Garden Buddies
Garden Buddies is a gardening together program that increases physical activity and social connections for seniors by involving them in shared gardening and nature based activities, either at the Earthwise Garden, or at home.
This program connects seniors with trained volunteers to establish a relationship of trust, knowledge sharing and support. There is no cost to participate in the Garden Buddies program.
A growing body of research shows that gardening with others can have measurable benefits, including improved mood, increased exercise and relaxation, and greater social connectedness.
Garden Buddies Teaching Garden
Some seniors and others with limited mobility face a unique set of challenges when it comes to community gardening opportunities. Earthwise Society’s Garden Buddies Teaching Garden wants to change that! Built in 2021, The Teaching Garden consists of raised garden beds built on a paved concrete patio. The ground is stable and wheelchair accessible, enabling safe movement throughout the garden area. Garden beds are set high off the ground so they can be reached from a wheelchair or to an individual with limited mobility, and there are plenty of benches for resting, and a gazebo for shade.
Monday Meetups in the Teaching Garden
The teaching Garden has become a hands-on venue for senior and community-led therapeutic horticulture programs for people of all ages related to growing food, healthy eating, small space gardening, and much more! Garden Buddies Monday Meetups connect different generations and encourage leadership, discovery, and understanding. If you know someone who loves to garden and would enjoy participating in shared gardening activities with a group of new friends, please email info@earthwisesociety.bc.ca to register for this free program! For details and our Meetup schedule, visit our EVENTS PAGE.
Mentor Training
The demand for our Garden Buddies program has been high, and we are always looking to recruit new volunteers who would like to become Garden Buddy mentors. Earthwise will train new mentors in the necessary skills through a series of free workshops. If you are interested in learning more about therapeutic horticulture and helping out with Garden Buddies by becoming a volunteer mentor click HERE!
Garden Buddies At Home
This program reaches out to seniors who live at home and love gardening, but sometimes feel they could use an extra helping hand. Each senior will be paired up with a trained Earthwise volunteer, and together they will work on new or existing gardening projects, bond over a common interest and enjoy each other’s company. Garden Buddies is not a garden service provided by Earthwise; rather, this program aims to establish a relationship based on a shared love of gardening, cooperation, and learning as the volunteer and senior collaborate their skills. This is a great way for seniors to stay active and continue with a favorite hobby. At the same time, volunteers will gain the opportunity to share knowledge and experience and learn from another generation of gardeners!
The volunteer will visit regularly for 1-2 hour sessions over several months to collaborate on gardening projects. Some examples may include:
- Installing a bird feeder and bird-friendly flowers
- Work together to remove weeds and amend soil
- Add pollinator-friendly plants to an existing flower garden
- Installing herbs in pots on a balcony
Some examples of what this program does not include:
- The Earthwise volunteer working alone in the garden
- Landscaping services such as lawn mowing
- Materials delivery: soil, lumber, etc.
- Daily watering
Garden Buddies Stay Connected
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have adapted our Garden Buddies program to also include a virtual format that uses digital technology to bring seniors together online to cultivate their green thumbs from a distance! The Garden Buddies Stay Connected program will pair seniors with a trained Garden Buddy mentor who will reach out to them weekly by phone. The mentors will support the seniors, teach them how to access technology, and introduce them to virtual group meetings where they can interact with other program participants and mentors.
Seniors can also take part in online workshops where they will have the chance to share their love of gardening with others and connect with people of all ages. The workshops will offer do-it-yourself gardening and nature sessions, information sharing and lively discussion! To learn more about the program please email info@earthwisesociety.bc.ca
Garden Buddies On The Go
Garden Buddies On The Go arranges excursions for seniors to visit the Earthwise Garden in Delta. Earthwise Society works with seniors groups to develop fun personalized activities for seniors, including gardening, flower arranging, and various social events. This program aims to help seniors stay active and get outside into nature, while making new connections in the community.
Becoming a Garden Buddy
If you wish to volunteer with us and become a garden buddy, please contact education@earthwisesociety.bc.ca.
This program is supported by United Way Lower Mainland. 