Introduction and overview of the Ability Garden of New Hanover County, North Carolina. Our unique therapeutic gardening program is located in Wilmington, NC at the New Hanover County Arboretum. This slide show gives an overview of our therapeutic gardening program. We use horticultural and environmental education to promote health and wellness, meet individual goals and support community development. The Ability Garden is designed to be a model program and as such is highly adaptable to different goals and situations.

1. 1999 and still GROWING

2. Our Mission
“Empowering the underserved through
gardening, education, inclusion and
community engagement.”

3. What does that Mean?
We serve -
• Individuals
• Groups from schools and other facilities
• Provide outreach at sites through out the
community
We make gardening accessible regardless of
age, race, gender, physical ability or
economic resources.

4. We provide services to -
• Older Adults

5. • Children & Adults w/ physical
and cognitive disabilities

6. • Under-served communities

7. • Hospice

8. • Substance abuse, PTSD, trauma recovery,
support groups

9. Services are provided -
• At the NHC Arboretum

10. • Our Outdoor Classroom

11. • Our Indoor Greenhouse Classroom

12. • Supported volunteers

13. • Outreach Sites

14. The Ability
Garden Van
Promotes
Community
Plant Sales &
Outreach

15. The Ability Garden is a
model for accessibility
Sharing many ways to grow plants to suit individual needs.

16. We participate in Community Events
Blue Ribbon Commission
Bike Day
PARKing Day
Art in the
Arboretum

17. We offer 5 types of programing
1. Individuals through our Supported Volunteer Program
• Long time volunteers who have achieved a level of independence
and volunteer independently with supports
2. One time visits
• Groups that come out seasonally for an activity
3. Weekly groups
• Focus on socialization and job readiness skills
4. Bi-weekly groups
• Focus on socialization and job readiness skills
5. Monthly
• Introduction into gardening throughout the year

18. We give Workshops, Presentations and provide Consultations
• Workshop training program
• Focused on staff at outreach facilities we serve
• Presentations to garden clubs and other organizations, topics include
• Therapeutic gardening
• Accessible gardening
• Using containers & Creative containers
• Incorporating the garden into art
• Consultations include:
• Site visits
• How to start a gardening program
• Potential funding sources for a program
• Evaluating potential for using gardening therapeutically
• Creating a sustainability plan for your program

19. NCYGS – National Children and Youth Gardening
Symposium from American Horticultural Society
Annual Conference 2016
Bringing the Garden into Art Enrichment
American Community Garden Association
Annual Conference 2016
Growing Urban Policy
Recent Conference Presentations from the
Ability Garden

20. Current Community Partners
• Cape Fear Rescue Mission
• Blue Ribbon Commission
• DREAMS
• Centripetal Farms
• Coastal Compost Council
• Junior League of Wilmington
• Feast Down East
• NC Nourish
• QENO

21. Current On-going Programing
• 2 Transitions groups @ NHC Arboretum
• 2 sessions Open Community groups @ NHC
Arboretum
• Lake Forest Academy
• DC Virgo Preparatory Academy
• Hemenway Center
• Youth Empowerment Services

22. Potential Volunteer Opportunities
• Assisting with groups at the Arboretum
• Assisting with outreach groups
• Community events
• On-going watering and plant care at the
Arboretum
• Educational workshops sponsored by the
Ability Garden
• Special Events

23. Bringing people and plants together !