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Date: 6/14/2023
SOUTHWICK — The Southwick Senior Center and Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield are teaming up for an intergenerational gardening club.
Southwick Council on Aging Director Cindy Sullivan told the Select Board on June 5 that the partnership has been discussed for over a year.
“We were waiting for the right grant to come along,” she said.
Boys & Girls Club Executive Officer Bo Sullivan applied for the grant and was awarded $6,834 to start the program.
“This will help us start a gardening club here at the Senior Center,” said Sullivan. “We will have five to eight pre-teens and teens from the Boys & Girls Club and we are hoping the same amount of seniors will participate.”
The garden will consist of two 8- by 12-foot raised beds along the south side of Town Hall. Sullivan said they may have additional tabletop beds.
“The Boys & Girls Club would bus the students here,” she noted, adding that two seniors have already signed up.
Sullivan said the grant was approved much faster than expected and they need to begin working quickly so that they don’t miss the growing season.
“We may start the seeds inside then move them outside,” she said when asked if the Town Hall roof project would affect implementation of the program.
Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart said the roof is expected to be completed in July.
Sullivan said they plan to grow vegetables that could be used by both the club and Senior Center meal programs, bringing a true “farm to table” component to their lunches. She said she is excited about the unique partnership.
“Bo thinks this is one of the only [intergenerational gardens] in this area,” she said.
Select Board Chair Doug Moglin called the garden club a “win-win.”
“It’s just a great idea,” he said. “It’s a great endeavor.”