The problem – The day residents lacked access to fresh vegetables and the facility was not activity using the raised bed gardens on site.  They also wanted to expand the gardens to reach a more of their residents. 

The educational program response was to create gardens in the raised beds and to create access to fresh produce on site for their cooking programs and for the program participants to take home. The programming was to encourage residents to participate in the gardening club on a weekly basis. This way they could learn how to grow and have access to fresh nutritional produce. 

The participants/target audience are day residents in Bridgehaven. Bridgehaven provides services to adults who have mental illnesses.  The residents choose to participate in the weekly garden group. 

Other partners (if applicable)

Program impact or participant response.  The impact was seen with an increase in number in participants in this weekly garden group.  It started with 5-7 members and at times it can have 15-20 members in the weekly sessions. The gardening group teaches the member skills on how to grow fresh food and how to manage a garden.  We discuss healthy soil and pest management topics and the weekly group meetings.  The impact is a thriving garden that the group members are able to harvest produce to eat fresh off the plants and to take excess produce home with them. Thus, providing access to healthy food options to individuals that did not previously have access to these food options.