Therapeutic Horticulture at Cascadia

KELLOGG — Residents of Mountain Valley of Cascadia were able to experience the therapy of horticulture as the Eldergrow garden was unveiled Wednesday morning.

“Research shows that when we get our hands dirty in the soil, a release of serotonin, the chemical that helps make us happy, is released,” said Eldergrow educator Kara Donaldson. “It benefits the quality of mind, body and spirit.”

The full-service garden is an indoor, mobile garden that is ideal for indoor plants and is built accessible for wheelchair users.

An immense amount of benefits come with a year-round garden, as it can enhance socialization, improve sleep and elevate the mood. In addition, gardening uses all five senses, which helps connect the brain with the world around us and can reduce some risk factors that come with dementia.

Cascadia Activities Director Misty McEnany wants to provide the residents with activities that they not only enjoy but that can also bring them together, “I always tell the residents, you just need to find something in common with someone else, and you can have a conversation. I knew I had a lot of residents who enjoyed gardening, so this was perfect.”

The interested residents gathered in the Rose Room, as some were happy simply socializing and observing, while others got in and got their hands dirty.

Various plants were put in the soil, from delicate ferns to fragrant herbs, and added some color with flowers like a bromeliad.

When finished, the garden was lush with gorgeous flora; as the residents began to wrap up their gardening and check out the finished product, “That’s beautiful” echoed throughout the room.

Donaldson will come to Cascadia twice a month to check on the plants and rotate them out, so the residents can have a full garden while also learning about and maintaining the different plants. In the meantime, interested residents can tend to the garden by hand tilling the soil and taking turns watering.