Senior News May, 2003 Vol. 22. No.  5

 

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Big plant sale May 10 FADHS clients have a hand in their garden

Natoinal Council on Aging and American Society on Aging meet to enhance growing older

MSSP turns 20 Vital service has to be cut back by 13 people per month

Serving older Americans

McKinleyville Seniors driving safely

What is Olmstead and why should you care?

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    The beautiful garden at the Fortuna Adult Day Health Services
(ADHS) program has from the beginning been a grass roots operation.
The clients who attend the Fortuna center have shared in the
visioning, the detailed planning and the planting of their own garden.
In July 1999 the program was moved to the vacant St. Joseph's
convent owned by the Diocese of Santa Rosa at 2280 Newburg Road.
Senior Resource Center Executive Director Mary Beth Wolford and ADHS
Director Maggie Kraft negotiated a 30-year lease and secured funding
for a $270,000 building renovation.
    The grounds were a different story-we acquired approximately
half an acre of unimproved grassland. Any shrubs that may have been
there at one time had died during the vacancy or were removed during
remodeling and the addition of a large activity room to the existing
building. Developing the grounds ourselves seemed like an
overwhelming task. But never underestimate the passion of people who
love the earth and love to garden.
    Before we moved in, a group of clients who were interested in
having a garden came together to make a wish list of what plants and
garden art they would like to see. We had many discussions, and the
group submitted several sketches of their ideal garden.
    One sketch in particular really caught my attention. A client
named Irene Clark drew a heart- shaped walkway with lawn on the
inside and low maintenance plants and sculpture all around the
outside. The plan included very large, wheelchair accessible planters
in the middle and all the way around the pathway. Irene drew this
design based on a second-hand description and a photo taken of the
backyard area.
    Once we actually moved to the new facility, we realized that
the yard was at a different angle than originally thought. I took
Irene's ideas and drew up a plan that included the wheel chair
accessible walkway, and the heart-shaped lawn became an oval.
    In May 2001 our plan became a reality as we launched our
project thanks to a grant from the Mel and Grace McLean Foundation.
Other generous people and businesses in our community have shared our
vision and continue to do so. Some of these are Wendt Construction
Company, California Conservation Corps, Fortuna Sunrise Rotary Club,
Fortuna Garden Club, Pacific Lumber Company, Fortuna Nursery, Del Mar
Glen Heather Nursery, Nichols Garden Nursery, Sunshine Garden
Nursery, and College of the Redwoods Horticulture and Landscape class
taught by Bert Walker. Thanks also to the many staff and clients who
donated plants and money.
    In 2001 we held our first garden sale fundraiser which proved
to be a huge success. With the proceeds, we were able to purchase a
greenhouse kit (which staff assembled on a Saturday), a barbecue, and
"seed" money for our sale this year.
    This year on May 10 we will hold another huge plant sale in
our garden at 2280 Newburg Road (look for signs). Anyone who wishes
may attend and view the beautiful garden and choose from hundreds of
plants-including Humboldt County native plants and plenty of flower
and vegetable plants (resistant to powdery mildew and blight)
zone-specific for planting in Humboldt gardens.
Everyone has worked hard this year in our gardening groups
planting seeds and transplanting annuals and perennials. One client,
Grace Clark, prays for each tomato that she transplants. She holds
the plant up for everyone in the group to see and says, "Aren't these
roots beautiful?"
    We have literally been up to our elbows in dirt-but the
smiles on the faces of every client, staff member or visitor who sees
this serene garden make it all worthwhile.
    As all gardens, ours is a labor of love and a work in
progress. We have accomplished much and are far from finished, but
clients and staff alike are enjoying the benefits of having our
garden.

Lorna Hahner is Activity Coordinator and Gardener at Fortuna
Adult Day Health Program.