Genesis Garden Supplies Needed! We are looking at getting some more color in our garden and building up what we already have. We want to make our garden a wonderful place for everyone to enjoy. Some of the projects that THE WAY day program will possibly taking on are: staining all of the garden boxes and benches, planting more plants and vegetables, and raking and maintaining our garden! We are also exploring the possibility of expanding our garden to the grassy area by the offices and playground. Our dream for this area is to have hostas, hanging baskets, a bird feeder, and a picnic table. Wish List for the Genesis Garden: Miracle Grow Liquafeed Starter Pack Miracle Grow Liquafeed All Purpose Plant Food Refill Fertilizer Spikes 2 Honeysuckle Plants Bags of Song Bird birdseed 2 Hanging Baskets Sunflowers Lily Bulbs Tulip Bulbs 2 Gallons - Cabot Mahogany Flame wood stain Garden Trellis for climbing plants Herbs (preferably ones that give off a scent)

What is the Genesis Enabling Garden?

Established in 2005, this enabling garden project will provide opportunities for those with physical and mental disabilities to learn new skills and experience a sense of belonging and usefulness. In order to better explain the concept of an enabling garden, please continue reading the following information obtained from the Chicago Botanic Gardens. We hope to be working closely with them in the implementation of this project.

Designing the Enabling Garden

Gardening has emerged as one of America’s most popular pastimes. A garden can be a meaningful way to have nature close at hand & enjoy the value of vine-ripe vegetables, colorful flowers or well-landscaped home. However the 60 million people who have a disability, as well as many more aging adults and those with limiting medical conditions, traditional in-ground gardening may be too challenging. It is fortunate that a rethinking of garden design & techniques allows anyone of any ability to garden safely and comfortably for a lifetime.

Enabling gardens focus on minimizing barriers while maximizing people’s abilities. One strategy is to adapt the garden through the use of paving, containers, raised beds and other structures that position plants within easy reach. Another consideration is to adapt the gardener with appropriate tools and equipment.

Universal Design

Universal design, a term created by the late architect Ron Mace, ALA, is a philosophy used to design products, environments, and forms of communication that are usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

Universal design in gardens will provide a foundation of ideas and practical pointers for creating safe, comfortable gardens accessible to all.

Sensational Plants

There are five ways to experience a garden: sight, smell, touch, sound and taste. If one sense is lost or impaired you can increase your pleasure by filling your garden with plants that appeal to those senses that remain.

If mobility or strength is limited, choose plants that require little care. Start small. Too large a garden soon becomes overwhelming, quickly turning the enjoyment into an overwhelming chore.

Plants for the Senses

Sight

Sight is the most frequently used of all the senses. No wonder! Seventy percent of the body’s receptors are clustered in the eyes.

Smell

You may experience a flood of long forgotten memories simply by sniffing a fragrance you encountered as a child. Smell, the last of the senses to become impaired as we age, is often overlooked as a garden pleasure.

Touch

Although we tend to rely on sight and smell and neglect the sense of touch, it is actually one of the most enjoyable ways to experience a garden. Stroke the; soft, fuzzy leaves of lamb’s ear or run your hand over the exfoliating bark of a river birch tree, and you will understand how unique it is to experience plants through the sense of touch.

Sound

A garden is filled with many sounds: the rustling of the wind through trees and grasses, chirping crickets, buzzing bees and wasps, singing birds, rain and thunder. Other pleasant sounds can be added with a small waterfall or fountain or with wind chimes. All sounds provide location cues to anyone who is visually impaired.

Taste

Perhaps one of the most satisfying rewards of gardening is delighting your taste buds by planting vegetables, fruits and herbs. You may even want to include some edible flowers.

Filling the garden with God’s beautiful people and plants...