Learning an Adapt Strategy to Garden at Worcester Senior Center
- Wanjiru Waweru
- May 30
- 2 min read
Wanjiru Waweru, Jadetimes Contributor
W. Waweru is a Jadetimes News Reporter Covering America News
Worcester, Massachusetts – Members at the Worcester Senior Center were learning to adapt to find a strategy to grow food properly in the comfort of their kitchen. 2Gether We Eat is a youth hydroponic farming program, and on Tuesday, May 27, they celebrated their lead group of Worcester’s senior population who have the tools to increase a garden indoors.
Jane Tinsley-Budzyna reported that using plants to increase food production and connect people for more opportunities.
“It’s a wonderful way to meet people and grow,” said Tinsley-Budzyna. “We’re growing as well as the plants are growing.”
There were 25 participants at the Worcester Senior Center who recently realized the entire process of gardening, something many of them had never heard of before.
“We’re all new at this and we’re all excited,” said Tinsley-Buszyna. “I would say we’ve had some laughs and serious moments. It’s wonderful.”
2Gether We Eat founder Charles Luster expressed about the best part as a senior participant in the Worcester area.
“My senior classes, whether it’s in Leominster or Worcester,” said Luster. “Our senior population is the best.”
Luster educates the process of growing plants with no soil through 2Gether We Eat. The nonprofit youth hydroponic farming program focuses on food and education and works with local schools.
“Being able to have Worcester Public Schools involved with this class here just goes to show a lot about intergenerational,” said Luster. “How it goes hand in hand.”
“Charles is an amazing teacher,” said Tinsley-Budzyna. “He knows so much about this, and it’s a wonderful idea to teach people how to grow food.”
The inaugural class at the Worcester Senior Center all obtained their hydronic gardens on Tuesday to take them home and continue to nourish their food crops.
“I love basil. I love lettuce. I love all these green things," said Tinsley-Budzyna. "And I'll probably stick with the basil and maybe some parsley.”
“The great thing about this program is the impact we're looking at by sending all our senior students home with hydroponic system that they can sit right next to the toaster," said Luster. "Which is great, you know, to have 2Gether We Eat right next to the toaster and the coffee maker in the morning, where we know our students are eating food with no herbicides or pesticides, healthy eating.”
And through classes including hydroponic gardening at the Worcester Senior Center, one of the members reported they would continue to nourish.
“This place is the most wonderful place," said Tinsley-Budzyna. "I can't say enough about it. The Senior Center is terrific.”
The next 2Gether We Eat class will start at the Worcester Senior Center within the following week, and in the next week, the Senior Center is excited to celebrate its 25th anniversary on Wednesday, June 11.
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