It’s a summer day at Jefferson County Open Space Gardens. The bees are buzzing, vegetables are thriving, and the sun is shining. Amidst this natural beauty, Laradon’s Adult Day participants are hard at work pulling weeds, watering the garden beds and picking fresh produce. It’s safe to say it’s the perfect summer day.
“I love going to the garden. I like being outside and smelling the flowers,” shared Kathy.
These vibrant gardens are part of a special project that started over nine years ago, designed to help more people in the community learn gardening skills and donate fresh produce. Today, the gardens are lovingly managed by Jovial Concepts, a local nonprofit dedicated to uniting the community through gardening, creating inclusive spaces where individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) can learn new skills, and educating families about healthy food options.
The van ride down to the gardens is always filled with excitement for Laradon’s Adult Day Participants. Kathy, Q, Donald, Juan, and MJ could barely contain their anticipation, debating how much the plants had grown since their last visit.
Upon arrival, the group decorated sticks to place next to their favorite plants. Each participant named their stick; proudly set it beside plants they had cultivated weeks before that were now flourishing. After this creative start, the group dove into the day’s tasks: picking and tasting radishes (which were not enjoyed), planting watermelon seeds, trimming mint, and watering the plant beds.
Each participant was paired with a dedicated volunteer like long time gardener and Jovial Concepts volunteer Sherman Winston, who guides them through tasks, explains the importance of their work, and shows them how to use new tools. MJ was very excited to use a giant pair of chippers to trim some mint.
“Today I got to try clippers. They were fun!” MJ exclaimed.
“I am so happy I get to be involved with all the groups that are part of the IDD community that come by the gardens,” Sherman shared. “A couple weeks ago I got to show David and Q how to use a grass trimmer, and they absolutely loved it. It’s those simple moments of independence that make this so worth it.”
One moment that was particularly exciting for the group was when Juan was able to get out of his wheelchair. Juan is wheelchair-bound, making participation in many outings challenging. However, the garden managers have worked tirelessly to ensure the gardens are accessible to all. The garden beds are low enough that Juan can comfortably and safely move from his chair to reach the plants.
“It’s cool to see people like Juan be able to participate in gardening. It brings a smile to my face when I see everyone being able to have fun in the activities,” Sherman expressed with tears in his eyes.
Jovial Gardens isn’t the only place our Laradon participants are gaining valuable life skills! Participants that are part of our Work Teams volunteer their time at six other organizations, making a real impact in our community.
By: Katey Lewicki, Communications Coordinator
