Greenspring Gardeners Prepare Their Green Thumbs for National Garden Month

Gardening is beneficial.  That's according to the National Gardening Association (NGA), which celebrates National Garden Month in April.

With gardening, “attitudes toward health and nutrition improve, kids perform better at school, and community spirit grows,” according to research cited by the NGA.

That community spirit has grown at where there are now 108 resident garden plots, a significant increase from the ten plots that were being maintained just after the community opened in 1998.  Due to expansion of the community in 2003, the gardens were relocated and remain in the same spot today adjacent to the community’s Bark Park, an off-leash play area for residents’ dogs who live at Greenspring.

During gardening season, you can find the majority of the 99 current gardeners at the community maintaining their gardens nearly every day.  They are able to easily find and use supplies like gardening tools and fertilizer in two garden houses, as well as utilize hoses for watering located no more than 15 feet from each plot. 

While most of the gardeners grow a myriad of vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, and zucchini, there is also often a burst of color from plants and flowers also being nurtured.  Groundskeeper John St. Louis, who has been at the community since 1999, helps with maintenance by rototilling, digging, and planting when needed. Recently, he installed an automatic irrigation system for those resident gardeners who travel frequently or cannot water every day.

Resident George Tateosian, chairman of Greenspring’s gardening club, The Tillager’s, held the group’s first meeting of the season in mid-March to prepare for the gardening season ahead.  There are always garden plots available for any resident who wants to continue cultivating their interest or who may want to start a new hobby!

ABOUT GREENSPRING:  Greenspring, one of 16 Erickson Living full-service retirement communities, is situated on a scenic 108-acre campus in Springfield, Virginia.  The community is home to nearly 2000 residents, many of which reside in the 1405 independent living units.  Life at Greenspring offers a true sense of community and is an exciting alternative to the typical retirement community.  Additional information about Greenspring can be found at www.ericksonliving.com.