Jun 17, 2009 4:00 pm US/Eastern
Brotherly Love: Hands On Garden
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
It's something that affects a lot of people later in life, it's losing your eyesight. And along with that, you lose a lot of your favorite activities. But in this week's Brotherly Love report, Dave Huddleston tells us about a group that is helping the blind enjoy the beauty that's all around them.
The Associated Services for the Blind has several programs, but there is one in particular that has a waiting list because it's so popular.
It's an open space filled with beautiful flowers, tended by caring hands. It's called the Hands On Gardeners group whose members are blind or visually impaired.
"It's not about being blind, it's about being creative, happy and beautifying Philadelphia," said Peggy Garrett, the group's coordinator for 15 years.
"We have people here who are in various degrees of losing their site, and they thought they would never be able to garden again and they're all here," Peggy added.
People like Phyllis Jones. She lost her sight to macular degeneration.
"We don't go in saying I can't do this or I can't do that, it's something we can all do and we get so much pleasure out of it," Phyllis said.
Lavera Diggins is also a part of the group and says, it's more than pleasure, the flowers, the friends and the fellowship is like a piece of heaven.
"It's really an experience I wouldn't have unless I was with this group," Lavera said.
This group wouldn't exist without the Philadelphia Horticultural Society and A.S.B., the Associated Services for the Blind. A.S.B's Derby Ewing says even though the group has lost their sight, the gardeners can still experience life's beauty.
"It breaks the monotony of sitting at home and not thinking about what they have lost but something to look forward to," Derby said.
Over the last decade, the Hands On Gardeners have won 10 city wide garden competitions. In addition to the garden, there are other life skills and recreation programs.
RELATED LINK:
www.asb.org
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