Author: Laura Maggard
Planning Unit: Lawrence County CES
Major Program: Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy
Plan of Work: Enhance the Strong Agicultural and Natural Resource Base
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
The Lawrence County Health Department, JJ Jordans Geriatric Center, and the Lawrence County Extension Office applied for a $10,000 community garden grant specifically to be utilized at the local nursing home. The grant was award and all parties quickly got to work. All 3 parties met to discuss what exactly the goal was of the community gardens, staff at JJ Jordans said that during the pandemic residents became agitated and confused over not recieving visitors and the other regulations that were involved. They decided then that the residents needed an outlet that they could utilize outdoors to keep them active and busy. Several long term patients vocalized that they enjoyed working in the garden and missed having the opportunity. It was decided then that JJ Jordans needed some ADA raised beds. The health department then contacted the Agriculture and Natural Resource (ANR) Extension Agent to share their expertise. The ANR Extension Agent contacted fellow agents to see what they had done in their communities to bounce ideas off of them. She also got in contact with staff at the Unversity of Kentucky with the KY AgrAbility Program for blue prints on handicap accessible beds. The Extension Agent worked with the staff at the nursing home to construct the beds and plant fruits and vegetables for the residents. JJ Jordans now has 4 raised beds and a 10ft x 12 ft greenhouse where residents can start their own seeds and over winter their plants. Working in flower and vegetable beds is very therapeutic for nursing home patients. It gets them outside in the fresh air while getting low impact exercise. Gardening also gives individuals a sense of purpose and something to look forward to. One particular patient suffers from dementia and can get violent. The director at the nursing home voiced his concerns to the Extension Agent and said he felt that they only thing that could really keep this patient calm and relaxed was gardening. This particular patient has farmed and gardened his whole life so not having that outlet has really been detrimental to him. We believe these gardens will be a stress reliever for these patients and give them something to look forward to.
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