just one part of our work: retirement communities...
(see our projects page for more...)

Sage Gardeners creates, builds, and assists in maintaining accessible raised organic vegetable gardens and provides garden therapy-based services to senior communities such as assisted living accommodations, retirement communities, low income senior housing, parks and community areas, cancer support communities, and private residences in Gallatin County, Montana. Whether its building a few raised beds or creating a beautiful garden sanctuary, we bring back vegetable gardens and gardening into senior's lives. We are engaged from design through harvest with so much in-between. We provide garden-side presentations throughout the season sharing insight on the health benefits of gardening and we give Taste of the Season presentations in the spring, summer, and fall. We work to improve quality of life by encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle. A recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine tracked the behavior and health of nearly 4,000 people 60 and older in Stockholm for about 12 1/2 years and found that something called NEPA, or non-exercise physical activity, i.e. gardening, can cut the risk of a heart attack or stroke by more than a quarter among people 60 and older. By being proactive and providing a motivating activity, we are finding increases in social interaction, nutrition, exercise, sensory stimulation, motivation, stress reduction, and sense of hope… a general happiness factor that improves the quality of life for a senior even if it’s just for one season, but hopefully more like ten or twenty. We are working hard to bring in purposeful activities and to help improve quality of life socially, physically, and mentally.  

With help from many dedicated volunteers, MSU students, & Master Gardener students, many senior members of our community have been able to dig, plant, pull, weed, water, & harvest.  

how we do it....

Coordination, meeting, and planning usually begins in later winter. The hard work usually begins for our community projects in early spring as the ground begins to thaw. We partner with local companies and regional contractors to begin the installation of the accessible pathways if needed, and then we add/ build raised garden beds and trees shortly thereafter. Planting will take place as weather permits, usually in two phases: planting seeds and planting starts. We are happy to take part in these planting days and provide as much guidance as needed. We tailor our projects, specifications, and maintenance to the needs of the community and ability of the seniors. Maintaining, harvesting, and tending will take place weekly. Annual maintenance will be included as part of each ongoing project, as well as follow-up visits, social check-ins, and seasonal questionnaires.  Produce will be provided to all residents, neighbors, and friends with any leftover abundance donated to the Gallatin Valley Food Bank.

how it really gets done...

We are able to meet with our seniors, design our projects, follow-up weekly with our projects, build the gardens, install the paths, plant the seeds, hang the bird feeders, spread the mulch, lay the gravel, til in the organic compost and soil, hand deliver the gloves, hats, hoses, sprinklers, and extra seeds and plants, and maintain the gardens each and every year because we have an amazing support system! We couldn't really do it without the financial and in-kind support from many generous friends, foundations, businesses, corporations, and our volunteers. Thank you!

A very special thank you to the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, High Stakes Foundation, the Kampe Foundation, The Pocket Foundation, Harry Chapin Foundation, Montana Dakota Utilities Foundation, A Well-Fed World, One Valley Community Foundation, The Benson Foundation, Town Pump Charitable Foundation, Gallatin Gardeners Club, and numerous, generous individual supporters and community businesses such as Cashman's Nursery, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Cobrahead Tools, High Mowing Seeds, Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden, Seed Savers, Victory Seed Company, Owenhouse Ace Hardware, Murdoch's Home and Ranch Supply, and Simkins-Hallin Lumber Company. Thank you!