Kyle, a member of our Adult Residential Services Program spent all summer growing a garden at his home. He is passionate about gardening and finds joy being out in nature. Kyle planted his flowers and vegetables from seeds and cares for them daily. His favorite plants to grow are corn and beans. “I like planting seeds and watching them grow,” says Kyle. When people see his garden, “They want to know when [the vegetables] will be ready to eat,” he says.
Amy Formiller, Program Manager for the Adult Residential Services, says gardening is a great outlet for Kyle. He is very schedule-oriented, and gardening is a hobby he can enjoy on a schedule with daily watering and tending – his preferred times are in the morning and after dinner, when it’s not so hot outside. “Kyle’s gardening provides an activity at home that allows him to build relationships with the DSP staff,” Amy says. “His gardening is therapeutic for him, as it is an activity which keeps him busy and that he is interested in. Kyle will give instructions to the DSP staff on where certain seeds or plants should be planted.”
Kyle’s housemate previously planted flowers outside of his art studio at the home. However, in recent years, his housemate has had mobility issues and can no longer plant flowers independently. He appreciates that Kyle plants flowers around his art studio for him to enjoy.
When Kyle came to the Summerwood home in February of 2024, he struggled with adapting to his new environment. He wouldn’t go on any outings with staff or to his appointments and would not see the CCS nursing staff for his medical needs. Gardening, along with the support of his staff at the Summerwood home, has provided Kyle with coping mechanisms for his diagnosis and past trauma. Kyle is now excited to go on outings with staff, he attends his scheduled appointments, and he has a great relationship with Debbi Schuetze, a CCS nurse. This year, Kyle even went to the Oregon State Fair, a big step for him!
“Kyle’s team at Clackamas County made a point to contact me expressing how excited they are at how much they have seen Kyle grow in these past 6 months,” says Amy. “We are all inspired by him and the strides that he has made towards living his best life!”
