Project Grow is taking advantage of the summer months by continuing hard work and educational plans while gardens flourish and grow.
Throughout the state, Project Grow maintains gardens used for Horticultural Therapy. Raised garden beds are located at the community garden at Duke Farm in Hillsborough. In addition to the community garden at Duke Farm, the program maintains accessible beds at several Allies day habilitation programs. The bulk of the work is done at the garden at Mercer County Community College.
Throughout the season, each day program travels to the site at Mercer County Community College to participate in gardening and learn about the important elements of raising a successful garden. This season, leaders of Project Grow are teaching Allies participants about pollinators, and also discuss ways to fertilize gardens and promote growth in environmentally friendly ways.
“We are looking at environmentally friendly ways to fertilize our gardens,” MaryAnne McMillan, HTR, a leader of Allies’ Project Grow, said.
So far, summer 2025 has proven difficult for garden work. Between record-breaking heat waves and rainstorms, the plants have been doing well while Project Grow participants are able to learn about the relationships present between organisms that live in the garden and working with crafts that tie into garden activities.
Some of these lessons include discussions about the kinds of insects and other life that can be found in a garden.
“During the winter and bad weather, we will spend a lot of time on indoor activities,” Jean D’Amore, HTR, and another member of the Project Grow team at Allies, said.
In cases where the weather is difficult to work with but not hazardous, participants are given many breaks to cool off in the shade and take in the gardening from a distance.
The harsh weather has been great for productivity in the gardens.
As of July 8, 2025, Project Grow has donated more than 190 pounds of produce to food banks including the Mercer Friends Food Bank, Duke Farms, and the Flemington Food Bank. Project Grow owes the success of these beds, particularly the ones at Mercer County Community College, to Nick Stryker, HT, the lead garden farmer at that location.
During milder days, participants are key parts of carrying out Project Grow’s work. When participants visit, they are able to get hands-on and practice their gardening skills. They might spend their time looking for bugs with a magnifying glass or getting rid of other pests. “We are trying to teach everyone not to be afraid of the things we find in the garden,” McMillan said.
“Our folks have been instrumental in making this a success,” McMillan said.
For program leadership, the best part of these sweltering summer days is recognizing the impact that program participants feel while gardening and learning.
“For me, it is seeing the excitement on our participants’ faces,” McMillan said.
“To know you are helping them to get out and experience nature is invaluable,” D’Amore said.
These lessons go beyond the garden. After harvesting, McMillan and D’Amore use produce to create teas and other treats as an illustrative example of the possibilities created by gardening.
“We will use the produce to make teas, salsas, and other things, and everyone really enjoys when we are able to do that.”
Keep in touch with Allies and Project Grow to see how much the program donates at the end of the season!
