Thriving Garden, Thriving Residents!

Garden at PTGH May 2024

The garden at Plains Trail Group Home (PTGH) has sprung this spring! The garden, installed in April 2024, is already popping with flowers and fruit. Gardening shall be part of the PTGH resident activities list because it promotes physical, mental and emotional wellbeing! Here are a few of the benefits gardening brings to adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Gardening promotes physical strength and coordination as residents dig, bend, squat, and balance during planting, watering and cultivation. It can also help develop fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination. Not to mention that most gardening will be outdoors in the fresh air and in the sun!

Gardening also promotes mental well-being as residents see the fruits of their labor providing a sense of accomplishment and boosting self-esteem. It will enable conversations about plant life, different species, as well as problem solving as the garden evolves. Not to mention that gardening will surely aid in reducing stress and anxiety! Socialization is a huge part of gardening as residents work with peers and caregivers encouraging teamwork, communication and cooperation!

The senses come alive during gardening activities as residents use their senses of sight, touch, smell and taste as they work with all the textures in the garden including soil, plants and flowers!

The therapeutic effects of gardening cannot be denied, as it surely will promote relaxation and calmness, promoting mood improvement and attention span. Other life skills that are practiced during gardening include working on responsibility and patience.

Finally, but certainly an important reason for having our garden at Plains Trail Group Home, is the opportunity to connect with nature! We hope that our garden will help to instill a sense of curiosity, encouraging learning and exploration for all our PTGH residents!