Houghton College Student Develops Garden Trail For Local Nursing Home

HOUGHTON, N.Y. —Inspired by a project assigned in her trail development class, Angie Smalley, a junior at Houghton College, decided to put her assignment to good use and make it reality.   

The assignment was to propose an idea for a walking trail that would benefit community members. Smalley developed a plan to build a set of handicap accessible paths around some of the garden beds at the Absolut Care of Houghton nursing home.  

With full support from the nursing home staff, Smalley built three large raised beds containing flowers, bushes and various other plants. The beds are surrounded by gravel paths which provide easy walking access for the residents.  Smalley also left a large open space in the center of the garden covered by a tent, where residents can sit and talk.

“It is nice to bring some joy into the lives of the residents,” said Smalley. “Some residents even joined me in planting and weeding.”  

Smalley received many contributions for her project. Houghton College donated creek stone, which was used to build the walls of the garden beds. All of the plants were donated by local gardeners and nurseries, including Wal-Mart, Pleasant Valley Greenhouse and the East Wind Landscape Nursery.  Some plants were also purchased with donations in memory of a loved one who resided at the nursing home.  

Several groups also contributed time and labor including the Houghton College Office of Service Learning, the Houghton College trail development class, Houghton College FYI and MLK service day groups, and a group of students and faculty from Houghton Academy.