People in recovery from substance abuse who attend Butler County Community College’s first Hope Night of this spring can plant vegetables and herbs and possibly produce endorphins that can help to combat depression.

“Growing Hope: What Seeds Are You Planting?” is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. at the Butler Art Center, 344 S. Main St. Hope Nights are free and open to the public.

Dr. Sandy Curry, director of Community Action Partnership in Butler will discuss the benefits of growing food and of working with soil during the presentation.

“Agriculture is very therapeutic and soil is actually an anti-depressant. Physical contact with soil produces endorphins. For people in addiction recovery, we are trying to produce natural endorphins,” Curry said.

Endorphins “create a feeling of well-being,” according to Harvard Health Publishing.

“Growing Hope” is the first of six Hope Nights that BC3 has scheduled in downtown Butler through mid-September and the first to focus on agriculture.

Additional Hope Night events are “Karaoke and Ice Cream” on May 19; “Pickleball at the YMCA” on June 16; “Cornhole Tournament” on July 21; “Comedy Night” on Aug. 18; and “Stories of Hope” on Sept. 15.