Covenant Village Harvests a Cornucopia

Ted Garrison, a resident of and coordinator of the residential gardens, is proud to offer a tour of a little bit of heaven on Earth—a flower, herb and vegetable garden packed with plants and dozens of senior citizens enjoying the work and conversation on a beautiful summer day.

Of the retirement community’s roughly 500 residents, about 32 people participate in the gardening on 27 raised-bed lots, Garrison said. They grow about 60 or so flower varieties, 25 different vegetables and 10 distinct herbs.

Residents take their crop home, sharing it with friends, family and others. Garrison noted that “we make regular trips—twice a week—to the .”

It’s not all digging in the dirt, though. “It’s very social, too,” Garrison said. “You come out here to do something quick in your garden, well, you’ll find usually it’ll take a while because you’ll meet some other gardeners and get talking.”

Bob and Eiko Fricke, for example, garden together, growing summer squash, zucchini, tomatoes, Swiss chard, peppers and “good lettuce,” according to Garrison.

“It’s very, very nice to dig down in the soil to plant and harvest, but also to meet neighbors who are doing the same thing,” said Bob Fricke.

Most of the gardens are about one foot high—ideal for those with bad backs and achy joints—but there are some two-foot-tall beds that are conveniently accessible to people in wheelchairs and others with more limited motion. They’re all five feet wide, so center plants are easy to access from one side or another. Garrison calls them “enabling gardens.”

“We do have another garden area here on campus, but it’s at the ground level and not near quite as popular,” he added.

With colorful, robust plants everywhere, it’s a wonder why they don’t grow as well in everybody’s garden throughout Northbrook.

Phyllis Quinn grows okra, sunflowers, basil, chives and three different varieties of flowers.

“I have sun now,” she said. “I’m in the corner house, and you can see all the trees and evergreens. I couldn’t grow any veggies and I couldn’t grow the flowers I have because it’s just too shady.”

“Vegetables seem to grow with some extra spirit,” said Beth Preis, an activities therapist for .

In addition to what might be divine intervention, an outside vendor brings in fertile soil and supports with other services. Gardeners can choose from communal tools that are provided in a nearby shed, and scissors hang on the fence so that all neighbors may take flowers to enjoy.

“I just come by to appreciate it,” said Betty Lou Synek, a resident but not a gardener. “I’m enjoying the whole thing, like the corn over there. We had a very small backyard where my father grew corn, so we could have fresh corn. It’s bringing back memories.”