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When the pandemic hit, a YAI residence in Flatbush had to relocate its day programs to the basement of the home. Staff were challenged to find new ways to keep residents engaged while the world shut down. This February, the idea to start a garden began to sprout.
Ada Avila, Assistant Behavior Intervention Specialist (ABIS) for Brooklyn Day Services, along with other staff members began planting seeds in pots, which currently line Flatbush 1's window sills. Residents have been taking care of individual plants ever since.
The home hopes to eventually transfer all the plants to a garden they will be building from scratch in the backyard of the residence. They are growing a variety of herbs and vegetables such as two types of tomatoes, chives, oregano, basil, sage, broccoli, radishes, cucumbers, and lettuce.
The new gardening activity has fostered good relationships among the group, who have challenging behaviors, and has taught them responsibility while still allowing flexibility for each person’s behavioral and functional needs.
“Relationships with each other have definitely improved because they are working together,” said Avila. “The residents even offer to help take care of each other’s plants if one person can’t make it downstairs to water them.”
“The job can be challenging, especially during the pandemic, said Avila. “But seeing the plants sprouting – it shows the works it takes and the time it takes to grow something. It’s really encouraging to see all these plants growing from our hard work."