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OREM — Gardening can be healthy for the body and the soul. At the Intermountain Live Well Garden in Orem, gardeners are growing a healthy community right along with their produce.
As her 2-year-old son Jensen digs in the dirt and grabs at a ripe watermelon, mom Michelle Conover remarks, "It's his favorite thing to come up here and check out the garden."
The whole family loves to garden and they have a chance to grow fresh cucumbers, watermelon, and other produce even though they live in a townhouse a few blocks away from their garden plot.
"This is a great opportunity to reap the benefits of gardening if they don't have that opportunity at home," says Megan Smith, manager of the Intermountain Live Well Garden in Orem.
The Conovers' garden is one of 35 beds in the garden just outside Orem Community Hospital. "It's so important, preventitive health and as a hospital, to have this out in front of it, kind of to be the face of the hospital is important," says Smith.
Another community gardener, Merissa Kemberling, calls this "an amazing opportunity."
And, the garden continues to grow. So, now more of the hospital's neighbors can join employees in harvesting fresh produce and cultivating new friendships.
"I've met a ton of people since I've been here," says Kemberling.
Kemberling is a busy mom who lives in a nearby apartment. She believes she is sharpening what she calls her "novice" gardening skills.
"They'll share their experiences, share different stories and get to meet new people," says Smith.
Kemberling likes the sense of community and of sharing healthy ideas and produce. "I have a 1-year-old and it's really important for me to lay a foundation for her for healthy eating habits," says Kemberling.
In the Live Well Garden, parents and health professionals are coming together to nurture a love of growing things in a new generation of gardeners.
Jensen Conover can't quite pronounce the word yet but he will tell you he just loves cucumbers.
There are also Live Well community gardens at Intermountain's Medical Center in Park City and at the Intermountain Community Hospital in Fillmore. Email: solney@ksl.com
