[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” full_height=”yes” columns_placement=”top” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving-fade” parallax_image=”18542″ parallax_speed_bg=”3″][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
In response to a request from County Carlow Development Partnership(CCDP),<\/a> who were working with the Delta Centre<\/a>, a social enterprise committed to improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, a proposal was submitted by Dee Sewell. The idea was to create a raised vegetable bed garden for residents and friends of one of the residential homes and work with participants to help them grow their own food.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”18553″ img_size=”large”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Several benefits were identified at the beginning which included:<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”18540″ img_size=”large”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n Initial funding was provided for 28 hours to design, create and then to work weekly with Delta Centre participants on Monday mornings between April and July 2018. Carlow Men\u2019s Sheds<\/a> were invited to build the raised vegetable beds for the outreach garden, which they did and subsequently installed.<\/p>\n CCDP provided the funding for the education hours, as well as the wood necessary to build for five large raised beds and two small ones. Delta Centre covered the material costs of filling the beds and all other associated materials throughout the project, which included tools, equipment, plants and seeds.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n At the beginning of the project, Dee sat with Alison Whelan, Delta Centre Tutor and the new Delta Centre, eight-member gardening group to discuss what they would like to grow. They created two measurable goals based on these discussions:<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”18546″ img_size=”large”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n The garden was a blank canvas. Located in a rural setting on the outskirts of Carlow town centre, surrounded by mature hedging at the back of the bungalow. It was agreed that half of the lawned area would form the new 209m\u00b2 growing area, giving space for the raised beds as well as a seating area.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n The garden group followed a basic plan each week, focussed around a garden diary. They began by looking at the changes, what had grown and what hadn\u2019t, the weather and the temperature as well as who joined the group for the week. They then worked at different garden related activities. At the end of the session there was a group evaluation of the tasks carried out, as well as what the team enjoyed the most and jobs for the following week.<\/p>\n Teamwork, learning new things, getting outside, planting the seeds and vegetables, constructing supports, watering, being in a group with friends, seeing how everything was growing, being outdoors and having fun<\/i><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n were all regularly identified as the things people enjoyed the most about the garden, which all correlated to goal number two.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”18549″ img_size=”large”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Goal number one was more difficult to obtain within the short timescale as plant growth was slower due to the severe drought in 2018. However, the group compensated by foraging in the garden hedgerow. They picked elderflowers and took them back to Delta Centre for their assisted living class, where they made seasonal cordial<\/a>. They also harvested some of the faster growing vegetables on the last day such as lettuce and early carrot thinnings.<\/p>\n After Dee\u2019s funding had finished, the group still visited the garden and continued to harvest the vegetables that were plentiful, fulfilling the vision for the first goal.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”18211″ img_size=”large”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n In May 2019, the programme resumed, again with support and funding from CCDP and the Delta Centre. To allow for an extended growing period, the weekly garden sessions were cut to 1\u00bd hours a week. During this growing season, Dee and Alison have been working on a different evaluation technique. They are trialling a photography project where participants photograph whatever interests them, helping to gauge some of the favoured aspects within the garden. This method was used by Joe Sempik, Jo Aldridge and Saul Becker in the Health, well-being and social inclusion: Therapeutic Horticulture in the UK <\/a>publication in 2005.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n This is a relatively new project only in its second year with still much to do. However, all of the benefits identified at the beginning of 2018 were achieved from the work in the garden:<\/p>\n Two learners involved had not fully engaged in or completed a programme until this one began and we found that it provided the motivation to commit to completing a task\/programme.<\/p>\n\n
Funding & Collaboration<\/h2>\n
The Goals & People<\/h2>\n
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The Garden<\/h2>\n
Activities, Measuring Goals and Outcomes<\/h2>\n
2019<\/h2>\n
Summary<\/h2>\n
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