Daybreak Gardens (Waupun and Horicon)
Daybreak Gardens is a unique and innovative “garden therapy” program operated as an integral component of Daybreak’s overall habilitation program. Both locations, Horicon and Waupun, have intermittently over the years, since its inception in 1979, attempted to incorporate gardens of various types and sizes into it programming. Many of these early efforts ended in frustration for both staff and clients. They were plagued with the common complaints so often voiced by novice gardeners; sore backs, more weeds than flowers and vegetables, dirty clothes, etc. It wasn’t until the principles and methods popularized by Mel Bartholomew in his system of“Square Foot Gardening” were adopted in 2005 that the program took off.
Mel promised, “You can grow 100% of the harvest compared to single row gardening with only 50% of the cost and 20 % of the space. You will use 10% of the water and 5% of the seeds and only 2% of the work. It’s all that easy.” The method in a nutshell is building 4 foot by 4 foot boxes that resemble children playground sand boxes; filling them with the perfect planting mix. You don’t even have to dig up the existing soil – translate no digging, hoeing, rototilling. Add a grid and you’re ready to plant. It is almost just that easy. See additional information about Square Foot Gardening here.
In 2008 the program was enhanced with the addition of consultation services from the Dodge County Master Gardeners in the personages of Master Gardeners Carol Shirk and Chris Jacobs. In 2009 the program was further expanded by processing and selling garden produce at local farmers markets.
Mel promised, “You can grow 100% of the harvest compared to single row gardening with only 50% of the cost and 20 % of the space. You will use 10% of the water and 5% of the seeds and only 2% of the work. It’s all that easy.” The method in a nutshell is building 4 foot by 4 foot boxes that resemble children playground sand boxes; filling them with the perfect planting mix. You don’t even have to dig up the existing soil – translate no digging, hoeing, rototilling. Add a grid and you’re ready to plant. It is almost just that easy. See additional information about Square Foot Gardening here.
In 2008 the program was enhanced with the addition of consultation services from the Dodge County Master Gardeners in the personages of Master Gardeners Carol Shirk and Chris Jacobs. In 2009 the program was further expanded by processing and selling garden produce at local farmers markets.
This year Daybreak Waupun has forty-two 4 by 4 foot growing beds; two 4 x 16 growing beds and a 12 x 20 greenhouse. Daybreak Horicon has seven 4 x 16 growing beds. Both facilities are hoping to expand.
The staff and residents have been and are involved in every aspect of the enterprise. Yes, even the traditional wiling away the winter doldrums thumbing through seed catalogs; daydreaming about the next growing season. Residents suggest produce to plant, assist in the preparation of growing beds, plant seeds and transplants, mulch, water, weed, harvest, store and process the harvest, and assist with selling at farmer’s markets. Of course the favorite activity would have to be picking strawberries and transforming them into the universally favorite strawberry shortcake.
Each year much produce is consumed at the Daybreak dinner table, much is canned and frozen for the winter. Over 30 some products are processed for resident use and for sale at the markets. Several kinds of jams and jellies; strawberry, cherry, peach, currant, etc. are processed in Daybreak’s kitchen with full resident participation. Various salsas and pickles are also produced. Profit generated at Waupun, Horicon, Oshkosh and Beaver Dam Farmer’s Markets are distributed to the residents based on their level of contribution at the end of the season (just in time for Christmas shopping).
The staff and residents have been and are involved in every aspect of the enterprise. Yes, even the traditional wiling away the winter doldrums thumbing through seed catalogs; daydreaming about the next growing season. Residents suggest produce to plant, assist in the preparation of growing beds, plant seeds and transplants, mulch, water, weed, harvest, store and process the harvest, and assist with selling at farmer’s markets. Of course the favorite activity would have to be picking strawberries and transforming them into the universally favorite strawberry shortcake.
Each year much produce is consumed at the Daybreak dinner table, much is canned and frozen for the winter. Over 30 some products are processed for resident use and for sale at the markets. Several kinds of jams and jellies; strawberry, cherry, peach, currant, etc. are processed in Daybreak’s kitchen with full resident participation. Various salsas and pickles are also produced. Profit generated at Waupun, Horicon, Oshkosh and Beaver Dam Farmer’s Markets are distributed to the residents based on their level of contribution at the end of the season (just in time for Christmas shopping).
Daybreak’s Social and Therapeutic Horticultural Program embodies a large number of the benefits of horticultural therapy enumerated elsewhere on this site. Additionally, participants have the pleasure of “tasting the fruits of their labor”. Knowing they are responsible to care and nurture a living thing has its own power. Knowing the byproduct of their “therapy sessions” can produce personal economic benefit creates motivation where it might not have existed. And above all a sense of feeling that they have accomplished something, that they belong, that they have value is perhaps the greatest gift grown in Daybreak Gardens.