Improving quality of life for our senior community members is more important than ever especially given that 10,000 people are turning 65 every day in our country. Thousands of Montanans will be directly affected by the challenges associated with aging in the coming years. Improving quality of life and reducing isolation can be supported by the many resources that outdoor gardening brings. Studies in holistic approaches such as gardening and horticultural therapy have shown that these activities are effective in increasing overall life satisfaction.  Additional studies have been done on healing environments and elderly. These studies have found both psychological and physical benefits from incorporating natural environs, ie gardens, into people’s lives. We work to bring purposeful activities into senior's lives to help improve their quality of life.  

Our mission is to reconnect seniors to their gardening roots 
​through accessible gardens and garden therapy-based services.

a little HISTORY

15 years ago, Sage Gardeners was founded by executive director, Jonquil Nelson. She connected the dots that our once active farmers, ranchers, and gardeners were no longer feeling the dirt on their hands because many seniors relocated to smaller/more easily manageable living spaces. Many aging seniors have reluctantly given up on their once favorite pastime; trading in an activity with so many physical, mental, and social benefits. Older adults, who live in their own homes, find it difficult to garden in-ground, therefore discontinuing their gardening. Our mission is to reconnect these aging seniors to their gardening roots by building one accessible garden at a time.  Aging, low income, isolation, mental health issues, chronic diseases, rural communities, and minimal resources are common worries for our senior community members in Montana. These issues have great impacts on the seniors and on our community as a whole. Sage Gardeners works to improve quality of life for aging seniors skilled and assisted living facilities, memory care facilities, veteran and cancer support communities, senior housing, public spaces, and for individuals who live at home and age in place.​