Gardening
Discover the therapeutic benefits of gardening with RSS. Under the guidance of Horticultural Therapist Barbara Denson, our members explore new ways to enjoy plants, find creative inspiration, and experience the simple joy of working with the earth. (To find out about the benefits of gardening, read this article from the Mayo Clinic: Dig into the benefits of gardening.)
What Are the Different Ways to Garden at RSS?
At RSS, there's a way for everyone to connect with nature and our community. We offer two main ways to get involved, led by our resident Horticultural Therapist, Barbara Denson.
Our Horticultural Wellness Workshops are a creative and therapeutic way to engage with plants. Our hands-on programs include plant propagation, plant-based craft projects, and making homemade face and body scrubs with natural materials. We also explore aromatherapy using essential oils. Horticultural therapy is the practice of using plants to help people heal and grow. [Learn more about Horticultural Therapy here.]
Join our Plant Maintenance volunteers who help keep the plants in the center thriving. This is more than just watering; it's a chance to nurture both plants and yourself. For many, this work is helpful as a form of physical therapy, offers a sense of purpose as a way to help others, and can even ease feelings of depression through the act of caring for living things.
Want to enjoy a day in nature without leaving the Bronx? Check out RSS, partner garden Wave Hill, an oasis in Riverdale along the Hudson River.
Plant Care Tips
Plant maintenance is rewarding but has it's challenges. Click on the pictures below for articles to get tips on how to care for your plants.
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15 Common Houseplants Perfect for Your Home
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Organic Gardening 101: How to Start Gardening Organically
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How to Spot 6 Common Houseplant Pests and Remove Them For Good
Schervier Community Garden
The Schervier Community Garden, located behind the Schervier Nursing Care and Rehabilitation Center, is supported and funded in part by RSS. It is an organic garden that is for older adults ages 55 and up. Each season 32 gardeners from the surrounding community raise their own vegetables, herbs, and flowers. They use organic gardening methods and are able to harvest fresh produce. There is a community herb garden that is shared by everyone and 10 other community spaces for hundreds of native plants to attract, feed, and house pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
Find the Schervier Community Garden on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/865431967979082/