Let’s Get Growing
By Mariana Espinoza
A seed planted by a park board member in Grand Prairie, Texas, produced not only fruits and vegetables, but a collaborative program that allowed seniors an opportunity to share their knowledge with children who then have a chance to get dirty learning about the food they consume.
Intergenerational Gardening Pals developed a partnership among the recreation programming staff, summer campers, the department’s arborist/horticulturist, and the Summit 50+ Active Adult Center. The program was designed to increase environmental awareness among summer campers, who range in age from 5 to 15, and to develop multigenerational relationships that offer opportunities for learning.
Sharing Knowledge Across Generations
The Summit is the city’s newest state-of-the-art 50+ active adult center. Members who take part in the Summit Garden Club do so as one of their hobbies and for exercise. Research has proven that for some, gardening is preferred over other forms of fitness activities because of the reduced stress and pressure compared to other physical activities. Gardening has proven to produce positive results through physical activity and mental agility. The garden club began five years ago when the facility was built, which also includes a greenhouse. Working with the Summit Manager, Linda Long, some members worked to expand programming to grow produce—not only for themselves—but to provide a healthier product for the members in the Summit’s Nutrition Program.
This summer, the garden club—under the vision of park board member Emita Garcia—approached the city’s Parks, Arts, and Recreation Department Director, Rick Herold, who loved the idea of developing an intergenerational gardening program. Intergenerational Gardening Pals was a three-week program that included classroom instruction and hands-on experience. In the first week of the program, Parks Arborist/Horticulturist, Susan Henson, visited each of the recreation centers and taught the summer campers about seeds and planting their own healthy foods. In the second week, campers were transported to the Summit Gardens and Greenhouse for hands-on instruction. Finally, in the third week, campers visited the Kirby Creek Nature Center garden, where they learned about planting seeds and how to grow foods that will make their bodies healthy and strong. The biggest challenge in working with the campers was keeping them cool in the Texas heat, so the program took place in the early morning hours. Some campers said the best part about Intergenerational Gardening was that their “gardeners” knew so much about planting fruits and vegetables! Sixty children participated in this first-time program.
The garden club has grown over 467 pounds of produce that was distributed to the needy seniors in the community. Produce, such as lettuce, tomato, cabbage, kale, cilantro, carrots, onions, and potatoes, was given to the Summit Nutrition Program and the Grand Prairie Food Bank. In order to be a Summit Gardner, one must pay a fee of $20 a year and be required to volunteer several hours to maintain the garden and the greenhouse. Some of these volunteer opportunities include working at Grand Prairie’s Farmer’s Market, where their produce is sold as well as ornamental plants. Funds that the gardeners raise are used to pay for supplies. The garden club would like to expand the amount of produce disseminated as well as to increase knowledge among residents about the benefits of eating healthy.
Strengthening The Community
Intergeneration Gardening is one example of how young and old can work together to ensure a healthy future. Grand Prairie has always been an agricultural community, and is known for being the third-oldest Tree City USA in the state for the past 32 years. This year, the department’s arborist/horticulturist instructed over 400 people through six classes in the spring in vegetable gardening, landscape design, native and adaptive plant material, soil, insects, and organic gardening. The arborist/horticulturist also has a monthly television show called “Let’s Get Growing” that teaches residents how to care for their landscapes and vegetable gardens in order to increase environmental awareness.
The city is part of a unique ecosystem called the Crosstimbers, the area where the prairies meet the forest lands. This area includes southeastern Kansas across Central Oklahoma to Central Texas. However, Grand Prairie does experience challenges as a result of the harsh environmental conditions. Grand Prairie is trying to maintain its prairies and increase its canopy cover through a strong commitment to Tree City USA. After all, research has proven that life is “20 percent cooler” under trees.
Gathering Supplies And Getting Started
Using curriculum material from the department’s arborist/horticulturist and groups, such as the Texas Forest Service, the Arbor Day Foundation, and the International Society of Arboriculture, the program was a hit! Costs associated with the program included the purchase of seeds, water, and fertilizer, securing instruction locations, and garden maintenance costs. Intergenerational Gardening was successful because the children were newly exposed to the gardens, which allowed them to plant seeds, watch them grow, and work as a team. One recommendation for anyone looking to start a summer Intergenerational Gardening program is to build a group of volunteers willing to spend the time and learn to work with children. Additional benefits can be reaped by beginning with seeds and carrying through to harvesting the fruit so the children can see the beginning and end of their gardening project.
Mariana Espinoza is the Sr. Recreation Supervisor for the City of Grand Prairie, Texas Parks, Arts, and Recreation Department (mespinoza@gptx.org).