“It’s just like making a cake.” That’s what my dad used to say when we mixed soil for our vegetable garden. A few sacks of sand. Shovels full of topsoil. Just enough composted manure. A dash of potash. There seemed to be a recipe and Dad knew it in his bones. The ingredients were tossed into the raised bed, and together we turned the mixture over, and over, blending it–just like making a cake. We broke up clods with our bare hands. Rocks were the enemy, worms were our friends.
This week I celebrated the first day of summer mixing soil for my newest raised bed. Of course, I thought about Dad. And about how much he enjoyed working in his garden. Looking at other people’s gardens. Talking about gardens. Whenever I watch the Zinnia Growing Veggies video I know how much we would have enjoyed watching it together.
If there’s a gardener in your life, celebrate summer with them, with titles like Flowers, Flower Fields, Life of the Butterfly and Busy Bee. Help them celebrate their passion.
“Garden as though you will live forever!” – William Kent
In July of 2024 CMS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched the GUIDE model – Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience. GUIDE is a nationwide model aimed at supporting people with dementia and their unpaid caregivers. through the acceptance of Medicare payments for a comprehensive package of care coordination and care management, caregiver education and support, and respite services. Across the United States, healthcare providers voluntarily applied to become eligible to support their patients and their families with GUIDE funded support.
Want to know more? Talk to your healthcare provider to find out whether they’re enrolled in GUIDE program. Or check out this list of GUIDE participants across the United States to find a GUIDE provider near you.
