MG Charlie Hindes, right, talks to a World War II and Korean War veteran who maintains this garden at the Veterans' Home in Fresno. (Photos: Jeannette Warnert)

The Veterans Home of California in Fresno allows residents to adopt small areas on the grounds as their personal gardens, where they can grow fruit trees, vegetables or flowers as part of the organization's efforts to protect veterans' dignity and feeling of self-worth.

Residents of the 300-acre facility cultivate, plant and maintain raised beds, large planters and pots. When the need arose for guidance on plant selection, pest control, fertilization and pruning, the administration turned to UC's Master Gardener program in Fresno County. In 2019, a group of volunteers began making monthly trips to the facility to advise the residents on gardening best practices and teach ways to creatively use their garden harvest, in crafts and cooking, for example.

Veterans' home recreational therapist Laura Chocoteco said the Master Gardeners have been a tremendous help to residents in the assisted living community.

“They have gone above and beyond with guiding our residents with gardens, teaching them how to maintain them,” she said. “We are extremely happy to have a group like them sharing their positive energy. They make a huge contribution in motivating other residents to come out and engage.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the interaction with veterans living in the Fresno facility was put on hold, but earlier this year, a group of volunteers led by two Master Gardeners who are themselves military veterans – Richard Hardwick, Army, and Charlie Hindes, Navy – set about renewing relationships.

In October, the Master Gardeners were at the facility for its Fall Festival. They staffed a booth where veteran residents, their families and the staff were invited to decorate pumpkins with succulent clippings and other materials, then take home their artwork. The MGs also came ready to answer residents' gardening questions with information from the wide variety of gardening publications written by University of California scientists.

MGs Richard Hardwick (right) and Jean Gerdes at the Cal-Vet holiday event.

In December, the team returned to the Veterans' home for a holiday-themed event, where residents pressed cloves into oranges to make pomanders – decorative ornaments that also release a festive fragrance. In addition, one volunteer brought home-baked ornaments for the veterans to decorate.

MG Julie Arndt displays the 'cookies' she prepared for the veterans to decorate.

After the New Year, the MG team will be back to teach residents how to prune their roses in a way that supports plant health and provides for optimal growth.

 Applesauce cinnamon ornaments

1 cup cinnamon
¾ cup applesauce
2 tablespoons white glue

Blend all ingredients until it forms a ball of dough. Roll out like cookies and cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters and place on parchment-lined cookie sheet. Use a straw to poke a hole in the top of each ornament to later attach a ribbon or string for hanging. Sprinkle with glitter, if desired. Dry in a 200-degree oven about two and a half hours. Decorate with puffy pens, paint, beads, etc.