NEK Council on Aging Delivers Veggie Buckets

In celebration of May as Older Americans Month, the NEK Council on Aging worked with several community partners to create 21 self-sustainable vegetable buckets for area older Vermonters. The buckets are crafted to retain water to reduce the need for significant maintenance and they can easily fit in a small space.

Karen Budde, the RSVP Volunteer Coordinator for the Council, visited the 8th grade class at the Good Shepherd School in January to present them with the concept and to explain how the community could support area elders to live well and as independently, with dignity, for as long as possible. In addition, she spoke of the value of volunteerism.

“Our older community friends and neighbors’ physical health are important, and the veggie buckets provide a means for eating foods that are higher in nutrients. Our elder friends look forward to taking responsibility for the veggie bucket and they increase their activity level by taking care of it,” said Budde. “The artwork created on the buckets by the students was so amazing – for many elders, it was a very special gift. This is the third year we have coordinated this effort and we are grateful to have the help of the students from Good Shepherd this year. They did a great job.”

The plants for the containers were provided by the Weed and Seed Club of St. Johnsbury and Maple Grove Farms provided the buckets. Karen Budde and Loralee Tester, 8th grade advisor for the Good Shepherd School, personally delivered the buckets to recipients.