Strolling the garden (left to right): Abby Shackelford, Edible Education Experience business development director; Ellen O’Connor, Dave’s House Executive Director; and Caroyln Kreuzpaintner, Aspire Health Supervisor for Kate's Place Clubhouse and Dave's House Orlando homes. Pictured right, a resident tends to some of the garden’s plants.

Dave’s House and Edible Education Experience are developing a partnership to create garden education, garden therapy and healthy nutrition and cooking programs. These programs will be developed with Aspire Health, our behavioral health services partner in Central Florida. Their day programs are offered at their Kate’s Place Clubhouse.

The clubhouse is a caring and safe environment where Dave’s House residents and transitional housing residents have the opportunities to form friendships; participate in employment and educational training; and have access to medical and psychiatric services. One Dave’s House resident is already participating in garden therapy with an Aspire Health counselor. Another helps teach cooking skills as part of clubhouse day programs.

Residents are learning:

• how to grow their own food
• the health benefits of nutrient-dense foods and plant-based nutrition
• how to cook delicious, affordable and nutritious meals
• the benefits of gardening and community involvement

These programs will contribute to our residents’ ongoing well-being. They will also further Edible Education Experience’s vision to create food-confident communities and give individuals life skills to embrace wholeness.