2014 Rolette County-Gardening with Dunseith Nursing Home

The Brite Sprights 4-H club gardened with Dunseith Nursing Home Residents.

This year’s effort included the construction and planting of three raised beds in addition to planting a small garden plot. The students surveyed the residents to identify what plants they would like to grow in the garden and started seeds with the residents. They planted and cared for the garden with the assistance of the Dunseith Nursing Home’s Activity Director, Shawn Azure. Community volunteers Jerry Sparrow and his son, Joshua assisted youth in constructing the raised beds. Discussions with Foods Director, Cindy Sparrow, led to planting vegetables that would be used in resident’s meals. Cindy indicated more residents were spending time outdoors and they seemed to be staying outdoors for longer periods of time enjoying the gardens.

Director Terry Brenno indicated “the project was a total success. The residents really enjoyed it. They looked forward to the youth coming. The raised beds were a good thing. They involved more residents. The plants grew quickly in them. The residents also really enjoyed the fresh vegetables in their meals. We would be ready to do this again”. Another employee noted the garden initiated conversations between the residents as they discuss what each plant was, which plants were growing well and which plants they use to grow in their gardens. Upon learning not all residents knew each plant, members constructed photo labels and marked each row.

The group planned and hosted a 4-H open house in August. Youth designed posters and family members helped distribute them. A light lunch and program was planned. Youth lead the pledges, presented information about various county 4-H events, and six youth paired up to do food demonstrations that created offerings for lunch. Each youth member had a speaking or demonstration during the open house. A garden tour completed the evening. Pumpkins growing in the garden will be used in the annual pumpkin decorating event with the residents in October.

Youth and their families weeded flower beds at the International Peace Gardens as a community service project and visited the Garden’s monument in August.

Weeding the garden and setting out plants.

Thinning the radishes.

Constructing the raised beds.

A completed raised bed

Thank you note for Joshua who taught us how to build a raised bed and helped us build it.

The plants are growing

Visiting the International Peace Gardens Cacti Garden