Story
WesleyLife’s hydroponic farm brings fresh, locally grown produce directly to residents.
WHY IT MATTERS:
- Fresh, local produce is hard for seniors to get, especially in rural areas and in Iowa’s climate.
- Good nutrition is one of the simplest ways to help older adults stay healthy, active, and independent.
- Providers that treat nutrition as part of health care, not just a meal service, are better placed to help seniors stay independent longer.
- Senior care organizations can anchor their communities. When a provider grows food, serves neighbors, and invites people in, it changes how the public sees aging and the people who care for older adults.
Seven years ago, Shannon Draayer joined WesleyLife Meals on Wheels. Running a hydroponic farm wasn’t part of the plan. Today, that farm grows fresh greens on the program’s lower level, steps from the older adults it serves.
Fresh, local produce is hard for many older adults to get, and it’s harder still in rural communities. In Iowa’s climate, year-round, freshly grown greens are rare. A hydroponic farm closes that gap. Greens are harvested one day and can be ready for residents to buy the next.
For senior care providers, food carries real weight. In any senior living community, it’s the part of daily life people watch most closely. Better ingredients give kitchen teams more to work with, and residents get fresher meals.
The farm complements WesleyLife’s commitment to health and well-being. The team pushes back on the stigma that often follows older adults and instead proves that later life can be vibrant.
The people behind the farm see it as an act of compassion and a direct expression of WesleyLife’s mission. It’s a way to build a community that cares for one another and gives back, for staff and for the people they serve. WesleyLife is doing things a little differently, and people are starting to notice.