I love being the gardener! Now in the drought it has to be much reduced but I really take care of the vegetable gardens. The family is next door and have loved and devoured potatoes, green (string) beans, tomatoes, red and yellow bell peppers, romain lettuce, spring onions and rhubarb. The cooks love the herbs: mint, oregano, basil, thyme and rosemary. I’ve been wondering if there might be a way for those living in senior centers to get a little plot of soil, or a good-sized pot in which to grow a tomato plant, or several lettuces, or bell peppers.
The exercise of bending to the ground is so useful and getting one’s fingers in the soil is liberating if you let it be.
Wherever you are in the USA I think you can still plant potatoes to be pulled between Thanksgiving and Christmas unless you get awfully early cold snaps.
I can imagine half the residents of a Senior Center might become gardeners. They might meet and talk with local folks who used to be gardeners for their stories, memories and ideas. If many become gardeners, what to do with the food could be an interesting conversation and family might love the idea of holiday gifts to support gardening: gloves, trowels, clippers, watering can, aprons, books.
Wishing you all the best of luck with this project.
This is such a beautiful idea. In Great Britain they take much better care of elders. Over the years (except lately with the government now) there were “council houses” for seniors–really good, safe and comfortable housing for seniors paid for by the local council. In addition, of course, Brits have national health care. The UK has group living for seniors in villages with great outdoor options and gardens. There are retirement villages. Unfortunately, these options are not available for Americans, and yet we have the largest group of senior-aged citizens ever. Allowing seniors to garden together is such a therapeutic idea and so healing. Thanks for sharing!
What a wonderful idea, Jean! Allison’s response reminds me that the gardening tradition is much stronger in England than here, but we do have some community gardens here in Philadelphia. No emphasis or particular accommodation for seniors, however. Perhaps we’ll see a movement emerge as the senior population continues to grow. Might it start in Palo Alto?