Awareness

It’s our 17th anniversary! Federal designation officially naming our organization a nonprofit entity arrived on February 14, 2005. We interviewed Darlene Thomas, our executive director, for her reflections on the farm’s history through years.

“While settling into the new shelter 17 years ago, we began to consider how to integrate the land with services for survivors. Maybe equine therapy or a herd of sheep? Although these options weren’t a good fit, early dialogues confirmed the land must complement existing traditional services for survivors.

Local and national conversations were beginning to explore topics related to food deserts, local food production, and social entrepreneurship. We convened community experts to discuss how our land could be used to address these issues.The commitment of staff and resources to achieve this integration would be substantial, so we started small with only a few box gardens of seasonal herbs and vegetables for meal prep in shelter.

We honed our gardening skills and observed interest in the effort over the next two seasons. Consultations with arborists and farmers informed our land use plan, and local garden clubs provided native cuttings and seeds for planting. A generous grant from Grow Appalachia allowed us to hire a Farm Advocate to manage the farm and programming. This early financial commitment allowed us to leverage additional support from United Way, Kentucky Utilities, and Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky.”

Listening & Responding

We thought vegetable production would be our primary focus, but the community inspired a new unexpected direction for the farm.

“A few years ago, survivors and staff had planted a small garden of flowers. Kentucky Proud admired the flowers during a visit to the farm and asked if we might put together some small table bouquets for their kick-off breakfast at the State Fair.

Soon after that event, calls and emails requesting bouquets of our flowers for centerpieces overwhelmed us. The expansion of our flower production became a priority. Around this same time, individuals and private foundations stepped in to fund the renovation of an outbuilding on the back of our farm program for much-needed space to fulfill flower orders and facilitate workshops for survivors.

John Paul and Eloise DeJoria, with friends from JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, visited the farm to learn more about our program. That visit inspired a generous donation to begin renovation of the outbuilding. Don and Mira Ball provided additional generous support to complete the project.

Special attention was given to the renovation to meet certified commercial kitchen requirements. Today, this building is the hub for production of value-added products from the farm, including lip balms, soaps, other Handmade By Survivors products.”

Promising Results

A federal grant awarded to the University of Kentucky Center for Research on Violence Against Women to conduct multi-year research on the farm’s effectiveness recently concluded. Publication of the research outcomes is expected soon.

“Stories and statistics tell us the farm-based programs we have developed are effective. Those few early box gardens have grown to almost 7,000 square feet of cultivated land, and approximately 60% of shelter residents directly participate in at least one nature-based program during their stay with us. But I believe all survivors living at our shelter benefit from indirect engagement with the farm. Even just sitting on the porch watching the sunset or listening to the rain can make a difference.”

Let’s destroy myths and reveal truths about intimate partner abuse.

What myths have you heard about intimate partner abuse? It’s easy for a survivor to leave their abuser, right? Maybe you think intimate partner abuse doesn’t happen in your circle. We know these statements aren’t true. Read some common myths below and reveal the truth.

Intimate partner abuse is private and not a social issue. 

Intimate partner abuse affects one in three women and one in four men in Kentucky. We all have to do our part to speak out against it, be active bystanders, and correct inappropriate language when you hear someone victim-blaming. 

Victims provoke their partner’s violence. 

The survivor is never responsible for the abuse. That’s a victim-blaming attitude and the responsibility is always on the abuser. 

It’s easy for a survivor to leave their abuser. 

There are many reasons for not being able to leave – having nowhere to go, fear, financial insecurity, threats to themselves or their children or pets. Leaving the relationship is often the most dangerous time for the survivor.  

Alcohol and drugs cause abuse. 

Abuse is about power and control. Alcohol and drugs may increase abuse, but it’s not the cause. 

Intimate partner abuse is only about physical abuse. 

Again, the abuse is all about power and control. There could also be emotional, financial, sexual, harassment, and/or digital abuse. 

Intimate partner abuse doesn’t happen in my circle. 

That’s statistically unlikely. If you know more than three people, then you know and care about someone who has survived intimate partner abuse. If it’s not someone in your family or close group of friends, you know a survivor from school, work, or place of worship. 

People who are abused have the types of personalities that seek out and encourage abuse. 

A lot of abusers will come off as charming and loving at first and then the abuse can escalate. This is a victim-blaming attitude. 

Intimate partner abuse only affects adults in the household. 

The majority of children in an abusive household will witness the abuse. Studies have shown children who experience intimate partner abuse with their parents exhibit depression, anxiety, learning difficulties, and more.  

Only women are abused by men. 

Women can abuse men, too. And LGBTQIA+ rates of intimate partner violence are similar to, or higher than, heterosexual and cisgender people. 

Intimate partner abuse only happens with older, married couples.  

The majority of people report experiencing abuse for the first time between the ages of 18 and 24. 

Get Help

Have you wondered if your relationship is healthy? Do you have a friend you suspect could be suffering from physical or emotional abuse? Whether you just want to talk or you’re ready to initiate services, we will answer your call 24 hours a day, every day of the year – 800-544-2022.

Many people will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime, and of those, up to 68 percent will suffer near-fatal strangulation by their abuser.

In a recent conversation with legal advocate Stephanie Love, I asked what trends she has noticed over the years in the court system. She talked about strangulation and how it has only been considered a felony since summer 2019 in Kentucky. 

Up to 68 percent of intimate partner abuse victims will suffer near-fatal strangulation by their abuser. Some people mistakenly use the word ‘choking,’ but this is a crime meant to stop the victim from breathing.

Defining Strangulation and What it Means for Survivors

The Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention defines strangulation as “the obstruction of blood vessels and/or airflow in the neck resulting in asphyxia.” This type of assault can have serious, permanent, or even fatal damage to the victim’s throat or brain. Symptoms include: 

• Loss of memory 
• Loss of consciousness 
• Chest pain 
• Bruising on neck 
• Unable to speak or swallow 

For more signs and symptoms, click here. Warning – this is a very graphic poster, although it’s not a real person depicted.

This crime is often missed by law enforcement and medical professionals because in more than half of cases, there are no visible signs.  The National Domestic Violence Hotline reports that strangulation is a significant predictor of future lethal violence.

If someone has been strangled by a partner in the past, the risk of being killed by that partner is seven times higher.

Get Help

Do you fear your partner will strangle you or worry about the long-term effects of previous strangulation abuse? We will answer your call 24 hours a day, every day of the year – 800-544-2022. 

The featured image was inspired by MobileODT.