About ROOTS at Evergreen Grove
ROOTS at Evergreen Grove is a farm-based support program in Gardner, Massachusetts, for young people struggling with substance use and mental health challenges. The name stands for Resilient, Optimistic, Open-Minded, Thriving, and Serene, and they deliberately move away from clinical settings in favor of hands-on work outdoors. The program runs on a 115-acre property that includes a working therapeutic farm, a livestock rescue operation, and privately owned forest land.
Participants help keep the farm and rescue running through animal care, barn chores, gardening and horticulture, building projects, and arts and crafts, along with nature walks and forest hikes. Equine Assisted Learning is also part of the experience, giving young people structured time working alongside horses. Each activity is shaped around a participant’s personal goals, with an emphasis on measurable progress. The team combines licensed clinical professionals with trained peer staff who are in long-term recovery themselves, and the atmosphere is casual and down-to-earth.
Mental Health
- Aftercare
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Aftercare/Relapse Prevention
- Intervention
