Letting the Garden Grow

Published May 09, 2009 @ 03:42PM PT

Hand and dirt from http://www.dawnfarm.org/uploaded_images/dirt_hand-709323.jpg
There's an open space in the center of Charlie's school, bounded on all four sides by low-slung hallways in beige stucco. There's a garden there or, that is, there will be a garden there as spring progresses into summer: Friday, Charlie and his classmates spent some time in the sun pulling weeds and Charlie, for one, quite took to it.

Working outside and, too, with growing things and dirt: Somehow I think there's something in this for Charlie. Dirt that's crumbly or fine, or gooey-sticky when it's mud; the wispy lightness of blades of grass; prickles from pinecones; crackling leaves, bugs, slugs, earthworms. Outside is an automatic "sensory center." Am not sure where these first horticultural ventures of Charlie's will go; am thinking these could point to a future interest and activity for him, and perhaps even work.

In the Baptist Press, Richard Nations writes about his son, Philip, who has a job as a horticulturalist in the parks department of Windsor Heights, Iowa. Philip, who was diagnosed at the age of 5 with Asperger's Syndrome, just graduated from Des Moines Area Community College on May 7:

Philip started his horticulture career a few weeks ago when he landed a job in the parks department of Windsor Heights, Iowa. It was his ninth interview of a two-month job search. Job interviews were excruciatingly hard for Philip. He is known among city employees as the nice young man who takes care of the flower beds and quietly works hard all day long in the park. He has a set of friends he communicates with on the Internet and he is so proud of his college accomplishments. And Rachel and I are just a little bit proud also!

Philip graduated with a 3.5 GPA.

Congratulations and thanks to Philip, and to his father, for sharing their family's story. It is (sorry for the pun, I can't resist) planting a seed in our thoughts for Charlie's future.

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Comments (5)

wonderful post. I watched a documentary my boss gave me as a christmas gift, "Her name is Sabine". The group home Sabine lives in has a garden they work on. If I remember correctly it's an activity Sabine enjoys.

Posted by Navidad Arnett on 05/09/2009 @ 05:33PM PT
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Summer's coming and I am thinking I should start Charlie with a few seeds in a cup---like I did in the first grade. Thank you, I need to see that movie.

Posted by Kristina Chew on 05/09/2009 @ 05:55PM PT
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If you have a Netflix account, it's available as an instant viewing option, as well as DVD.

Posted by Navidad Arnett on 05/09/2009 @ 07:17PM PT
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We have a plan to dig a garden at the back of our school this summer. The hard work will be done by corporate volunteers, but once it is established it is planned the kids will be maintaining it.

You have inspired me to talk to the board about using it as a vocational training exercise.

lovely new blog Kristina! I think I was away when you moved "house" and hadn't updated the links.

Doing now.
xx

Posted by lisadom dom on 05/10/2009 @ 01:46AM PT
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TH has been a botanist at heart since birth, I think. He loves plants, thinking about them, collecting them, looking at them, reading about them. It's always been his "unifocal" obsession. I think it's great. Typical or autistic...who would want their child to have a healthy, outdoor, nature interest like that?

Posted by Emily Willingham on 05/10/2009 @ 08:12AM PT
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Author

Kristina is a Classics professor in Jersey City, New Jersey, a blogger (formerly at AutismVox), a translator (of Virgil), and an advocate every day for her son, Charlie.