Thomas A. Glazier Senior Education Center Garden

An innovative community garden project from Harris County Precinct Three Commissioner Steve Radack aimed at teaching seniors more about organic foods and healthy living will start at the Thomas A. Glazier Senior Education Center in October.

Precinct Three crews finished construction of the community garden behind the senior education center at 16600 Pine Forest in the Texas 6 and Clay Road area. Some of the specially-constructed gardens beds are raised and others are vertical. That will allow seniors to more easily reach them from sitting and standing positions and make the beds easier to tend. The garden was also fashioned in a way as to leave plenty of room for walkways and wheelchairs

Any senior who signs up for the program will take responsibility for the care of the garden and will eventually rotate crops to match the different growing seasons throughout the year. In October, for example, they will plant organic kale, lettuce, beets, carrots, radish, Swiss chard, spinach, Brussels sprouts and green beans.

Seniors participating will learn that raised gardening beds are easier to maintain and that they increase soil temperature and drainage. That means the growing season for a particular crop can be extended. The seniors will also learn what it’s like to grow vegetables in a natural and organic fashion. That means no chemicals or manmade pesticides will be used. Those participating will also be allowed to harvest the crop on special harvest days so they can take home some of the vegetables they tended to in the garden.

Participation in each growing season’s class will have to be limited, but dozens of seniors have already expressed interest in working in the garden. The program also complements the long list of popular classes already offered at the Glazier Senior Education Center that focus on healthy cooking, nutrition, diet and staying fit.

For more information on the community gardening program and other classes and senior educational opportunities, call the staff at (713) 274-3250 or visit the Glazier Senior Center webpage.