My Downeast Restorative Harvest Internship as an Incarcerated Student

Contributed by Nadim Haque, Maine State Prison, Warren, Maine

As an incarcerated student at the University of Southern Maine, I had the unique opportunity to complete a fifteen-week online internship in the spring of 2024 with Healthy Acadia's Downeast Restorative Harvest Garden program. This initiative, based in Machias, Maine, aims to establish a community horticulture program that can serve as a blueprint for similar projects across the state. Although the program is still in its early stages, it provided me with invaluable practical experience, which I am eager to share.

Participatory planning is crucial for the success of any community initiative. It requires genuine engagement, where team members feel welcomed and empowered through effective facilitation. My supervisor, Ms. Regina Grabrovac, exemplified this leadership quality. Despite the challenges of working within correctional settings, she managed to maintain consistent biweekly Zoom meetings and ensured seamless access to necessary documents through Google Drive. Her efforts to adhere to prison procedures while organizing tasks were instrumental in keeping the project on track.

Ms. Grabrovac’s approach was not just about logistical efficiency; she also fostered a culture of learning and open dialogue. By encouraging input and providing constructive feedback, she created an environment where I felt valued and supported. For example, during a project update presentation, I made an insensitive comment. Ms. Grabrovac privately addressed this with me, discussing the impact of my words and offering guidance on how to improve. This showed me that she genuinely cared about my growth and development, making me feel appreciated and respected.

One of the most profound aspects of this internship was its impact on my well-being, as reflected in a recent journal entry I wrote while working in the Warren State Prison garden:

I realized that while I worked in the gardens, my stress levels and feelings of despair and anxiety were slowly decreasing. I felt better during the day, had more energy, and kept my weight steady. Thanks to the exercise and fresh air, I felt more grounded and connected to a sense of peace and calmness that I had been missing in my daily life for a time.

The opportunity to work outside, the exposure to nature, fresh air, physical exercise, planting flowers and vegetables, turning compost piles, weeding, and watering plants were all enjoyable and calming, in addition to providing therapeutic diversions from the toxic jail atmosphere. The garden developed and changed right before my eyes, and I was a part of this beautiful process. Experiencing this was a source of joy and satisfaction. Working in the gardens gave me a sense of purpose and fulfillment as I transitioned from feeling like a burden to society to engaging in the essential work of taking part in horticulture activities.

My experience in the garden was transformative. It allowed me to find a sense of peace and purpose that had been missing from my daily life. The physical activities, the exposure to nature, and the simple act of nurturing plants provided a therapeutic escape from the harsh realities of prison life.

In conclusion, while replicating this exceptional experience in a traditional academic setting may be challenging, I am confident that we can build a strong and compassionate relationship between incarcerated individuals, the University of Southern Maine community, the Healthy Acadia family, and the Downeast Restorative Harvest program. Together, we can create a model for similar initiatives across Maine, fostering growth, learning, and rehabilitation for those who need it most.