SANFORD ”“ How does a garden grow? With lots of love, attention and care, that’s how.

Ever since the seniors at the Y Trafton Center had a greenhouse installed in May, growing things has been a popular pastime.

For Gibbie Michaud, who gardened until she moved to an apartment with grounds that can’t accommodate gardening, the greenhouse is just heaven.

“I have to put my hands in the dirt,” she said with a merry smile as she plucked a spent leaf from a plant.

Barbara Abbott was picking fresh dill and fragrant basil and planned to experiment with drying them in her microwave at home.

“I’m quite involved,” in the greenhouse project, she said. “I really love it.”

Still others were planting, tucking winter squash seeds into flats of potting soil in anticipation of a fall harvest.

The 10- by 16- foot greenhouse was a busy spot in the busier Y Trafton Center on Monday, where senior citizens meet for yoga, bridge, bingo, exercise, a “power aging” class, lunch twice a week and more.

There’s morning coffee, pottery classes and tai chi.

And now, there’s the greenhouse.

Y Trafton Center Executive Director Thea Murphy said the greenhouse is part of a wider goal — she and the seniors hope to eventually fence in the side yard of the property, build a patio and have some tall, raised garden beds for additional gardening.

The greenhouse project came about as the lunch program evolved over time.

As the luncheons grew, the quest for healthier food developed. Now, meals consist of salad, a main course and some sort of dessert, rather than convenience foods like pizza.

As well, as recognition of food insecurity across many sectors became heightened in Maine, the idea of having greenhouse in which to grow food became more popular. And of course, there’s the simple enjoyment factor ”“ it’s fun.

And while some senior citizens still live in their own homes or elsewhere, where they can do a bit of gardening, others don’t. They’ve moved to apartments, where upkeep and other factors make life easier and more convenient ”“ but there’s often no place to plant a flower or raise a tomato plant or two.

With a greenhouse, Murphy said, folks felt they could grow a bit for a community garden as well as for themselves.

Murphy wrote a grant to the Huntington Foundation for Seniors ”“ it took a couple of tries before she was successful ”“ and eventually won a $3,500 challenge grant, which meant the senior center had to raise an equal amount.

“The membership was enthusiastic,” said Murphy. Six months later the required funds were raised. Of course, there were other costs involved ”“ the project was $11,000 total ”“ and some community folks volunteered to help.

Murphy said the Farmers’ Market passed out returnable bottle bags to benefit the greenhouse project, Lionel Sevigny took care of the concrete pad and drain, Genest Concrete provided the block for the foundation and Hazen Carpenter provided the labor. George Rankin and Maura Herlihy put the greenhouse together.

Then Trafton members brought in plants and seedlings and the growing project was underway.

On Monday, upwards of 6-8 people were in the greenhouse, watering and tending to the herbs and flowers and cucumbers, tomatoes and zucchini, and planting more.

Therese Tardiff was eyeing a lemon cucumber seedling.

“I’m going to try it,” when it’s ready for picking she said. Tardiff still gardens at home, specializing in flowers.

“My husband was the gardener,” said Lillian Belisle. He has passed way, and now Belisle is trying her hand at the pastime and was among those on watering duty Monday.

“It’s a good learning experience,” she said.

It’s more than that. According to a June 2 article in Sunrise Senior

Living, gardening can help improve bone density and the exercise involved ”“ even in a greenhouse ”“ is beneficial. As well, gardening can help boost people’s moods and lift their spirits, the story said.

Karen Gammon, planting cucumber seeds, still gardens at home and says she loves it. “It’s such an opportunity for people,” she said of the greenhouse project.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].