Ability Garden

COVID-19 put the brakes on most North Carolina Cooperative Extension activities, including at the Ability Garden on the grounds of the New Hanover County Arboretum, which provides therapeutic horticulture and gardening opportunities to individuals with special needs. Extension used plants to bring people together and help them overcome obstacles. In response, 75 soil bag/veggie kits were given in urban communities and 1,200 veggie plants were provided for community gardens and to rural residents across a three-county area. The biggest single-day giveaway was a community drive-through event. The Ability Garden alone could have never been successful with this veggie sharing project, but by seeking out and working with other individuals and organizations, was able to create a valuable impact.