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Keys to Peace (2018) Print
2018 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Community Gardens
└ Community Gardens
The JOY (Just Older Youth) Center's staff saw a need to build connections and prevent loneliness. To do this, the Center added a new community garden. Engaging the expertise of a local gardener, Center staff built elevated garden beds, designed to be easier on aging knees than ground-level plots. They also purchased seedlings for the space. Today, the garden isn't just producing broccoli and collard greens. Project organizers say the garden is also a nurturing place for older adults to get together, socialize and learn new skills. And over the growing season, nearly 100 community members worked in the gardens.
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See More Projects Like This One
Atlanta, GA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: Using donated recycled and salvaged lumber, the Lifecycle Building Center built 14 Little Free Pantries and 10 garden beds. The Center used the fabrication work to demonstrate how the construction industry can help strengthen communities by prioritizing the reuse of materials. Mounted at chest height for easy access and placed in public areas, the pantries allow community members experiencing food insecurity to collect items as needed. Local nonprofit Friends of Refugees stocked the pantries with 1,000 pounds of food. The raised-bed planters went to the homes of refugee gardeners.
Providence, RI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: This project engaged young people to grow herbs and vegetables which were given to older adults. It also helped create a second cookbook that preserves the older adults' recipes and stories.
Omaha, NE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: This project will add planter boxes and accessible benches at two community garden locations. The gardens are located in communities where 50 to 60 percent of gardeners are older adults or low-income residents.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Florida City, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: This project will use aeroponic gardening as an alternative to traditional gardening methods, bringing residents of various ages together to cultivate plants. The produce will go to community fridges and choice pantries, where older people can obtain food at no cost.
Miami-Dade County, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Housing Choice Design Competitions
Description: In an effort to encourage construction of accessory dwelling units for infill housing, this project will launch an ADU design competition. The contest will recognize designs that emphasize sustainability, affordability and accessibility with a focus on providing homes for people aged 50.
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