From Garden to Gathering: How Food Grows Connection at Cedarhurst of Arnold
At Cedarhurst of Arnold, community often blossoms in unexpected places—and sometimes, it starts with a seed. What began three years ago as a small flower garden has grown into something far more meaningful: a place where residents and staff plant, nurture, and harvest not only vegetables and herbs, but connection, purpose, and laughter. “Jenny, one of our Life Enrichment Coordinators, started the garden when she first came to Cedarhurst,” says Oriana Del Valle, Director of Sales at Cedarhurst of Arnold. “She’s always loved getting her hands dirty, and over time, she’s really watched it take off.”
That first year was simple—just flowers. By year two, a resident’s family donated starter plants for jalapeños and green peppers. This season, the garden overflowed with zucchini, carrots, herbs, and a bountiful crop of tomatoes that became the talk of the community. “It’s so nice to get different varieties of foods that aren’t normally on the menu,” Oriana says. “We try to tie what we grow into events and activities, so residents can enjoy the fruits of their labor in fun, unexpected ways.”
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