements can be thoughtfully integrated. Whether through a food plot, equine therapy, or time spent in the woods, the natural world has a role to play—but always with the support of licensed professionals, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based treatment.
FAQ’s
What is a wellness farm?
A wellness farm is a therapeutic environment where individuals recovering from addiction or mental illness live and work in agricultural settings. They may grow food, care for animals, and participate in holistic wellness activities.
Did Robert F. Kennedy Jr. create the idea of wellness farms?
No. RFK Jr. has recently brought renewed attention to the idea, but wellness farms and agrarian therapy have existed in various forms for over a century.
Do wellness farms provide medical treatment?
Most wellness farms do not provide licensed medical or psychiatric care. They are typically viewed as supplemental or alternative environments, not clinical facilities.
How is Brooks Healing Center different?
Brooks Healing Center combines agricultural engagement—including a patient-tended food plot—with a full spectrum of evidence-based care, such as DBT, EMDR, dual diagnosis treatment, and 24/7 medical support.
Is there scientific support for gardening or farm work in recovery?
Yes. Studies show that exposure to green spaces and gardening activities can reduce anxiety, improve mood, and support emotional regulation when used alongside clinical treatment.
Sources
- Edible Communities. (2023). The case for wellness farms: Can farming heal addiction and mental illness? Retrieved from https://www.ediblecommunities.com/stories/wellness-farms
- Bratman, G. N., Anderson, C. B., Berman, M. G., Cochran, B., de Vries, S., Flanders, J., … & Daily, G. C. (2019). Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective. Science Advances, 5(7), eaax0903. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aax0903
- González, M. T., Hartig, T., Patil, G. G., Martinsen, E. W., & Kirkevold, M. (2010). Therapeutic horticulture in clinical depression: A prospective study. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice, 24(4), 227–241. https://doi.org/10.1891/1541-6577.24.4.227
