Nonprofit establishes Association Garden
to promote health
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Clients at Central Aroostook ARC are learning firsthand how to eat a healthier diet, by growing produce in their own garden and following other measures to encourage living a healthy lifestyle.
GARDEN PROMOTES HEALTHY DIET — Sasha Shaw, of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, at left, shows Sarah Heidorf, wellness coordinator and shared living coordinator at Central Aroostook ARC, some of the tomatoes developing on plants in the agency’s garden area. 
The garden was established to promote healthy eating. The inset photo shows several green tomatoes that will be harvested at a later date for use at the facility.
“Gardens have become an increasingly popular trend across America, from urban farms to indoor gardening. More and more people are interested in finding ways to be kind to the environment, become more health-conscious and stretch their hard-earned dollars. For Central Aroostook ARC, an organization providing support to individuals with developmental disabilities, all of the above are being accomplished thanks to the introduction of their Association Garden,” said Sarah Heidorf, shared living coordinator and wellness coordinator at Central Aroostook ARC.
Heidorf pioneered several programs to promote healthy living and wellness throughout the agency, with the Association Garden being only one of many. Thanks to her initiative and the help of local organizations, the garden has been an ongoing project since the beginning of this summer.
Heidorf explained how the idea of a garden came to fruition.
“When I moved to Presque Isle in December 2011, one of the first things I heard on the radio was a quote from the Healthy Hearts Healthy Community campaign that stated Aroostook County had a 15 percent increased incidence of heart disease in comparison to the rest of the state. Being a recent graduate in nutritional science, I knew the best approach to battling heart disease is a change in diet and lifestyle,” said Heidorf. 
With that in mind, she began putting together ideas to implement at the center, with help from a couple local agencies.
“While changes like these are difficult, with serving over 200 individuals and over 140 employees, I knew that making an impact, though small, was possible. Upon meeting with ACAP and the Cooperative Extension to brainstorm effective ways to reach out to our association, the garden project along with nutrition education for our Summer School Program made the most sense,” said Heidorf. “It has been a fantastic group effort that I hope can continue to grow for years to come.”
A grant was obtained to fund the project.
“The agency was pleased to receive a mini grant from Healthy Aroostook, A Healthy Maine Partnership, to assist in purchasing items for the garden such as peat moss and fertilizer, while the Cooperative Extension in Presque Isle provided a variety of seedling for the garden,” she said.
Tom Powers, in charge of grounds and maintenance at Central Aroostook ARC, built the raised bed to hold the garden, said Heidorf.
A number of staff and individuals have contributed to caring for the garden, including Heidorf, students at the agency’s special-purpose private school, OTC, as well as residential individuals and staff.
“Several of the agency’s programs are reaping the benefits of the garden’s produce, although Residential Services is the primary recipient. As one of the agency’s eight programs, Residential Services is one in which individuals with developmental disabilities live in a home owned by the agency,” noted Heidorf.
Heidorf said there are six homes in the residential program, and each has 24/7 staff to support the individuals in accomplishing their goals and complete daily living tasks, such as cleaning, personal care and cooking.
“Although the residential team does a great job of making healthy homemade meals from scratch, additional home-grown vegetables are always a good supplement to any menu,” said Heidorf.
The garden consists of several varieties of veggies, including cherry tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, chives, rhubarb, green peppers, turnips, squash, beets and more.
“So far, homes have received rhubarb, cherry tomatoes, chives and zucchini. All of these vegetables will be integrated into the individuals’ already healthy diets to help enrich them even more and stretch their food budgets. Adult Services’ day program and Opportunity Training Center have also received a variety of vegetables to be enjoyed by individuals in programming for their snacks and lunches,” Heidorf said.
For more information about the Association Garden or other agency wellness initiatives, e-mail Heidorf at sharedliving1@ainop.com or call 764-0134, ext. 234. For more information regarding agency events and activities, e-mail Natasha Millette, special projects coordinator, at aasp@ainop.com or call 762-5591, ext. 210.
