Since July 23, 2008, when my husband and I have been driving to Georgia Regional in Decatur each night to spend the half-hour we are allowed to visit with our daughter, I have noticed the vast acreage at that institution being mowed and wonder why it isn’t tilled. Then, lately, reading about the lack of small growers (organic and others), I started writing to anyone who will listen about how I see the benefit of a garden–not only for the food but for the activities/work that patients can do which will allow them to think about other things as well as make them feel good about accomplishing something worthwhile.

My daughter spends the majority of her days walking, having “walked” through a pair of tennis shoes in less than 6 months. I believe that medication and counseling are important, but I also believe unless you have something constructive to do, getting well will be a longer process.

In Atlanta, with the vast number of good gardeners, help in getting this program started would be in abundance. I don’t call myself a good gardener, but I do garden and would volunteer to do anything to get a program like this up and running.

So far, I have had one response with positive suggestions as a result of one letter and would welcome input from my comments here.

Doing all we can to help people with mental illness is very important to those of us who have someone who is sick. All we want is to give them a chance to get better and return to a normal life. I think gardening would go a long way in accomplishing that goal.

I’m going through editors like Kleenex these days…or maybe I should say “I’m going threw editors…”