A message from Garden Partners’ Board of Directors:

Since 1999, Garden Partners’ mission has been to enhance the health and well-being of individuals through participation in community-based therapeutic gardening programs. Toward achieving this mission, we have designed and delivered therapeutic horticulture programs, both at eldercare facilities and for at-risk children. After 13 years of enhancing lives and creating connections through the organic process of working collaboratively in gardens, the Board of Directors believes the time is ripe to begin planting new seeds. It is with this in mind that we announce the ending of our day-to-day operations, effective June 30, 2012.

“Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”

~~~Robert Louis Stevenson

In keeping with this work, Garden Partners is proud to be supporting the Janus Youth Village Gardens Program with a gift of $5,000. This gift was given to Garden Partners at year-end of 2011 from Safeco Insurance Company, in honor of Bill Dickey of Morel Ink, the recipient of Safeco’s Community Hero Award.

In passing this gift along to Village Gardens, the grant will specifically support two new inter-generational projects: The Plant Start Project, a collaboration between community garden adult/senior leaders and the Food Works youth farmers; and The Growing Livestock Project which allows seniors and children’s club members to collaboratively raise laying hens. We are very excited that Village Gardens will be carrying on this important work of intergenerational and purposeful garden and farm related programming, improving the social, emotional and physical health of the participants!

 Garden Partners is honored to have served the community through therapeutic, collaborative gardening ~ something we see as a nearly effortless way to build trust, confidence, and community. While Garden Partners will no longer be operating, we appreciate our lasting legacy, the bonds we have helped strengthen, and our place in society’s ongoing cycle.

We encourage everyone to follow this important on-going work by using the link below. You can volunteer, donate or just keep informed of progress.

See:   www.villagegardens.org

Our Board would like to extend a huge THANK YOU for all of your support, encouragement and help over the past 13 years!   This is the beginning of many great things that will be happening within the Portland community!

In our time, Garden Partners provided innovative gardening programs to many participants who were physically, emotionally or mentally challenged and in need of structured and supported living. What drove our work was the awareness that gardening stimulates positive thoughts, interactions and memories, and reinforces connections with the natural world. As our work evolved, we discovered that connections among people of all ages provide opportunities for seniors and youth to develop mentoring, collaboration and communication skills. Vital to the success of our programs were the staff and many volunteers who shared their passion for the people-plant connection. Today, it is as important as ever that all individuals have opportunities to move from the passive role of being recipients of care, to becoming care-giving nurturers of plants and other living things.

You can email Mary Rowan directly with any questions: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it