Earth Day in a Therapeutic Garden

As I stood at the gate of my community garden, I thought about the events of this Earth Day, April 22, 2008. I have listened to all of the activities being held and all of the progress we are making in improving our environment. This is the 38^th year that we have focused attention on the effects of what man is doing to our planet and we still have a long way to go. (Still thinking the glass is half full and hoping that we are making positive changes.)

I look around the garden and see what a few people are doing to connect with the earth. It is impressive what everyone grows and how they approach gardening. There are mounded vegetable rows, leaf covered plots, fences surrounding individual plots, a bird house, all signs of spring activity. People are preparing for another growing season.

The Township has added several raised planting beds for the seniors in the community. I helped the Recreation Department design the planters and I am anxious to see how they are used by the older adults in the community. Some shade and a few benches should be added. Fortunately the water line has been extended to the corner where these raised beds are located.

Our community garden plot already contains 40 little lettuce plants, a row of spinach and a row of radishes. The trellises has been constructed that will support the sugar snap and pole beans. Starter potatoes have been planted. And there is room for much more in this 25’ by 50 foot garden plot, as soon ass the dangers of frost have subsided. I am on the hunt for ‘new’ heirloom tomatoes to plant this year. And, finding the oriental cucumbers is always an illusive pursuit.

The therapeutic aspect of this garden, for me, is to watch the vegetables grow and our children help us plant the young plants. Is this a therapeutic garden? The answer, for me is yes. It is a place for me to socialize with others. I just met a new friend; Bonnie, last evening and we shared all kinds of garden related stories. I get to tell my wife about what I planted in the garden today and how the sunflower seedlings are doing. This is a Therapeutic Garden in all it’s aspects of healing – reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, helping balance circadian rhythms and other qualities that make our connection with nature so important.

Every day should be an Earth (focused) Day.

Spring Flowers

I received the following message from Lee Shahay who is the Horticulture Director at Parker at Stonegate Assisted Living in Highland Park, NJ. Lee has been working with the residents - helping them to get ready for spring. The residents have been taking cuttings from the ornamental trees and shrubs on the Parker at Stonegate campus and bringing them inside to encourage the branches to bloom early in the season.

Lee wrote, "In a program I ran last Friday we talked about a variety of flowering trees, and the solarium is filled with branches whose buds are about to explore into an array of color. The residents are having great fun watching the progress, and stopping by each day to see what might be blooming. There is a very good possibility that our raised beds will be installed this spring, which means we can begin to do more ground planting. I am very excited about what the coming of spring will mean for our horticulture program here at Parker. Have a great day."