Forman, ND

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: Limited access kept residents from fully using Forman's community garden. The city moved the garden to a central park near assisted living and added raised beds, benches and a picnic table to make it more inviting. The new location encourages families and older adults to garden and gather, while added seating creates a comfortable resting spot for visitors. One resident said, "I love the new garden boxes. They look great and are in the perfect location."

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

Charleston, WV

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: Older adults relying on a local food pantry faced limited access to fresh produce, affecting nutrition and health. To address this, the organization created a community garden that supplies fruits and vegetables for pantry boxes and invites older adults to help grow them. Two Master Gardeners led the effort, mentoring younger volunteers and fostering intergenerational bonds. The garden now provides consistent access to fresh food and serves as a space for learning and connection. "It was a season filled with growth...in the hearts and minds of the young adults I had the opportunity to teach," said one gardener.

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

Raymond, ME

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: The Raymond Village Library hoped to create an accessible community amenity to foster intergenerational relationships. So they worked to create a community garden. Volunteers installed benches, shade structures and solar lighting, as well as a graded path and waist-high planters designed to be accessible for gardeners with disabilities. To make garden upkeep easier, they also added rain barrels and a drip irrigation system.