Bill and Nancy visited our home from theirs in North Andover. Bill and Karl chatted about the garden and other topics, while Nancy led me in dancing and singing through the Raspberry Patch, to the Art Pops observation area, and finally, to an area near the Red Hibiscus, where we continued to make music and enjoy the sunshine.
The small group from Gloucester enjoyed fruits and veggies now at peak harvest: peaches and nectarines, tomatoes, basil, potatoes, and butternut squash. We talked about recipes they could make back at the group home, such as a tomato, basil and mozzarella salad! We gave them a farm-share sack of fresh-picked produce and also gave Eileen (of Irish Ancestry) a green cabbage, to make whatever she likes at home. Giulia, a resident assistant, remarked on this added benefit, “We’re taking home a few interactive activities. This is really generous… no one else does this.”
On departure, we gave our guests a hydrangea bloom in a water pic, to take home for their breakfast tables. Ideally, this will serve as a beautiful reminder of a fun and relaxing time in the garden.
This was a second visit by the small group from Gloucester, and we talked about them coming again in October, possibly bringing a pumpkin to paint, as an engaging and fun activity. We want our Memory Café guests to be frequent visitors each growing season.
Hats off to the NE ARC Gloucester Group Home, for making Quality of Life Each Day of Life a priority for their residents. This is the first and only group home to send to our garden, on two weekends, two staff to assist one resident. Kudos to all caregivers who help free the otherwise homebound!
Please enjoy the photos above and below.
After the event, Karl and I moved some of the sitting benches around, to replace the 8-year old fell pine logs that have served as sitting benches in the Orchard Ave (these logs have been hollowed out by insects).
We celebrated the end of our summer events this past weekend, and we look forward to hosting folks again September 30. We have six more events in the fall, and hope to see you then.
Moving forward with a listening heart,
vision, inquiry, and action,
~ Mary
Upcoming Events (Moving Toward the End of Our Season):
Memory Café in the Garden
September 30
October 7, 14, 21, 28
Sunday Stroll
October 8 (For people using wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers, with care-partners)
