Suffolk EMGs bring the joy of gardening to area senior living facilities through its therapeutic gardening program. This program enables seniors with an interest in gardening, even when faced with accessibility challenges, to get hands-on with growing flowers, herbs, and vegetables.
Currently available to residents of Bickford Senior Living of Suffolk and Autumn Care of Suffolk, the program provides a variety of physical, emotional, and well-being rewards to participants. In addition to the joy of gardening, hands-on opportunities provide exercise under the guidance of facility staff.
Utilizing adaptive gardening strategies, this program includes mobile elevated gardening beds that allow participants to get their hands in the soil, whether sitting or standing outside in their peaceful courtyards during nice weather. The beds can also move inside to common areas during adverse conditions. In spring and summer, residents grow annuals, herbs, and vegetables in the beds; the fall gardens include cool-season crops underplanted with spring-flowering bulbs; and once the bulbs decline the following year, the gardens are planted again based on the desires of the residents.
During short monthly presentations and workshops, Suffolk EMGs teach participants about simple plant propagation. They witness the life cycle of plants by creating “grass people” sewn with seed that will grow into “hair.” They also grow their own houseplant cuttings in water, and once roots begin to grow, they add them to their own personal garden to enjoy in their own rooms.
Participants have the opportunity to use dried plant material to create decorations, learn about the pollinators that visit their elevated gardens, and the weeds that may show up.
If you’d like to talk with our EMGs about adding a therapeutic gardening program to your organization, please contact us at SuffolkMG@gmail.com. You can learn more about Therapeutic Gardening from Virginia Cooperative Extension at https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/pubs_ext_vt_edu/en/HORT/HORT-66/hort-66.html.
If you’re interested in volunteering your time in this program, the Extension Master Gardener program may be for you! Send us an email at the above address for more information.