Journal of Holistic Nursing American Holistic Nurses Association Volume XX Number X XXXX 201X 1–9 © The Author(s) 2017 10.1177/0898010117707865 journals.sagepub.com/home/jhn jhn 1 Introduction Crime and incarceration result in significant costs to our nation’s adolescents and their future. A significant majority of incarcerated adolescents report symptoms related to anger, disorientation, interpersonal problems, and substance abuse (Allerton et al., 2003). Exposure to life stressors increases the risk of adolescent behaviors that war- rant incarceration in juvenile justice centers (Gostisha et al., 2014; Richardson, Van Brakle, & St. Vil, 2014). These at-risk adolescents are more likely to engage in behaviors detrimental to their physical, emotional, and mental health while in the juvenile justice system as well as after their release (Griel & Loeb, 2009). Nursing assessments aimed at identify- ing factors related to risky and antisocial behaviors along with nurse-led behavior modification interven- tions have the potential to reduce these behaviors and, subsequently, improve health outcomes in incar- cerated adolescents (Griel & Loeb, 2009). Returning incarcerated adolescents to their com- munities armed with life skills is a priority of the juvenile justice system (Balsamo & Poncin, 2016; Ortega-Campos, Garcia-Garcia, Gil-Fenoy, & Zaldivar-Basurto, 2016). Programs aimed at 707865JHN XX X 10.1177/0898010117707865Journal of Holistic NursingAdolescents’ Perceptions of a Gardening Activity / Hardin-Fanning et al. research-article 2017 Authors’ Note: The authors acknowledge the supervisors and staff at the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice Cadet Leadership and Education Program, University of Kentucky College of Nursing, National Institutes of Nursing Research Grant No. 5K23NR014883-02, William & Elizabeth Morgan Family Endowment, and Southeastern Kentucky United Way. Please address correspondence to Frances Hardin-Fanning, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky College of Nursing, 439 College of Nursing, 751 Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40536-0232, USA; e-mail: Fdbowe2@uky.edu. Adolescents’ Perceptions of a Gardening Activity at a Juvenile Justice Center Frances Hardin-Fanning, PhD, RN Adebola O. Adegboyega, MS, RN Mary Kay Rayens, PhD University of Kentucky College of Nursing Purpose: The purpose of this study was to elicit participants’ (N = 16) perceptions of a gardening activ- ity at a juvenile justice center and to determine whether past exposure to gardening and farmers mar- kets was associated with their perceptions of the gardening experience. Design: This cross-sectional, exploratory program evaluation was conducted in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice. Adolescents completing the Cadet Leadership and Education Program participated in gardening in order to provide produce to a local farmers’ market. Method: After the growing season, participants were asked to complete a nine-item questionnaire about the gardening activity during one of their usual classes at the facility. The questionnaire assessed perception of the experience and past exposure to gardening and farmers’ markets. Findings: Participants reported favorably about their par- ticipation in the activity, knowledge gained from the activity, and their intent to garden in the future. Those who had previously gardened had more favorable perception of gardening than those who had never gardened. Gardening is an inexpensive means of teaching teamwork and delayed gratification and providing a sense of empowerment and may benefit at-risk adolescents during incarceration. Keywords: adolescents; group/population, rehabilitation; specific conditions; alternative/complemen- tary therapies; common themes Quantitative Research