‘Our seeds have sprouted'

WASILLA — There’s a work-oriented safe haven nestled in Point Mackenzie where clients take their sobriety and treatment goals into their own hands, working the field, in some cases literally.

Alaska Addiction Rehabilitation Services, Inc. staff work to retain Nugen’s Ranch’s historic vision laid out by Leonard and Henrietta Nugen’s vision of cultivating a long-term treatment center that blends the 12 Step model with farming.

“The founder, Mr. Nugen wrote something that’s very appropriate, ‘that we grow people on the ranch to become sober,’” Nugen’s Ranch Executive Director Debbie Emery said.

According to Alaska Addiction Rehabilitation Services President, Randy Smith, Nugen’s Ranch clients establish goals during their intake, writing specific objectives to meet those goals. In addition to the most modern substance abuse treatment services and protocols, clients roll up their sleeves for some good, old-fashioned work in tandem with their overall journey to sobriety.

A fully-fledged farm complete with pigs, plants, and plenty plots of bountiful land surrounds the residential treatment facility, keeping the ranch in Nugen’s Ranch. Work is year-round and it isn’t limited to farm work. Onsite tasks range from kitchen work and janitorial duties to snow plowing and clerical work.

“They can actually use the work therapy program as a job reference when they leave. So, it starts with them getting up on time, getting their morning chore done… and showing up on time for their work,” Emery said. “Like right now, we planted all the seeds and our seeds are sprouted. So, they’re responsible for caring for those and making sure they’re growing and healthy, and then they’ll be planting them in the greenhouse and out in the gardens.”

A client who currently oversees the onsite greenhouse said that residents can transition to a number of positions through their individualized work therapy program. Walking into the greenhouse away from the biting Alaskan spring winds, he gestured toward the rows of greenery and said, “about half of this is my work.”

He said that he has no prior gardening experience, and he never knew how much it would light up his brain until he got the chance to try. He said that he discovered his love for gardening through the daily rituals, watching seeds sprout from the ground, witnessing the real-time results of his commitment.

The greenhouse is filled with everything from potatoes to pansies. He said that pansies are his favorite type of flower because they really pop with their bright colors despite their short blooming period.

“I know they’re gonna be beautiful,” he said.

The client working at the Nugen’s greenhouse said that he hopes to work at a local nursery or greenhouse when he graduates. He said that he feels fortunate for this opportunity, especially as his first-ever attempt in a treatment center, getting that second chance to turn things around.

“I’m just excited… just being ingrained in this kind of awesome work is They have so much going on. It’s really awesome,” he said. This place, I mean I’m probably gonna get job references. I’m gonna have money when I leave. It’s really amazing… It is an opportunity

Residents attend group sessions, individual sessions, and AA meetings during their time at Nugen’s Ranch. Smith said their blended, client-led continuum of care has proven to work time and time again with a substantial success rating coming in at 83 percent.

“The program is evidence-based. Once the client meets their goals and objectives then he or she exits the program to enter the community so they can recreate their lives,” Smith said. We believe that AARS provides a valuable service to our community and state by saving our community and state costs and burdening law enforcement, judicial system, and other public agencies. AARS will continue providing for the needs of those who suffer from a, as the book Alcoholics Anonymous says, ‘spiritual malady’ so instead of burdening our community, they can re-join our society becoming productive and useful citizens.”

Another Nugen’s Ranch client is currently spending most of his work therapy time caring for the facility’s proprietary pigs. He said that he’s been there for almost a year. He said this unique, hands-on style of treatment has empowered him to take his life back.

“I love it man. I’ve been to a few treatment centers before. I’m not gonna say they didn’t work, but I wasn’t necessarily taught the right things I don’t think. I came here from jail with some pretty serious charges, what makes this place different from the other places is the 12 steps… That’s been a lifesaver. This is the longest I’ve had sober in very, very long time, 11 months,” he said. “The staff there’s something really special about the staff… It really is like a family… I mean they pay you to work here,” he said. “Since I’ve been here, like through a treatment center that’s saving my life that is also paying me, like you know? I’ve paid off my child support. I learned how to run heavy equipment. I vaccinated all of these pigs, these big 600 pound pigs myself… It’s pretty awesome. It’s huge.”

As the client drove away from the pigpen in a pickup truck, he lowered the slow plow to continue clearing pathways across the ranch.

“Oh man. If my mom knew I was driving a plow truck right now, she’d be terrified. She’d be like, ‘get him out of there now,” he said with a laugh.

For more information about Nugen’s Ranch and Alaska Addiction Rehabilitat ion Services, call 907-376-4534 or visit nugensranchak.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann @frontiersman.com