Rye Brook, NY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: Many older residents faced food insecurity as pre-made meals became costly and often spoiled, leaving those in low-income housing without reliable nutrition. The Village transformed an unused patio into a handicapped-accessible Giving Garden with raised beds and seating, enabling volunteers to grow fresh vegetables and herbs. Older adults now receive free produce and enjoy a welcoming space for meals and socializing. The garden also offers therapeutic benefits. One participant shared that she reminisced about gardening with her father as she worked in the new garden, and was already committed to working in the garden next spring.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Gettysburg, SD

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: Older residents who moved into apartments downtown lost space to garden, an activity that fosters social connection and food sharing. To address this, volunteers turned an empty lot into a community garden with raised beds for accessibility and hosted workshops on soil health and planting tips. A kickoff planting event brought neighbors together despite rain, and produce was donated to the local food pantry. The project sparked plans for more gardens and a mural featuring local artists age 50-plus. One couple said that this project allowed them to get involved with gardening again, share knowledge and help donate extra produce.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Henderson, NV

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: This project created Henderson's first public community garden. Originally a demonstration garden with six raised beds, the City converted the plot at Heritage Park Senior Facility the guidance of Garden Farms of Nevada, whose mission is to help desert communities learn how to grow their own food. Improvements included new drip-irrigation tubing and fresh topsoil. Project organizers say a key goal was fostering community and giving older adults a change to socialize. In February 2020, the City held a planting party. After that, older adults began to meet at the garden, where they learned to grow produce to share with their neighbors. Although gardening activity paused during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City was able to harvest and donate crops to Henderson's Senior Grocery Program, which distributed the produce to local older adults.