WINTER GARDEN

The weather is finally turning cold after a very warm winter and the Gillis Growth Grove is resting. It has had a very busy growing season full of farmers markets and guest speakers, kids, and gardening volunteers. In less than a year Gillis turned an empty plot of land behind the day treatment school into a garden of raised beds and spaces for relaxing and learning. The kids spent every Saturday helping dream up and build the Growth Grove and with their excitement, creative minds and hard working hands Gillis’s plans for the future have only gotten bigger.

We want the Growth Grove to continue to be a very special place for learning and growing. A place where hands on practical life skills like growing food, harvesting, cooking, carpentry, and landscaping are taught right alongside sciences and math. The Growth Grove is a place where experiential learning is celebrated with our students and residents.

The Growth Grove has also been another important space for healing. With the expansion of the Growth Grove to include more outdoor therapy spaces and areas to sit and relax we hope that our clients will find in it a safe space free from past trauma; a place to help them connect with nature and themselves.

So as the cold weather finally arrives and thoughts of maybe a snowy Christmas full of warm fires and snowmen come to mind we would like to thank Kansas City for its support of this new project. Without your donations, volunteerism, and kindness none of this would be possible.  We look forward to seeing you in the season to come, our plates and yours full of fresh veggies, and tasty fruits.

Submitted By Theo Bunch, Gillis Garden and Art Teacher