“I always see so many lovely ideas for gardening activities but we don’t have any green space at all – we just have a patio courtyard area. What can we do instead? I’d like to plan some activities for later in the spring when the flower shows are on TV.”
– Alfred, Activity Coordinator
Dear Alfred,
You’ll be pleased to hear that there are plenty of ways for you to get your residents gardening, even without a garden!
A courtyard, patio or even window boxes offer lots of opportunity to get green-fingered. Many plants and flowers can be grown easily in pots. It doesn’t even need to be a plant pot, actually. Plants grow well in old teapots, tyres, wheelbarrows or sinks – basically whatever you have to hand!
Some of the easiest plants to grow without much outside space are herbs. As a group you could plant and grow a selection of herbs, such as sage, mint and parsley. Involve residents in labelling, watering and picking fresh herbs. They can be passed to the chef for use in dishes – this will bring a great sense of satisfaction to residents who first planted the seeds!
Encourage residents to connect with the great outdoors by arranging trips to your local garden centre, or by requesting a visit from a gardening expert. You could also collect old gardening magazines or catalogues and make gardening collages in a craft session. Display these collages to bring a bit of nature to your inside space.
You may find that some residents aren’t as keen on gardening as others. Find ways to involve them, so they still gain the benefits of spending time outdoors in the fresh air, connecting with nature. It could be asking them to sweep up some outdoor surfaces with a dustpan and brush, making plant labels out of lolly sticks, or even decorating pebbles to display near your entrance.
Best wishes,
Jan
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