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Institute launches gardening program Around Osceola Tuesday, 19 October 2010 08:27 The Harmony Institute is expanding its Seeds for Healthy Eating program by launching an intergenerational gardening program. Seeds for Healthy Eating provides gardening activities and fresh produce to seniors at the Osceola County Council on Aging. Each spring, students with special needs from the Harmony High School SCORE (Successful Careers On-the-job training, Real-life Experience) program help prepare standing planter boxes with wheelchair access. The students fill the boxes with soil and Harmony Institute staff provides instruction on how to plant the seeds and maintain the sprouts. Once the seedlings are ready to be transplanted, the boxes are transported back to Spirit Farm, where young people and older volunteers plant the seedlings in the Spirit Farm garden. When the vegetables are ready for harvest, the youngsters pick the vegetables, which are delivered back to the council for the seniors to enjoy. Seeds for Healthy Eating introduces (or reintroduces) gardening and environmental awareness to youngsters and seniors alike and promotes healthy eating and exercise while providing physically limited seniors the opportunity to recapture the gardening experience.   This program demonstrates the healthy values of human-nature interaction as it provides seniors with a productive gardening activity involving planting seeds and nurturing plants and, finally, consuming the harvested produce. Both seniors and youngsters will learn more about the health values of fresh vegetables as they gain confidence through growing their own vegetables and engage in exercise and social interaction. Seniors who wish to work in the garden at Spirit Farm should first complete an RSVP application with the Council on Aging by calling 407-933-9525.   Please register or log in to post comments. JComments