Among the many special interest groups NE Village PDX offers its members is the Soil to Supper group, which explores all things gardening and cooking.
Driven by a desire to support Villagers who love to garden but whose physical limitations make it difficult, the group set out to find a solution. The project began with the construction of three ADA-compliant raised garden beds — including one intended for those who use wheelchairs — outside the Village office in Rose City Park.
From there, with generous support from Beaumont Hardware, Grimm’s Fuel Company, Garden Fever, Portland Nursery, and Growing Gardens, the volunteer group has constructed seven raised garden beds for Village members’ homes, plus two patio container gardens, all at no cost to members. The beds, which measure 4 feet by 8 feet and are 2.5 feet tall, are designed to enable someone to sit on the edge of them while they garden.
In July, NE Village hosted a self-guided “Tour de Beds” for the public to see the beds in use, hoping to inspire others to consider how they can continue to garden even when living with physical limitations.
NE Village, a member-driven program of the Northeast Community Center, offers a range of support services (e.g., transportation, tech support, rightsizing, yard work, and more) to adults age 60+ who are aging in place throughout NE Portland.
In addition, the group hosts a wide variety of social events, educational programming, and other activities to foster community and connection and empower people as they age.
To learn more about how to become a member or to volunteer for the Village, visit nevillagepdx.org or call (503) 895-2750.