Palmer, AK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: This project created raised gardening beds, designed to be accessible for gardeners who use wheelchairs. Volunteers constructed two dozen planter boxes and benches, which project organizers then set up in several locations, including at senior housing complexes community and senior centers, on a town main street and at a community garden. The project also created educational programming to teach older adult residents about adaptive and accessible gardening. Organizers say they hope maintaining the new planters will give people access to fresh food, as well as the opportunity to socialize.

Laramie, WY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: Food insecurity is high in Laramie, with many residents lacking access to healthy, fresh produce. To increase food access, Action Resources International created a community garden. They considered the needs of older adults and people with mobility challenges when designing the space, adding accessible, raised garden beds onsite. The beds allow people in wheelchairs -- as well as those who find kneeling uncomfortable -- to tend to the plots. Project organizers hope the new garden provides learning opportunities for West Laramie residents and helps ease reliance on processed food.

Wasilla, AK

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: This project installed eight ADA-compliant benches and 22 planters to create a community garden.