VOCATIONAL/ SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENTHorticulture at Dove PointeDove Pointe has opened the doors to its greenhouse this year. In just a few months our greenhouse supervising staff has helped our consumers establish a sense of purpose in growing their own plants and tending to their own garden. Our vegetable garden is now producing Green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, carrots, onions and a variety of peppers. With this experience of planting the seeds, tending to the seedlings, weeding so the plant has enough space to grow, and then seeing the product of their labor, our individuals have been proud of their accomplishments and often are heard bragging about the vegetables they are taking home to cook. They are learning basic gardening skills, independent work habits, supply and demand concepts, pricing, selling, and overall customer satisfaction skills. With these skills people are able to expand their resumes and their job searches in order to fulfill their vocational plans of finding a job in the community. Those that are not interested in our vocational program are looking forwards to our flowers to help brighten up our homes and day program areas. They are also playing a big roll with our herb garden which will be made into potpourri to provide some aroma therapy sessions. Outside of the greenhouse our horticulture program has partnered with our therapeutic recreation room for community experiences allowing for exercise, fresh air, and environmental education about the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem as well as local plant and animal life. Our participants have enjoyed the new experiences that our greenhouse has brought to Dove Pointe and have even started brain storming on things to do in the future. All items grown are available for sale through our greenhouse, if you are interested in learning more our horticultural programming please contact Sarah Patterson at 410-341-4472 x 226 or email her at spatterson@dovepointe.com. SOME OF OUR OTHER SERVICES: |
