“Our Unity Garden produces vegetables and herbs that we use in our own kitchens,” said Susan Griffin, marketing director at Holy Cross Village.
SOUTH BEND, IN (PRWEB) June 19, 2015
Honey harvested from beehives at Holy Cross Village soon will be available for residents of the senior living community as well as the surrounding area.
Holy Cross Village is a continuing care retirement community in Notre Dame, Indiana. As such, it offers a full range of senior living options including independent living villas and apartments, assisted living apartments, a skilled nursing center, and memory care suites.
The honey is a product of the senior living community’s Unity Garden. Unity Gardens is a non-profit organization that develops partnerships with area businesses, universities, schools, churches, and other agencies with the goal of feeding the local population. Unity Gardens provides systems and resources to ensure success, such as free gardening, preserving and cooking classes that empower residents to grow their own food and save their harvests. The garden at Holy Cross Village is one of 40 in northwest Indiana, of which only seven have beehives.
“Our Unity Garden produces vegetables and herbs that we use in our own kitchens,” said Susan Griffin, marketing director at Holy Cross Village. “We also donate bushel baskets full to St. Augustine’s soup kitchen in downtown South Bend.”
In its second year, the beehives at the senior living community’s Unity Garden are managed by award-winning beekeeper Tim Ives.
“We are thrilled to be working with someone of his stature,” said Griffin. She pointed out that last year Ives won multiple national awards for his honey, which is produced only from local hives so that no negative influences can harm the bees.
Holy Cross Village’s life enrichment director, Barbara Cassady, manages the Unity Garden and beehive project at the senior living community, and expects to harvest between 20 and 30 pounds of honey this summer to sell to residents and others in the area. The honey is part of the “Honey From The Hood” brand—“local honey from the neighborhood”—that is produced at Unity Gardens such as the one at Holy Cross Village.
The Unity Garden is just one of many enriching activities seniors can participate in when they live at the continuing care retirement community. Other events include movie showings, holiday gatherings, exercise and fitness classes, socials, art lessons, garden club, book club, and off-site outings.
Holy Cross Village seniors also have access to wellness programs, a state-of-the-art fitness center and creative arts center as well as a comprehensive library and lifelong learning opportunities offered through neighboring educational campuses.
Nestled among the landscaped campuses of Holy Cross College, the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College, Holy Cross Village offers a rare combination of campus activities, inviting common areas, and abundant amenities and activities. In fact, U.S. News & World Report recognized Holy Cross Village’s health care center as one of the Best Nursing Homes in 2014. This notable honor signifies earning five stars in overall performance from the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The continuing care retirement community offers maintenance-free independent living along with a full range of assisted living care, including 24-hour skilled nursing services and compassionate memory care. The senior living community’s comprehensive selection of living options is supported by a full continuum of on-site health care.
Holy Cross Village is conveniently located just south of the Indiana Toll Road (Interstate 80/90). The community’s office is located in Andre Place off Holy Cross Parkway at 54515 State Road 933 North. For more information or to schedule a visit, call (574) 251-2235 or visit online at http://www.HolyCrossVillage.com.