- Organic gardening can boost senior wellness, mood and nutrition.
- Trailside Organic Farm yields 13,000+ pounds of produce annually.
- On-site farms are becoming key to holistic senior care models.
Research has shown that many of the benefits of organic farming, like physical activity, being outdoors and fresh, nutrient-dense food, are correlated with positive health outcomes for seniors. As members of the Baby Boom generation enter retirement and make plans for the future, senior living communities with amenities that support overall wellness—even including on-site farms—are increasingly in demand.
This phenomenon was the inspiration behind Trailside Organic Farm at continuing care retirement community Cornwall Manor in Cornwall, Pennsylvania. The onsite farm—named for the rail trails that connect the facility’s two campuses—is a collaboration with the nearby Rodale Institute, a nonprofit that advocates for regenerative organic farming practices worldwide, that began in 2021.
“We thought it would be wonderful to do a collaboration with Rodale that would provide our dining services with nutrient-dense vegetables that come directly from our farm to give our residents the best possible nutrition at a time where that is so important in life,” says Vicki Deitzler, vice president for advancement at Cornwall Manor…