A garden at Stockton University is growing more than garlic. It’s cultivating friendships between generations.
Through new programs developed by the Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA), college students and older adults are coming together to share experiences, learn from one another and build meaningful connections.
On a warm November morning, six students from Stockton’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program joined 71-year-old Absecon resident Ellen Parker at Stockton’s Farm for the Intergenerational Garden Project.
Parker, a former employee of Stockton’s Richard E. Bjork Library and a volunteer at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, brought her gardening experience to the group.
Together, they planted garlic bulbs in holes prepared by Ron Hutchison, associate professor of sustainability, who is conducting a three-year study examining which garlic varieties grow best in New Jersey and how planting distances affect crop yields.
For Parker, the project offers both physical activity and an opportunity to connect with younger generations.
“But this is great physical exercise for bending and stretching and keeping your joints fluid. I also really love the social aspect of this, which I think is really important,” Parker said.
Macie Osburn, a physical therapy doctoral student from Hammonton, said working with older adults has special meaning for her.
“I used to work in a rehab facility with a lot of older adults who had Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, so this generation means a lot to me,” Osburn said.
As they worked, the students and Parker discussed their experiences, academic challenges and interests.
SCOSA Director Christine Ferri said those interactions are central to the initiative’s mission.
“At a university, we have a captive audience of students exploring different career opportunities. And SCOSA serves hundreds of older adults every year through our grant-funded education, socialization, recreational and caregiver support programming,” Ferri said.
She explained that opportunities for meaningful interaction between generations are often limited outside family relationships.
“We’re creating a place where that intergenerational contact happens. It’s an essential part of our mission statement,” she said.
Finding happiness across generations
SCOSA is also connecting students and older adults through its Intergenerational Happiness Project, inspired by Gretchen Rubin’s bestselling book, “The Happiness Project.”
Led by Kerstin Maguire, the program encourages participants to explore everyday happiness, develop positive habits and appreciate life’s smaller moments.
During a recent session, participants worked in groups to solve a fictional murder mystery using clues and careful observation.
Stockton senior Mike Palmadessi, a psychology major from Sea Bright, said he appreciated hearing the perspectives of older participants.
“Aside from my grandparents, I wouldn’t speak to older adults that much,” he said. “I feel like older people have so many different experiences that we don’t have and interesting stories to tell.”
BJ Adams, a Bass River Township resident and former March of Dimes director for South Jersey, said the benefits extend both ways.
“It’s so exciting to watch this generation get to where they want to be. Students motivate me. They know much more than I do in the current times, and I like learning about that,” Adams said.
More opportunities planned
SCOSA plans to continue the gardening project and expand its intergenerational programming.
A new book club focused on Harriet Tubman is planned for next semester, supported by a $2,500 grant from the Galloway-based Mosaic Foundation. The funding will provide books and support discussions during Black History Month.
Organizers are also seeking additional funding for a visit to the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cape May.
Ferri hopes the programs will create lasting opportunities for people of different ages to learn together.
“We have schools for kids. We have senior centers for older adults. We don’t have anywhere that’s created for diverse generations to spend time together,” she said. “SCOSA is determined to create places and things for people to do together.”
Source: Stockton University
