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Garfield Neurobehavioral Center Gets a Garden
September 04, 2003
Garfield Neurobavioral Centers new flower beds are enjoyed by residents and staff alike.At Garfield Neurobehavioral Center, Susan LeBlanc, OTR, has maintained an ongoing professional affiliation with San Jose State University's Occupational Therapy (OT) program by having student interns at the facility for 12-week periods. These internships are a national requirement for graduation from OT programs, so expectations from both sides, student and facility, are high. During internships, students are expected to gain hands-on professional practice working with staff and residents, and receive support and practice from the staff. Students are also expected to show initiative to meet a particular need at the facilities where they work.
This summer, OT intern Rebecca Young revived a gardening program with the residents and rehabilitation staff at Garfield to address the need for a more home-like environment. Rehab staff member Yolanda Edwards had already planted some sweet corn and broccoli in some old beds adjacent to the activity room and kitchen. However, flower beds and other vegetable beds were still bare.
Garfield Neurobehavioral Center's enthusiastic new gardeners.The project was started by prepping the soil: turning it over and adding some compost. This was a great activity for some residents who have extra energy and wanted to show their muscle, especially since the soil was hard-packed and compressed from years of being walked on. Residents enjoyed seeing progress made, as more areas were made ready for planting.
Next to the dining room windows they planted a combination of bright annual and perennial flowers so residents could see the fruits of their labor during meals. The beds next to the activity room/kitchen were planted with a kitchen garden. This included tomatoes, beans, lettuce, herbs and marigolds (to keep the bugs away). Swiss chard and more flowers were added in the beds that residents and staff can see from office and bedroom windows.
As the garden grew, so did participation of residents and staff. There are large and small watering cans available so all residents, regardless of ability, could participate in watering the garden. Residents and staff appreciated a break in their days to go outside to water or just observe the beauty of the garden. Herbs and coleus were also planted in pots to have indoors during the winter.
Residents who do not get outside often enjoy getting a small bouquet of fresh herbs or even one flower to hold and smell throughout the day. In cooking class, homegrown basil, rosemary and thyme are used to make lasagne or pizza. Sweet corn was recently harvested, and everyone is looking forward to having fresh broccoli and salads.
The new vegetable garden at Garfield Neurobehavioral Center is growing strong.Gardening, or, ‘therapeutic horticulture,’ has multiple benefits for everyone. It offers Garfield residents a chance to make choices and see change in their environment. It has a wonderful ability to enhance use of the senses, incorporating sight, smell, taste and touch. Residents and staff gain a sense of cooperation and teamwork. Maintaining a garden offers practice in physical, emotional and social skills for all who participate. Even just looking at the flowers counts as participation.
Rebecca leaves this fall to return to graduate school knowing that staff and residents will continue to enjoy and maintain the garden program. She is looking forward to visiting and helping out during the school year. Karen Talbot, who teaches horticulture therapy at Merritt College toured the garden with Susan LeBlanc and Rebecca on August 12. Susan and Karen are working together to include a more comprehensive gardening program throughout the year.
If you are in the Garfield neighborhood, please stop by and ask one of the residents to show you their garden.
