Providence, RI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: This project will teach older adults at the West End Community Center about Straw Bale Gardening, a cost-effective method to grow vegetables safely despite contaminated soil.

Elk City, OK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: Elk City added nine new table gardens -- designed to accommodate gardeners who use wheelchairs or can't bend easily -- to make its community garden more accessible and appealing to all ages. To accommodate the table gardens, the City laid down gravel. They also added three benches installed on concrete pads. The improvements spurred the City to take on the expense of the garden's water, sewer and electric usage. Since the improvements, the City is exploring the possibility of adding shade structures to shield the benches from the sun, as well as hanging baskets of flowers or vegetables.

Chariton, IA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: This project will transform land adjacent to the library into an accessible gathering space and sensory garden, which will be open year-round and offer educational events on gardening, wildlife and nature appreciation.