An award-winning program brings youth and seniors together through the joy of gardening
When Donwood Manor introduced six Les Verts Terrace Pro indoor garden systems into its independent living facility, the goal was simple: to increase access to fresh produce and offer their seniors an engaging and meaningful activity. But what unfolded was far more inspiring—a blooming initiative that has enriched lives, cultivated community, and inspired pride among seniors, staff, and families alike.
More Than Just a Garden
Jennifer Kappy is the Tenant Resource Coordinator for the independent living facility at Donwood Manor. “Creating a sustainable intergenerational program has been a long-standing goal for Donwood. We wanted to facilitate a means for different generations to share knowledge, form relationships and learn and work together towards a common goal,” she says.
Jennifer, along with volunteer Heidi Goertz and high school teacher Anita Stepaniuk, are the key organizers of Growing Together, a program they started that connects students from a local high school to the seniors at Donwood. The intergenerational group meets after school weekly to learn, plant seeds, harvest together and connect over a shared joy for all things gardening.
The program benefits everyone involved: the seniors feel a renewed sense of pride and self-confidence as they participate in the hands-on activity, while the students gain a deeper understanding of empathy and respect for older generations. Volunteers like Heidi and Anita are instrumental in making the program a success. Their passion and commitment have helped grow the initiative, which earned the “Healthy Aging Award” from the Province of Manitoba in 2024.
“We’re growing plants together, but also relationships and community and knowledge,” remarks Jennifer. “It’s beautiful—I am excited every time I talk about it.”
Living with Dignity
The program has drawn in a range of senior participants, from those who once maintained lush home gardens to others who had never planted a seed in their lives. The hydroponic systems offer a chance for both groups to find joy and purpose.
Some of the seniors at Donwood Manor live with physical or cognitive impairments that make it difficult for them to participate on their own. Jennifer shared that with the assistance of the students, the seniors are able to plant seeds and harvest the produce, giving them the feeling of success and accomplishment. This simple act of collaboration allows seniors to stay involved in a way that feels meaningful, even if they need support.
“It’s about dignity,” Jennifer said. “It can be difficult for some folks to ask for help.” By taking the time to build relationships between the participants, as well as offering an orientation ahead of time to students about empathy and respect, Jennifer and her team are breaking down barriers for participation.
A Garden Oasis in the Middle of a Hallway
Aside from the Growing Together program, the collection of Terrace Pro units has transformed an ordinary hallway in the facility into a beautiful garden oasis. Seniors often sit near the gardens before meals or while waiting for the elevator, taking in the warmth and greenery. “It gives them a little solitude and a peaceful place to sit,” Jennifer shares. “And in winter, that’s especially important.”
As seeds sprout, seniors gather in groups to watch their progress. They bring family members to admire the latest growth, proudly pointing out the tomatoes, lettuce, and herbs they’ve helped cultivate. “It’s a huge treat,” Jennifer says. “They’ll say, ‘I got a tomato from the hydroponics on my plate today!’” What may seem like a small touch—a single tomato—is a source of joy and pride.
Six Units – One Big Impact
Donwood operates six Terrace Pro units to serve a community of over 250 people. This allows them to grow specific crops in bulk: two units for tomatoes, two for lettuce, one for herbs, and another rotating through peppers or experimental plants. “With six units, we can grow enough of one crop to feed it to everyone at the same time,” Jennifer explains.
While the produce is mainly supplemental to their main kitchen supply, it adds freshness, variety, and excitement to the meals. “It’s been amazing to have fresh produce (including lettuce that you just picked!) in the middle of winter,” she remarks.
To maintain the systems, staff members do a daily check on water levels, adding nutrients weekly and harvesting when the produce is ready. One beloved staff member, initially uninterested in gardening, became a hydroponic expert and plant caretaker before her unexpected passing—a loss that still reverberates. Her care inspired others, and now several staff have stepped in to carry on her legacy.
Beyond Donwood: A Model for Others
Jennifer believes hydroponics could benefit many other care homes, as well as schools, communities and more. “There’s the health benefit, the activity, the learning, the connection—it’s all there,” she says. While Donwood is exploring the idea of expanding the program to other buildings, she’s most proud of the transformation it has sparked in her own facility. “It’s been so positive. We’ve had a lot of fun and a lot of growth of every kind.”
The excitement has spilled beyond Donwood as well. The local high school participating in the Growing Together program recently acquired their own Les Verts Terrace system to support classroom education. A teacher within Jennifer’s family has also been inspired to explore using hydroponics in Indigenous education, to grow culturally significant plants and teach food sovereignty. The ripples of the indoor garden are expanding across generations and institutions.
As Jennifer puts it: “We’re not just growing plants. We’re growing relationships. We’re growing community. We’re growing together.”
For more information about the Les Verts Terrace indoor garden system and how it can benefit senior centres and care facilities, please contact us here. Check out our interview with a registered horticultural therapist from Victoria, BC on the benefits of indoor gardening on adult living facilities here.
PREVIOUS
School Spotlight: Growing Together at River East Collegiate in Winnipeg, MB
READ MORE