April 17, 2010

Residents show green thumbs for ‘Grower’s Day’

By Becca Gregg, Sentinel Reporter / View original article

Residents of The Bridges at Bent Creek rolled up their sleeves and got down and dirty Friday for the second annual “Grower’s Day” at the Silver Spring Township facility. Throughout the morning, staff and residents planted an assortment of vegetables, herbs and fruits — all of which they will harvest and use for meals and cooking throughout the year.

For many of the residents, the opportunity to garden is a welcome reminder of a pasttime they enjoyed both growing up and prior to moving to The Bridges.

“I was born and raised on a farm,” Stanley Bingham, 85, said. “I enjoy being out there and working in the dirt. I like to plant stuff and see it grow.”

For 80-year-old Curtis Reed, it’s one thing in particular that brings out his green thumb.

“I just like the tomatoes,” he laughed, before adding, “It’s something we enjoy — being out there in the fresh air. You get to talk to people.”

Throughout the morning, residents were assisted by Dining Services Director Drew Kendall, as well as Sous Chef Chris Aguillard and Adam Dewalt, of Dewalt’s Greenhouse near Williamsport, who donated all of the plants to The Bridges.

“We just like to help. It gives them something to do and something to be part of,” Dewalt said of why the greenhouse got involved.

According to Kendall, it’s just one more way The Bridges can make residents feel at home.

“(Gardening) is what a lot of the residents did growing up. It was a hobby that they had and we always try to make it more like home for them here,” he said.

In total, residents planted tomatoes, cucumbers, raspberries, strawberries, eggplant, sweet corn, radishes, sugar snap peas, beans, pumpkin, watermelon, canteloupe, brussel sprouts, green beans, cauliflower, sunflowers, cabbage, green onions, peppers, zucchini and squash, in addition to four different herbs.

“(Gardening) gets the residents outside. They can be active and enjoy the weather,” Aguillard said.

For some, Grower’s Day proved to uncover a new interest.

“I never was involved with planting, but they came and got me and said ‘you’re needed to plant flowers,’” Anna Troutman, 89, laughed. “I’m happy I did it. I want to do anything I can to help around here.”

But for others, it simply took them back to their roots.

“We’re all original farm boys,” Sterling Funk, 85 explained. “It’s a good program and it keeps us out of trouble.”