In keeping with the spring season, two senior citizens’ communities are cultivating their green fingers for the common good.
The Cornwall Manor Retirement Community in Cornwall, PA, in partnership with the Rodale Institute, a world leader in organic farming, has established the Cornwall Manor Rodale Institute’s Trailside Organic Farm: a certified organic vegetable farm developed by industry experts at the Rodale Institute is headed.
These aerial photos show the place where the organic farm will be located. In the upper part of the photo is the Woods neighborhood (all independent of each other).
Their mission is to give all residents access to local organic food and to create an environment that is conducive to health and wellbeing.
“Organic foods are gaining increasing attention from senior organizations to not only prevent disease but improve health outcomes for everyone,” said Lee Stickler, President and CEO of Cornwall Manor. “We wanted to work with industry experts at the Rodale Institute to build the Trailside Organic Farm on Cornwall Manor’s Woods campus to support our wellness philosophy, which is based on the principle that every resident has the right to the maximum Enjoying and maintaining health, dignity, independence and activity. “
Cornwall Manor is the first old age group to partner with the Rhode Institute and both organizations hope this will not be the last. Her goal is for her partnership and farm to serve as a role model and pave the way for other age groups to follow suit.
Trailside Organic Farm will begin as a two acre certified organic farm on the Woods campus of Cornwall Manor near the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail. Under the direction of the Rodale Institute, the farm will provide healthy, hyperlocal foods to residents in all of the campus dining rooms. Both residents and team members also have the option to purchase fresh, organically grown produce for personal use when the farm’s harvest grows.
Future plans for the farm include hiring a farm manager, planting plants on one of the acres and preparing the site. An unheated greenhouse will also be installed by 2022 to extend the growing season. Locally grown seasonal produce is expected to arrive in Cornwall Manor’s dining rooms by autumn 2022.
“The older adults of our society and other vulnerable populations deserve healthy, organic foods,” said Jeff Moyer, CEO of the Rodale Institute. “By building a farm right on the Cornwall Manor campus, residents will not only be able to take advantage of the nutritional benefits of organic food, but also the biodiversity, clean air and connection to nature that organic farms promote.”
The Cornwall Manor Retirement Community isn’t the only green thumb organization.
Judith Williams poses with some of the plants she planted.
At Spring Hills Senior Living in Princeton, New Jersey, senior Judith William is hard at work renovating both the community garden and the courtyard-to-table vegetable and herb garden. Their efforts were recognized during the Garden Lounge’s opening party, held on May 14th.
William, 77, is a professional gardener and resident of Spring Hills Princeton. Before the event, she helped choose flowers, herbs and vegetables and plant everything. The Grand Lounge Opening Party offered garden dishes such as Caprese salad.
Gardening was a great passion for William throughout her life. She grew up in Abington, PA, where her mother was president of the Bryn Athyn Garden Club. William was even sent to gardening school by the Ortho fertilizer company after moving to Lancaster, PA, and has been building professional gardens for 12 years.
As a breast cancer survivor, William also sees gardening as a starting point. “Gardening is one of the most therapeutic hobbies one can develop. It changes your life, ”she said. “Gardening is in my blood and in my soul.”
