The Providential Gardener

Dig In and Grow: Gardening Activities that Help People Blossom

Gardening for Good is offering an all-day session, Friday, April 20, on therapeutic gardening at URI, East Farm, Kingston. Earlybird registration is April 6. Check out their website for further details: Dig In and Grow: Gardening Activities that Help People Blossom

Gardening for Good ~ October Workshops

Gardening for Good is a nonprofit organization in Westport, Massachusetts, "that reaches out to professionals, individuals and caregivers with ideas and programs that help older adults continue to enjoy gardening and nature." Two workshops are scheduled for October 20 and 21, one on therapeutic gardening activities and the other on designing gardens that are accessible and barrier-free for people who have limited flexibility and mobility. The workshops, which include lunch and course materials, are especially geared to activity professionals, allied health professionals, social workers, master gardener and garden club volunteers, educators, youth group leaders, and family caregivers. Early Birds should register by October 10, 2006 for reduced fee. See www.gardening4good.org.

Eat Well, Spend Less

Among the reasons so many of us love plants is that they give us the food we need to live. Everyone can benefit from wise nutrition advice, and URI has some excellent resources. At a recent Farmers' Market I met Heidi Hetzler, a Community Nutrition Educator, giving delicious samples of Frittata Verde, along with the recipe, courtesy of the University of Rhode Island's Department of Food Science & Nutrition outreach program through the URI Cooperative Extension. Look for her and other Nutrition Educators at Farmers' Markets throughout the summer. You don't have to be on food stamps to enjoy their recipes and benefit from their shopping tips and menus.

Heidi is with the Rhode Island Family Nutrition Program in Providence. They sponsor the RI Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program. You may have seen their ads on RIPTA buses, part of their Mass Transit Social Marketing Campaign. Other programs include food demonstrations, outreach to women leaving the ACI, container gardening, and a hotline for low-income Rhode Island residents, 1-877-FOOD-URI. I bet they could use some volunteers! These are really great programs. They also have educational brochures on the web. Check it out!

Another program is the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program for low-income families, especially those with children. The purpose is to provide

nutrition-related knowledge and skills to help better manage resources, secure adequate nutrition, and enjoy better health. Children receive activity-based learning experiences to positively influence both their own and their family's food choices.
       EFNEP of Rhode Island provides nutrition education in three ways: in school and other small group settings, to individuals in their homes, and through self-study "Learn at Home" curriculums. Adult discussion topics include food pyramid nutrition, menu planning and shopping, budgeting, feeding families, and food safety. Children learn about the food pyramid, healthy snacking, fruits and vegetables, food safety, and exercise. In the school setting, EFNEP paraprofessionals can work with teachers and nurses to help meet nutrition/health education standards for grades K-8.

For further info on the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program, call  401-277-5270 in Providence, and see their website, which has email addresses.

Another program focusing on providing nutritional information to seniors is described on the Rhode Island Meals on Wheels website: Senior Nutritional Awareness Program (SNAP). Seniors can receive a free quarterly newsletter with tips for simple and inexpensive ways to improve diet and health. SNAP also gives workshops and has videos and plans for meetings that senior centers can borrow. SNAP's hotline is 1-800-595-0929.

There are volunteer opportunities here, too, folks!