Cultivating Companions Summer Program

The Jackson County Master Gardeners are introducing our new program called Cultivating Companions: Growing Connections Through Plants. This seven-week program is for rural older adults to connect with each other over fun and educational horticultural activities. This program is free and includes transportation options for participants who are unable to drive to our meeting locations. The Jackson County Library Service has been a great partner in hosting our program in six of their locations throughout county: Applegate, Butte Falls, Medford, Rogue River, Ruch, and Shady Cove.

Cultivating Companions is made possible by the Rural Older Adult Mini Grant funded through the Oregon Health Authority. This grant’s goal is to connect rural older adults to fight isolation and loneliness, while providing fun educational activities working with plants. Activities include repotting and caring for indoor plants, plant propagation, and pressing flowers for art. Working with plants has shown many health benefits such as reducing stress and blood pressure, as well as increasing memory. All these activities can be repeated by participants in their own homes after the program ends. Our hope for Cultivating Companions is that working with plants creates new hobbies, inspires existing ones, and generates friendships along with a sense of community.